Beer reviews and blog posts by Tom Smillie
Tom started his journey into the beer world the summer of 2007. What began as a simple post-garage-cleaning beer with his Dad turned into a love for this “art in fermented form.” Adhering to the motto I can try everything once, Tom's goal is to sample just about every beer ever created. Trying styles ranging from Pilsner to Oak Aged Stouts to Flemish Red Ales, his tastes are varied. Tom's favorite styles are ESBs, Stouts, and Wheats. About a year after he started sampling, he began home brewing.
North Coast Grand Cru
A Grand Cru to end all. This beer is huge across the board. The ABV is pushing 13%, Agave Nectar is incorporated into the brew, and it is aged in Bourbon barrels to maturation. Or should I say perfection? I sincerely thought I was in for a dark maroon colored ale...
Stroh’s American Lager
Despite having a long history with German roots, this beer is just like every other standard Macro adjunct lager in the market. Formerly located in Detroit, Michigan it become one of American’s well known lager beers. While the “brewing tradition”...
North Coast Old Stock Ale 2011
To be quite honest, I have not sat down to a NCBC beer in a long time. I have a few Barrel Aged Old Raspy’s chillin’ in my basement and I’ve been meaning to pick up the 2009 aged Old Stock Ale, but have not pulled the trigger. Found this bottle...
Port Brewing Santa’s Little Helper
With the Fall months almost behind us I thought it was time to bust out a fairly aged bottle of Santa’s Little Helper in preparation for Winter. Last weekend I cut the lawn for the last time this year and started putting up plastic over the windows to seal help...
Mikkeller Big Worse Barleywine Bourbon Barrel
Aged for about 8 months in second use Bourbon barrels Mikkeller definitely hit a home run with this one. I have not had the pleasure of sampling the original Big Bad or Big Worse Barleywine beers in this series so know that I have now point of reference on his...
Avery Joe’s Premium American Pilsner
In the past years I would have momentarily glanced at the Avery beers on shelves at liquor stores and walked on by. Reflecting back on that a few months ago I realized it was due to a simple factor. The labeling. Their old labels seems out of date making me think...
Port Brewing Santa’s Little Helper Bourbon Stout
A base Port Brewing Imperial Stout + Bourbon barrel = deliciousness. Seriously! It is good stuff. Some time back I had the pleasure of brewing for the day with Tim Marshall (former Senior brewer at Rock Bottom-Lombard). Before we started brewing he let me sample...
Dundee Kölsch-Style Ale
A good Kölsch is grassy, crisp, smooth, and has a light wheat texture. This beer has all those descriptions, but lacks a little quality. You see, not every brewery can make a great Kölsch. They may try, but only a few succeed (i.e., the breweries in the town of...
Widmer Brothers Pitch Black IPA
Found a single on the shelf and decided to give this one a try. Widmer’s, known more for their Hefe, has every right to brew a Black IPA as they are located in the Cascadian range of North America. While I’m not particularly found of this style, you...
Great Divide Grand Cru
Wow! This beer holds up to just about any Quad on the market today. Packed with wonderful flavor and boasting a hefty 11% abv it is no wonder they release it January-March (we need something to keep us warm). Allow me to explain why this beer should be one of your...
Boon Oude Geuze
Reflecting over the last few months my taste for Lambic beers has taken off. Boon’s traditional Geuze finds my palate after sampling their Mariage Parfait (a vintage blend) and some of my favorite gueuze beers from Cantillon, Drie Fonteinen, and Girardin....
New Holland Rye Hatter IPA
Dang! This beer has some giddy up. Both in the malt and hop categories. Allow me to explain. Once you get past the great color this beer has, an orange-copper hue, you are in for a treat. The plume of delicate foam that laces invites you to waft in the hoppy sweet...
Great Divide Belgian-style Yeti
Just when I thought I was done with my Yeti collection, Great Divide went and brewed a fifth. My bottle, brewed on June 17 2011, met my lips the night of September 19th the same year and I will not be the same again. I figure the malt bill is exactly the same laying...
Ale Asylum Contorter Porter
The cool crisp nights are returning here to the Chicagoland area and after a hard day in the office I decided to unwind with a brew fit for just the occasion. Ale Asylum makes some great beers and this one is no exception. I bought a six pack of this beer in...
Epic Mayhem
Epic Brewing Co. (not to be confused with the US brewery in Utah). Their tagline is “Epic Beer, it just tastes bigger.” I would wholeheartedly agree. Mayhem might not be the biggest beer, but it certainly is bad ass. At only 35 IBUs it packs a punch...
Epic Armageddon IPA
Armageddon. This future apocalyptic battle will be nothing shy of epic as Good and Evil duke it out. A couple thinks stuck out to me right away. First, the abv is an eerie 6.66% which is the mark of the Beast. Interesting, the book of Revelation explains that evil...
Port Brewing Anniversary Ale
Had this beast of a beer last year at the Bavarian Lodge and loved it. I’ll tell you right now, this thing might as well be a double/imperial IPA even thought Port calls it a Strong APA. The ABV is definitely up there and it is hoppy as all get out. Released...
Cape Ann Fisherman’s Pumpkin Stout
I’ve been to Gloucester (not pronounced how someone from the Midwest would think) and taken in it’s salt sea air. If you didn’t know it was a fishing town one whiff of the processing factories and boats would sure clue you in. The is also made...
Anchor Brekle’s Brown
Celebrating 140 years of brewing tradition Anchor commemorates this beer to its founder Gottlieb Brekle. With a killer first name this man started brewing in 1871 in San Francisco which later took the name by which it is now know. Wanting to brew something in honor...
Founders Devil Dancer Triple IPA
Fresh (2010): $22.99 for a 4 pack, but I would argue that Devil Dancer is worth it. You can enjoy one, age one, sell one, and share one. I was on my screen porch when I cracked the bottle open and poured. Even with a mild breeze outside all I could smell was a...
New Holland Farmhouse Hatter IPA
A new variation of their Mad Hatter IPA since last time I sampled a flight of them in 2010. This one incorporates an interesting Belgian yeast strain to the mix which pairs rather well with the hop profile. Do not be fooled by the old “American Gothic”...
Sprecher Barley Wine Ale 2007
Vintage 2007: More known for their sodas (which are phenomenal by the way), Sprecher also produces a wide variety of beers. This beer falls in their limited edition production. They started brewing this Barleywine in 2005 and I found myself a 2007 bottle in the...
Houblon Chouffe Dobbelen IPA Tripel
A few months ago I did some house and cat sitting for friends who vacationed to Europe. My payment came in the form of beer bought in Belgium and I could not have been happier. One of the brews purchased was this beauty from d’Achouffe brewery. It is a hoppy...