Frog Bites
Tox Brewing Company

 

L: Pours near-black, oily, dark fudge/chocolate. No noticeable head forms, and there is little more than scant bubbling from the bottom. Held to the light, this beer has a dark umber, chocolate hue, totally opaque.

S: Notes of chocolate, peanuts, and roasted malt. Light caramel and vanilla, and very faint coconut and molasses.

T: Follows the nose, although a much more prominent role is afforded to the peanuts. Dark chocolate, caramel, toffee, and a hint of roast. Less noticeable notes of vanilla, coconut, and a warming sensation.

F: Medium- to full-bodied, biased towards full. Thick, chewy mouthfeel, with a very faint level of carbonation. Warming sensation.

O: Fairly good, I wish they'd toned down the peanuts and focused on the chocolate more. Decadent but avoids being cloying. Good entry.

Pours an effervescent ebony with a sliver of rapidly falling mocha colored head. This stuff poured like an oil change that should've been done several months earlier & I mean that in a good way. Traces of lacing & head retention

S: Peanuts & chocolate, some toasted coconut late & a little caramel

T: Follows the nose, some toasted coconut, Vanila. woody hops, plus a touch of booze on the tongue up front. Dryness, some Reese's cup, vanilla, carob & boozy edge as this beer warms up. Finishes with some toasted coconut, chocolate & peanuts

MF: Pretty chewy, dialed back carbonation, very warming

The peanut angle works on this beer, doesn't seem forced or artificial. A bruiser of a beer that lets you know it has heft, but plenty of great flavor as well

 

Can into pint glass. Pours pitch black with a minimal dark tan head. Initial impression is sweet chocolate, vanilla, molasses, and a touch of coconut. Alcohol is noticeable but not overwhelming. Mouthfeel is thick and smooth. Finish fades to sweet chocolate. Overall, a little sweet/cloying for my tastes.

Excellent head production and decent retention. Body pours with the consistency of motor oil. Ebony body with dark brown highlights, including a very dark brown head.

Super rich, fudgey (I refuse to accept that fudgey is not a word, because it should be), and decadent on the nose. Chocolate is perhaps center stage, but there's certainly plenty of caramel and molasses from the malt base, plenty of peanuts, and a nice showing from the vanilla. As far as the additives, the only thing I don't really pick up is coconut, which is hidden behind the peanuts.

While still rich and chocolatey on the palate, it's also a touch sharper - owing mostly, perhaps, to the peanuts, which bring a slightly metallic tinge to the proceedings. Chocolate and vanilla are in full force, while the malt base has primary notes of chocolate, caramel, and coffee. The peanuts aren't quite as strong as on the nose, but they're present, especially mid-sip and on the aftertaste. Coconut is again mostly lost; it's there if you know to look for it, perhaps, but it never really emerges on its own.

Thick and chewy on the palate. Super approachable for the ABV with minimal sting but sufficient liveliness.

Definitely a dessert beer: sweet, rich, and decadent. It's never cloying, however, and is never quite "too much."

Are Tox the premiere pastry stout brewer in Connecticut? It's either them or Abomination.

Pours an inky black with no head, just a tight, mocha-colored band around the shoulders. Nose expresses a big hit of peanut butter and chocolate. Taste follows nose - tasty without being overly sweet. Not much a of a coconut presence. Mouthfeel is medium in body with an easy, even carbonation. Overall, quite delightful. I would add this to my regular line-up if it was more readily available. ABV is well-hidden at 12%