Black Toad Dark Ale - Black Toad Brewing Co.

Jason

Massachusetts

4.13/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Presentation: 12 oz brow twist off bottle with a printed drink before date on the back label.

Appearance: Very dark brown donning tarnished amber hues with a thin wispy tan lace that lazily sticks to the glass for a few seconds and then dissipates.

Smell: Almost cloying sweet with a chalky undertone of husk in the aroma. Hints of sweetened coffee, oily hop and dark chocolate linger in the nose.

Taste: Very crisp within the moderate body, the crispness really helps with the refreshingly drinkable quality this brew has. Hints of chocolate, faint coffee, nutty grain and some husk make up the initial front malt character that is sweet in the beginning. An even bitter oily hop flavour is modest yet at a perfect level. As the finish draws closer some residual sweetness stays around and throws a steely crystal malt flavour in the end.

Notes: A solid beer to be had and at $4.99 a six pack it is a steal. Perhaps a beginners dark beer or a beer geeks session brew.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2002 15:25:50 | More by Jason

Drew26

Wisconsin

3.5/5  rDev -2%

05-19-2013 04:44:46 | More by Drew26

zonker17

Illinois

4/5  rDev +12%

05-18-2013 20:22:11 | More by zonker17

Zimm

New Jersey

3.75/5  rDev +5%

05-15-2013 17:35:45 | More by Zimm

Onenote81

North Carolina

3.56/5  rDev -0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

A friend brought a sixer of these to a get-together last night. Poured one into a snifter. Pour yielded a dark chocolate brown with a nice off-white head on top. The nose was sweet like nutty bread, brown sugar toast, and a bit of alcohol.

Moderate depth. Carbonation level is good, but there's a bit of a thin quality on the finish. Sweet nutty flavors - almond bar, chocolate malt, fresh bread. Good finish. This beer was surprising. One I'd never heard of, but a decent one I'd revisit.

[*This paired exceptionally well with a Carlos Toraño Reserva Decadéncia cigar]

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 19:29:09 | More by Onenote81

secondtooth

Indiana

3.49/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a dark, tawny, murky brown. Moderate head and only a hint of lace here.

Aroma is roasty malts and a little dark fruit. I get a touch of nuttiness, too.

Taste is sweet, with a bit of roast and nuttiness. Seems to me like a brown ale with a little extra char. Easy enough to drink, but not outstanding.

Serving type: bottle

05-11-2013 14:40:49 | More by secondtooth

Jomolieri

Virginia

3.88/5  rDev +8.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Amazing beer for the price... I think I paid $1.00 for this guy at trader joes. Sweet Nutty flavor with a creamy mouthfeel. Some very subtle toffee notes in there. Not overly complex in flavor but it really hits the spot if your looking for a slightly sweet smooth dark ale.

Serving type: bottle

05-06-2013 02:54:57 | More by Jomolieri

Nachos4two

Illinois

3.25/5  rDev -9%

04-25-2013 23:40:11 | More by Nachos4two

MN_Beerticker

Minnesota

3.5/5  rDev -2%

04-18-2013 12:56:18 | More by MN_Beerticker

BRD14

Illinois

4/5  rDev +12%

04-16-2013 03:29:56 | More by BRD14

Ted

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -2%

04-11-2013 23:15:02 | More by Ted

samturner

California

4.5/5  rDev +26.1%

04-07-2013 13:28:04 | More by samturner

WDJersey

New Jersey

3.5/5  rDev -2%

04-07-2013 05:42:50 | More by WDJersey

NoetheMatt

Kentucky

2/5  rDev -44%

04-05-2013 14:12:09 | More by NoetheMatt

TheMarkE

California

3.74/5  rDev +4.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Appearance: Dark brown, like a cup of coffee. Moderate foam dissipates quickly. Not much lacing.

Smell: Roasted malts.

Taste: Malty. I can taste chocolate, raisins and other dark fruit, toffee, and caramel.

Mouthfeel: Medium bodied, with a slight hop aftertaste.

The Verdict: Good. Rich and malty, this is one of the better beers from Trader Joe’s Josephsbrau label.

Serving type: bottle

04-05-2013 02:54:48 | More by TheMarkE

clemtig76

South Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -2%

04-04-2013 17:02:05 | More by clemtig76

Cdax

Pennsylvania

3/5  rDev -16%

04-01-2013 23:44:32 | More by Cdax

DMB

Massachusetts

3.75/5  rDev +5%

03-31-2013 02:25:33 | More by DMB

tjsdomer2

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Appearance: Ruby red with sparse large bubbles. Good tan foam. No lacing.

Smell: Mineral water and a hint of coffee. Very weak, but not unpleasant.

Taste/Mouthfeel: Mostly toffee. Seltzer water flavor/finish. The feel is definitely very good, but the flavor is just alright. Refreshing for an English brown.

Overall Drinkability: Not great initially, but this is actually a very good session. Nothing outstanding, but the feel makes it enticing.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2013 01:12:41 | More by tjsdomer2

TastyAdventure

Kentucky

3.65/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75

Found cheap at Trader Joe's. I think it was only $1.00!

Needless to say, I wasn't expecting much.

A - The head is not impressive, with big bubbles, not much retention, and not frothy or foamy, did not positively add to the taste or mouthfeel. The color is a nice shining brown though.

S - Some sweetness and some hops, I didnt linger here too long because I wasnt expecting much and didnt pick up much initially.

T - Much Better than Expected! you can tell the hop bitterness is strong but they are subdued very well by a equally strong, almost caramel sweetness from the malts. Called a English Brown but reminds me more of a Scottish Ale.

Mouthfeel - nothing too special here, but pleasurable nonetheless. Definitely smooth.

Surprisingly good taste considering the price, head appearance, and smell! A nice regular house beer to have if you are on a budget, or plan on drinking quite a few in one night.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2013 23:24:58 | More by TastyAdventure

Zanico

Ohio

3.5/5  rDev -2%

03-30-2013 01:19:39 | More by Zanico

truesolution

Texas

4/5  rDev +12%

03-25-2013 02:47:05 | More by truesolution

fx20736

New York

4/5  rDev +12%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

bought at Trader Joe's in Pittsford on 3/23/13. Price $ 1.09.

poured from a 12 oz bottle into a large glass tumbler, served at room temp.

appearance: very, very dark amber supports a thin tan head. spotty lacing.

aroma: some lightly toasted chocolate malt.

mouthfeel: decent, pretty good actually.

taste: a nutty, brown bread with just a hint of cocoa.

notes: It's not Goose Island Nut Brown Ale but it is easy drinking and for the price, a good value. Would buy again.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 08:05:50 | More by fx20736

menacho1

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -2%

03-16-2013 05:05:46 | More by menacho1

Duvel

North Carolina

3.75/5  rDev +5%

03-09-2013 15:38:06 | More by Duvel