JosephsBrau Black Toad Distinctive Dark Ale
Trader Joe's in Monrovia, California, United States 🇺🇸
Brewed at/by: Gordon Biersch Brewing CompanyBrown Ale Regular
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Score
6.62
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We begin with a custom mixture of dark and roasted barley malts, then we add the choicest hops. The resulting ale has a dark chestnut color and a deep nutty flavor. Brewed specially for Trader Joe’s.
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6.2/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
Bottle. Deep brown color, some head. Burnt toast aroma. Taste of a nutty, coffee flavor.
Tried
from Bottle
on 24 Mar 2025
at 04:43
7.1/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
12 oz bottle into a La Chouffe stemmed tulip glass on 8th Jan 2018, while on holiday in California. Dark brown pour, tanned crown. Malts rule the roost here, good depth in the aroma and taste, roasted/toasted, but not burnt. Fairly sweet flavour wise, easy drinking for a guy like me with a sweet tooth, others might suffer and crave for a more bitter Brown Ale (not a lot of those around really), but this suited me nicely.
Tried
from Bottle
on 08 Jan 2018
at 19:43
6.8/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 5
Flavor 6
Texture 8
Overall 8
From May 2008
I got this bottle in a trade with russpowell. Thanks Russ!
A nice dark brown-red colour with a 2 finger head of tannish foam and some good lacing.
It has a nice smell to it. I'm picking up some roasted malt, chocolate, coffee, and a touch of dark fruit.
Taste wise, I get the chocolate first, followed by roasted malt and coffee with some notes of dark fruit and just the slightest of hop bitterness. Pretty tasty brew here. The body is kind of thin it doesn't ever get watery. It finishes with a coffee bitterness that lasts fairly long in the aftertaste.
Very good head retention as I'm down to the last couple of ounces and there's still a solid 1/2" layer. This is another one of them "fun" beers to drink and I'm glad I got to try it.
I got this bottle in a trade with russpowell. Thanks Russ!
A nice dark brown-red colour with a 2 finger head of tannish foam and some good lacing.
It has a nice smell to it. I'm picking up some roasted malt, chocolate, coffee, and a touch of dark fruit.
Taste wise, I get the chocolate first, followed by roasted malt and coffee with some notes of dark fruit and just the slightest of hop bitterness. Pretty tasty brew here. The body is kind of thin it doesn't ever get watery. It finishes with a coffee bitterness that lasts fairly long in the aftertaste.
Very good head retention as I'm down to the last couple of ounces and there's still a solid 1/2" layer. This is another one of them "fun" beers to drink and I'm glad I got to try it.
Tried
from Bottle
on 15 Nov 2017
at 09:49
6.9/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 7.5
Nothing wrong with this beer. Well brewed and a great example of the style I think. It is how they say.. "Deep nutty flavour". Berkeley Trader Joea ---Rated via Beer Buddy for iPhone
Tried
on 14 Oct 2016
at 21:01
6.6/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 6.5
Olmost black with a light brown head - Dark malt aroma with some notes of roasted malt - Dark malt body with some roasted malt and some bitterness - The malt goes into the finish with some bitterness - This was nice
Tried
on 15 Jun 2016
at 11:54
7.4/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 7
Flavor 7
Texture 8
Overall 7.5
Bottle pour into nonic pint glass from Trader Joe’s. Aroma is strong roasted malts, bordering on burnt, with notes of chocolate. Appearance is clear, dark brown with reddish tinge, fair sparkle, finger-width foamy beige head with fair retention and minimal lacing. Taste is mainly sweet roasted malt, toffee with hint of hazelnut and ash; mild bitter balance. Palate is medium bodied with creamy texture, average carbonation and dry finish. Overall, some decent complexity for a not-so-complex style. Better than expected and at a great price.
Tried
from Bottle
on 15 May 2016
at 20:27
6.8/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 7
Texture 6
Overall 8
Rated from old notes. A rich and dark ale that goes down like a black and tan. Very smooth easy-going beer with a slight sherry taste. Quite decent.
Tried
on 19 Dec 2015
at 10:50
7.2/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 7
Flavor 8
Texture 6
Overall 8
Purchased at Trader Joe in Vegas. Pours a dark brown colour with a frothy beige, good retention and creamy lacing. Nutty aromas with coffee notes over mild roasted malts. Smooth oily mouthfeel. The roasted malts are felt more in the taste. Coffee and nuts still present. Quite surprised at how good this dark ale is.
Tried
on 29 Nov 2015
at 03:14
6/10
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Appearance 6
Aroma 6
Flavor 6
Texture 6
Overall 6
12 ounce bottle from Trader Joes. Pours a dark brown color, a bit red, with a small white head. A sweet nose of cola and caramel. The flavor is toast, sweet sugars, brown toasted malt. OK. Lots of cola.
Tried
from Bottle
on 24 Sep 2015
at 23:23
7.6/10
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Appearance 8
Aroma 8
Flavor 8
Texture 8
Overall 6.5
12 ounce bottle. Mahogany color topped by a large rocky beige head. Roasted malt nose has hints of cocoa and nuts. Tangy roasted malt flavor has more cocoa and toasted nuts upfront. Some dark dried fruit and floral hops in finish. Decent brown ale at a bargain price of $1.00 per bottle.
Tried
from Bottle
on 24 Sep 2015
at 22:33