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.
Goose Island Big John Imperial Stout
In the wake of producing some pretty huge stouts last year (Nightstalker and the BCS line), Goose released yet another monster in April of 2011 with this beer. The sexy label is quickly familiar to the Chicagoland native as the design mimics that of the iconic John...
Abita 25th Anniversary Double Dog
One quarter of a century. Who knew this brewery had been in operation since 1986? I sure didn’t. Hell, everyone talks about the California brewers as being the pioneers of the craft beer industry, but Abita was right there with them. Providing fresh beer to...
Avery Out of Bounds Stout
C.V. Howe (Marketing Director) puts it well on Avery’s website in saying that Out of Bounds is, “a roast monster!” Pouring a garnet hue with a creamy beige head it is no wonder this beer might be a pub favorite based on looks alone. Pressing your...
Avery Hog Heaven Barleywine
According Adam Avery, Hog Heaven was the beer that helped put his brewery on the map. Looking at the label one might they they are in for a smoked beer, but don’t be fooled. The nonsensical name is only a front for this barleywine-style ale. In a video Adam...
Nectar Ales Black Xantus
Nectar Ales was founded in 1987 in Northern California helping to pioneer the craft beer moment in America. Since 2003, when Firestone Walker Brewing Company acquired Nectar, the brand has provided three year round beers to their line up. Recently (2009) they added...
Oskar Blues Gubna Imperial IPA
I’ll be honest…I’m having the toughest time figuring out how to pronounce this beer let along what it means. I’m leaning towards it meaning Governor. Anywho, regardless of these factors it is apparent that Oskar Blues mean for this Imperial...
Dogfish Head Olde School Barleywine
Wow. Olde School is one huge beer. Read the beer facts to the right and you’ll see why. One of the reasons DFH was able to get the abv so high was though the addition of pureed dates and figs during the brewing process. Sam put an old cellar man’s...
Bridgeport Hop Harvest Ale
What a glorious beer! Instantly I knew my grade based on two factors. The first being that it poured a light golden color letting me know the malt was only there to act as a sweetener and second, the hops were bursting with a vibrant fruity quality that filled the air...
Cantillon Classic Gueuze
Hype. That is the first word that came into my mind regarding this beer. I had heard and read about the famous brews Cantillon produces, but considering I was not a fan of lambic beers I put them on the back burner. Well, the day finally came when I sat down to a...
Tröegs 2010 Scratch Series #30 Bock
I’ve had this in my fridge for over a year. Wow. Good thing this is a bock and probably matured a little with some cold cellaring. This, my first Tröegs brew, could not have been better. This Bock was a part of their Scratch Series where they brew various...
Stone Lukcy Basartd Ale
They, Stone, calls this the Cuvee de Bastards and rightly so. It combines and blends the 3 notable variations: Arrogant Bastard, Oaked Aged Bastard, and Double Bastard in this one-off brew that was released in November of 2010. Its release celebrated 13 years since...
New Holland Black Hatter IPA
Reflecting back on the Mad Hatter night at Bavarian Lodge I must say my appreciation for the beer has changed. Back then I found this average, but after sipping on this bomber I won me over. I guess my reason for the grade was due to the fact that I had not sampled...
Schloss Eggenberg Samichlaus
Brewed annually. Lager yeast. Its name means Santa Claus. 14% abv. These are just a few facts I picked up before opening this bottle. It has been sitting in my fridge for some time now partly due to the abv. It is not every day that I (or you) might think, “I...
Stone 15th Anniversary (Escondidian Black IPA)
Yet another bottle label that stinks of arrogance. Hey, Stone we get it. You are a bunch of arrogant bastards that make great beer and you hate mediocre swill. We’ve all heard you’re platform and understand, so how about you move on and find some new...
De Struise & Stillwater Outblack
I must say, information on this beer is limited … just like the beer. With that said allow me to summarize what I have found in my research for this beer. For starters it is a collaboration between De Struise in Belgium and Stillwater Artisanal Ale out of the...
Hopworks Secession Cascadian Dark Ale
I acquired this bottle in a beer trade from my homebrewer friend Washington. Thanks Bill. Not surprising of people in the Pacific NW, Bill enjoys the outdoors and lives up to his recommendation. After all, one must consider the region in which the beer hails...
Aecht Schlenkerla Eiche
Oak Smoke is an interesting product that is released in the winter around Christmas time. What makes this beer so interesting and unique? Well for starters its flavor and aroma are developed by using oak wood during the kilning process rather than beech wood. Beech...
Furthermore Proper Ale
My first awareness of this brewery came around 2008 when I got wind that Furthermore was getting their brewery off the ground. In 2009 I happened upon the label art for Proper and instantly knew it would be a winner. Something about it…sort of 8-bit, yet simple...
Oskar Blues G’Knight
Name in honor of Gordon Knight, a Vietnam Vet who lost his life fighting a fire outside of the brewery’s town, this beer is a not to his service and love for craft beer. Not sure where to go with this review after that. Gordon is a hero…straight up! The...
Oskar Blues Old Chub Scotch Ale
I’m not sure why this was the last beer I chose to review from Oskar Blues line up? Maybe it was the name or maybe I was resisting my heritage, in the end the time has come to partake of this strong Scottish ale. Brewed with beech wood smoked malt (think...
Ale Asylum Tripel Nova
Moving away from from their quad which left me wanting I cracked open their Tripel a few days later. Again, a stellar label design with bright colors and the image of a Phoenix boosted my initial expectations for this beer. Giving some time for the beer to warm a...
Ale Asylum Mercy Grand Cru
What drew me to this beer was the label. It reminded me of that beast Balrog in Lord of the Rings giving me the impression that this beer might be pretty menacing. Come to find out the only thing that was beastly about this beer was the abv clocking in at 9.5%. The...
Schneider Aventinus Wheat Doppelbock
Tom: I picked up this bottle of Aventinus at Whole Foods per a recommendation from my buddy Paul (the beer guy there). However, this was no regular bottle. As the finely wrapped bottle indicated, it had been brewed in 2003 and cellared in the ice caves of Kelheim for...