Black Toad Distinctive Dark Ale

Brewed by Goose Island Beer Company
Style: Brown Ale
Chicago, Illinois USA

Date: March 14, 2009
Mode: Bottle
Source: Ticker Tasting
Appearance: clear dark brown, wispy beige head, bits of lace
Aroma: sweet chocolate and dark caramel aroma
Flavor: rich chocolate flavor, touch of caramel sweetness, light nutty character, earthyness keeps it pretty dry
Aroma: 5/10; Appearance: 6/10; Flavor: 5/10; Palate: 6/10; Overall: 10/20
Rating: 2.6/5.0
Drinkability: 7/10
Score: *4

Bottle. Poured a large, pitted, creamy, tan head with a clear, red-brown body. Superb pour. Prevalent malt aroma of caramel and chocolate with some dark fruit. Some herbal hops hidden amongst the malt. The caramel was still present in the flavor, but the fruit really came through. Primarily raisin and cherry. There is also a little nuttiness and toastiness in the flavor profile, although both are very subtle. Very light, watery body...too much so for my preferences. Soft carbonation with a mildly bitter finish. Overall a decent beer, but the palate was too light. The flavor profile was nice, but not robust/distinctive enough.

12 oz. bottle pours dark- as- night black with poufy, dense, tan head. Aroma is of chocolate and malt, very warm. Medium body with something fruity in the front palate - cherries, maybe? a mid palate of chicory and a smooth nutty finish. A much better beer than I expected and one of the better beers I’ve had from Trader Joe’s. Could make for some interesting pairings and possibly a nice glaze for a pork roast.

Appearance: Pours a clear, dark brown body with a thin, wispy, white head. Smell: Dark, roasty malts with rather light notes of chocolate and fruit. Light notes, mind you. Taste: Dark malts with a taste of chocolate-covered roasted grains and a nutty caramel sweetness. Minor hint of fruit. The bottom drops out and things get a bit watery midway. Light floral, herbal hops with a mild bitterness. Finishes dry and crisp. Mouthfeel: Medium-thin body. Medium carbonation. Drinkability: Well, it’s be no means outstanding, but it’s certainly one of the better beers from the Trader Joe’s lineup.

12 ounce bottle from Trader Joe’s Glen Allen, VA. Pours a clear brownish red with a medium-large tan head. Good retention and fair lacing. Aroma of caramel, chocolate, slight roast and faint metallic hops. Taste is caramel, nuts, leafy hops, chocolate, sunflower. Medium bodied. Creamy. Fairly nice.

12 oz bottle. Pours brown amber with a decent off white head. Smells of roasted malt and sour fruit. Tastes of dark fruit, fermented sour malt, and some earthy, grassy hops. Weird brew, but not bad.

Maybe a sour roasted malt aroma. A twisty that poured a black color with a hint of an amber hue, minimal tan head, no visible sediment, and can’t see tha action. Sweet roasted malt taste with some grapefruit flavored hops. Medium/full bodied, resinous, with soft carbonation. A good session beer the main concern is the born on date because this is a twisty. Moves well at Trader Joes so shouldn’t be a problem.

Reddish brown with a medium quickly dissipating crown. Aroma of caramel, sweet malt, roasted malt, nuts and a touch of smoke. Flavor is of roasted malt with some toffee, and nuts mixed in. Creamy palate with a nutty aftertaste. Gets a bit candied as it warms but not too bad.