Black Toad Distinctive Dark Ale

Brewed by Gordon Biersch Brewing Company
Style: Brown Ale
San Jose, California USA

Serve in Dimpled mug, Shaker

send corrections   |   shelftag   |   edit barcodes   |   update pic

UPDATED: MAY 15, 2006 The color saves this one. Not a whole lot going on here. Thin head that dissipated slowly, not much nose, not much taste. Waste of calories, if you ask me. (6-4-6-3-10) Re-Rate 5/15/06: Deep, dark black pour with a thick pale tan head, nose of a Snickers bar, and just as sweet in the taste, with notes of caramel, chocolate, cream and nuts. This is better than I had originally thought.

Dark ruby/brown in colour, brown bubbles with no head. The nose is malty with soft or mild hops. The taste is smoked with malts, in fact, very smokey, almost burt and reminds me of a campfire. The body is medium and this is an easy drink.

Molasses aroma with sweet roasted malt notes. Blackish red with a large off-white head and nice lace. Some nut flavors and some oak. Not much bite, though very drinkable. Nice distinctive flavor and very enjoyable.

This is a style that is very similer to some stouts flavor wise but a thinner lightet liguid overall. Coffe notes a plenty this almost tastes like it wasr. It does taste darkwhatever that cojers up and is quite good if not mind blowing. Terrific coffee aroma

From a bottle--Picked this up for $4.99 a sixer so I didn't expect a whole lot. But I was pleasantly surprised. The beer pours a very deep brown with reddish hints around the edges. Aroma is rich. Initially large tan head that dissipates quickly. Flavor is malty, smokey & nutty all at once. Maybe slightly over-carbonated but very drinkable nonetheless. Great brew for the price!

Nice appearance - black with ruby red edges and red tinted tan head and lacing. Body is not too thick, but has a very smooth and creamy feel. Smokey chcolate malts, a little sweet in the middle and a little sour at the end. Hops play a very minimal part in this. A little heavier than some other scwarzbiers?

It's not really black, and the color isn't off per se... it's just far too red for the style. Pours very little head and none if cold. Thin bodied and quite nutty. Clean tasting and drinkable. Doesn't really resemble a Schwarzbier though.

UPDATED: JAN 18, 2004 Very dark ruby color,medium sized head that lasts for some time.The aroma was decent being Malty,nutty aroma with a hint of hops and possibly caramel.The taste is malty and mildly alcoholic with a mild hint of hops and mildly sweet.The after taste is decent with malt and hops.Is this a great brew,Hardly,but it is decent and well worth seeking out if your in the bock clan.

Nice dark brown colour with a thin tan head which didn't last for too long. Very pleasant hop aroma from the smell...that is definately the main focus! A bit of malt and a tad of alcohol is noticeable in the aroma as well. The taste is very nice...strong hops pleasantly mixed with a great deal of roasted malt. Musty aftertaste mixed with a bit of malt bitterness and a slight twang from the hops. All-around a great beer in a style that I usually don't like. This was a very good beer in my mind, and one of the best i've had in the style. Worth trying to find! I bought my twelve ounce bottle at Total Wine in McLean, Virginia.

Nice color with a very dark beer taste at first but a smooth finish. If you like dark beer you'll like this one