Lil' Smokin Toad Porter
Hoppin' Frog Brewery

Lil’ Smokin' Toad from Hoppin’ Frog. Four-pack of 16 fl oz cans picked up at the brewery, 16/10/25 - $23.38 (Including tax and tip)/$ 0.365/fl oz. Reviewed 29/10/25, review 3620. Note that I use DD/MM/YY protocol.
Bottom of can stamped “BEST BY FEB 12 2026.” Stored at home at 40 degrees F. Served at 43.8 degrees F in a hand washed and dried Jester King snifter. The final temperature is 52.1 degrees F.
Appearance – 4.25
First pour – Medium Amber (SRM 12), clear.
Body – Deep Amber (SRM 15), opaque. Under direct light, same. When rear-lite, light passes through easily, deep ruby.
Head – Large (Maximum 4.4 cm, aggressive center pour). Wheat, high density, average retention, leaving a 0.5 – 1.3 cm jagged crown and a thin complete cap. The initial collapse gives a band of near-microscopic bubbles.
Lacing – Good. See above. Also, as the level drops, a wide band of near-microscopic bubbles remains connected to the head, coating the glass.
Aroma – 4 – Some slightly sweet caramel malt. No hops, no alcohol.
Flavor – 4.25 – Begins sweet with caramel malt, chocolate, and mild smoke. No hops flavor, no alcohol (5.0 % ABV, according to the label). No dimethylsulfide or diacetyl. Mild gastric warming. Ends on the dry side.
Palate – 4 – Medium: Dry: Soft carbonation.
Style: Follows the BA style description, minus the specific wood.
Final impression and summation: 4.25 Uncredited art work. The smoke is more of a Spezial level rather than a Schlenkerla. Fruit Fly was intrigued but a bit hesitant before finally giving approval. I’m also liking this brew.

 

This one pours a dark-ish black/brown color, with a small head, and lots of lacing.

This smells pretty smokey, but not overwhelmingly so, with a nice chocolatey note.

This has a lot of smoke, and it might turn off people who don’t like smoke in their beers. I do like my smokey beers, so this was a treat. It’s quite chocolatey, with some roast, and a nice warming campfire sort of vibe on the palate.

This is creamy, but lighter bodied, with a nice drinkability to it.

This was a real treat and I wish it was easier to find lower ABV smoked beers, and smoked beers in general, honestly.

Clear maple brown with a creamy tan head that's full and retains well.

The body is super silky with a nicely mild carbonation delivering a perfect level of mildly woody smoke in a leafy, nutty malt that's not nearly as potent as most Schlenkerla bottles.

I had some variation or trial version of this at Lee's, and it was good then, but for some reason it's really hitting right now, if it's any different at all.

16oz can from Tavour. Dark brown pour, beige head settles out to thin ring. Aroma is roasty, malty with some notes of chocolate. Taste is roasty, mild sweetness, chocolate, finishing with minor bitter bite

 

16 ounce can, looks like the date stamp on the bottom of the can says best by FEB 12 2026. Looking online this was a February 2025 release. Served in a pint glass, the beer pours a dark brown color with some ruby red tinges. There's about an inch light tan head, head retention and lacing are both good. The brew smells like smoked malt, dark bread, charred malt and bit of coffee. Taste is similar to the aroma, but there's also some toffee and earthiness noticeable too. Wish the smokiness in both the aroma and flavor had more of a kick. Mouthfeel/body is light/medium, seems a bit thin but it is smooth and easy enough to drink. I liked this one, but with that being said I wish it was smokier and had a little more body to it. But it's worth a try especially if you like subtly smoked brews.

The beer pours out a clear, soft brown color, appears garnet red in the glass; dense, lively carbonation; thick, light khaki colored head; softly rocky and semi-creamy textured. Fine warm and lightly sweet toasted malt scent infused with a wisp of smokiness. Pretty decent taste; roasted grain and grain char; hardwood smokiness; a bit phenolic and slightly acrid bitterness. Somewhat thin mouthfeel for a porter; feels slightly watery; very smooth and slippery.

While there is a nice enough bit of smokiness and roasted grain flavor and char, the beer as a whole seems a bit weak and thin for being a porter. Consequently the taste also suffers some from these qualities. Not a bad beer, but certainly not a great one either.

ABV: 5.0%; pouring temperature: 45.2 °F; canning info: Best by ?? 12 2026 #881
Source: Tavour