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.
Home Brewing a Split-Log Porter
The house I am currently residing in has a wood burning stove. Over the winter my roommate and I would fire it up to about 500 degrees in order to fight off the winter chill. I enjoy the smell of a burning fire. Maybe that is why I enjoy oak aged beers. Most of these...
Tyranena Down ‘N Dirty Chocolate Oatmeal Stout
It was 11:33pm, but since we lost an hour Saturday make that 12:33am. While the drunken masses celebrated St. Patrick’s Day in Chicago, I’m wrapping up my night with wonderful glass of stout and a book on brewing. I’ve had my fair share of stouts, of all types, and...
Strangford Lough St. Patrick’s Best Ale
With all the festivities here in Chicago it’s almost hard not a celebrate St. Patrick’s Day (especially when the Chicago River is dyed a kelly green color). What better way to bring in this day than with a beer made in his honor. Strangford Lough Brewing Co....
Midas Touch Clone: Macedonian Myth
My Midas Touch (Dogfish Head) clone was the first batch I brewed and it also took the longest. Brewed with 2 lbs of honey and saffron threads during the boil, then 4 cups of grape juice concentrate added at the peak of fermentation this beer is sweet. Boasting an ABV...Home Brewing a Maple Marzen
This was the third of four beers I have brewed since September. Unfortunately, none of them turned out how I had hoped. Due to a mixture of getting busy and the holiday season, I was not able to devote as much time to watching these beers through the process....Meet Tom Smillie, Homebrewer
Over the last couple years, I’ve found that home brewers have similar reasons for taking up the hobby. Brewing provides an outlet for creativity, learning some history, connecting with a vast community of people, developing a greater appreciation for beer, or possibly...
Ommegang Witte
Question: What should someone do on a Saturday after completing some chores? Answer: Sit back and relax with a cold beer! That is what I find myself doing right now. I’m enjoying Ommegang’s Witte and Belgian-style Wit bier. As I’ve stated before, I like most wheat...
Harviestoun Ola Dubh Special 12 Reserve
What I stumbled upon two weeks ago lead me to make an impulse buy. Apparently, Harviestoun takes their Old Engine Oil and ages it in re-used whiskey casks. There were numbers (12, 16, and 30) attached to the bottles and naturally the prices went up as you went higher....
Einbecker Mai-Ur-Bock
Over the weekend I found a stubby green bottle hanging out all by its lonesome in the back of my fridge. Apparently I did not give it much thought at the point of purchase nor over the last couple weeks. However, what I’ve come to find is that I picked up a gem in the...
Founders Red’s Rye P.A.
Tom: On the heels of the Pliny the Elder review, allow me to introduce a beer that is also hopped-up and bursting with grapefruit. As I read Nate’s findings I could identify all too well with his comments having just sampled my beer. Founders Red’s Rye P.A. is a...A Discussion on Hops
I’m going to venture out on a hunch here and say that most of you, like me, are fascinated by hops. Those small little green cones used to bitter beer are unique and varied. It seems like every week I read about a new hop being created by grafting two separate hop...
Great Lakes Conway’s Irish Ale
I have less than 20 minutes to write this review and get back to work (no pressure). One of best craft breweries that I stumbled upon two years ago was Great Lakes Brewing Co. Based out of Cleveland Ohio, they make an assortment of distributed beers which are, in my...
Avery Samael’s Oak Aged Ale
I must admit, I’ve never had a beer produced by Avery Brewing Co. Adhering to the philosophy of “go big, or go home” I thought sampling one of their Demon series oak-aged ales seemed appropriate. These beers are big crafty devils that boast high ABVs and intense...
New Beligum Ranger IPA
I was going to write a review, but then I found this video on New Belgium’s website which pretty much sums it up. I’ll give ‘em some mad props for creativity and introducing a new beer into their lineup. It looks as though NB is going with a new packaging scheme which...
Sam Adams Cherry Wheat
I’m sure you’ve all heard those popular commercials with the soothing voice of Tim Allan coaxing you to visit pure Michigan (.org). “With rolling sand dunes, tranquil bays, sprawling woodlands, clear streams and pristine golf courses,” the Mitten State is the perfect...
Mikate Beer
Found a beer made in Portugal and wanted to give you PHM readers some diversity. The label says it is a “Holland-style lager” which immediately conjured up thoughts of Heineken, Amstel, and Gouden Haven. I enjoy these beers from time-to-time so Mikate sounded...
Left Hand Imperial Stout
Well, life sure has a way of sneaking up on you. I did not realize that it has been close to two weeks since my last review. I am attempting to take control of the financial aspect of my life which has found me enrolled in a class offered through my church. The down...
Sierra Nevada Glissade Golden Bock
I like, if not love, Sierra Nevada, don’t get me wrong. I respect Ken Grossman’s pioneering spirit and craft. However, I feel they are a typical California massively hopped beer company. I rate a brewery on how well it can produce a plethora of styles that are...
Left Hand Sawtooth Ale
Sawtooth! Two things come to mind. A freak shark with teeth that mangle prey or the giant two-person saw used to fell trees. Quite frankly, I’m out of words for the day as I already used my allotted share and I have other matters on the mind. Fortunately, drinking...
Samuel Adams Noble Pils
Having been given the go-ahead from a fellow PHM I’m going to…wait for it…hop right into this review. Today’s selection is the new Spring seasonal by Sam Adams. Winning the Beer Lover’s Choice Award, Noble Pils was recently rolled out in place of their White...
Quilmes Lager
Last year my roommates and I started getting into the show Man vs. Wild. It is hard to not like Bear Grylls. He is a man’s man with a cool accent and an adventurous spirit. One of the episodes took place in the Patagonian mountain range. From what I remember the...
Rogue John John Dead Guy Ale
Work was slow today…a little too slow. Of course time always stands still on a Friday as if to zap every amount of eager anticipation for the weekend from you. For me it was not the advent of the weekend that caused my excitement, but the opportunity to sample the...