Illinois Beer Reviews

Beer is booming in the state that so famously defied Prohibition.

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Two Brothers Circus Penguin Pale Ale

by Tom Smillie | American Pale Ale (APA), Beer Reviews, Fruit Beers, Illinois, Mug, Pint Glass, Spiced / Herbed / Vegetable Beers, Two Brothers Brewing Company, United States | 0 comments

A surprising beer that caught me off guard by one of my favorite breweries.  Apparently this is a brewer’s choice concoction where they collectively decided on the malts, hops, ingredients, label design, and name.  I must say, I’m not a huge fan of the...

5 Rabbit 5 Lizard Latin-Style Witbier

by Tom Smillie | 5 Rabbit Cerveceria, Fruit Beers, Illinois, Mug, Pilsner Glass, Pint Glass, Spiced / Herbed / Vegetable Beers, United States, Witbier | 0 comments

What looks like a standard Wit, turns out to have a great deal of flare.  When poured, this beer possesses a fluffy egg-shell white head atop a hazy straw-golden liquid.  There is a good deal off yeast at the bottom so make sure you swirl the bottle well before...

Chi-Town Pier Pale Ale

by Taylor Birkey | American Pale Ale (APA), Chicago Beer Company, Illinois, Mug, Pint Glass, United States | 2 comments

I’m from Chicago, and I love my city. It’s a hard working, comedy-loving place with some of the best food and beer in the country. On any given day I get to enjoy awesome beer and food from some great craft establishments: Half Acre, Metropolitan,...

5 Rabbit 5 Vulture

by Tom Smillie | 5 Rabbit Cerveceria, American Amber / Red Ale, American Brown Ale, Beer Reviews, Illinois, Mug, Pilsner Glass, Pint Glass, Spiced / Herbed / Vegetable Beers, United States | 0 comments

My first full beer from this new brewery finds me sipping on an interesting concoction.  This dark ale is brewed with ancho chilies (dried poblano) and made in the Oaxacam-style (a region in the Southern Pacific side of Mexico).  While I’m not completely sure...

Finch’s Dirtier Bird Barrel Aged Doppelbock

by Team | Beer Reviews, Doppelbock, Finch's Beer Company, Illinois, Mug, Pilsner Glass, Spirit-Aged Beers, United States | 2 comments

Tom: New to the Chicago craft beer scene since 2009 Finch beer produced this special barrel aged beer which released around the Christmas of 2011. I was lucky enough to find a bottle on my local liquor store shelf as this beer is limited. While I’m not a huge...

Goose Island Big John Imperial Stout

by Tom Smillie | Beer Reviews, Goose Island Beer Company, Illinois, Mug, Pint Glass, Russian Imperial Stout, Snifter, Spiced / Herbed / Vegetable Beers, United States | 0 comments

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...