Alarmist Toke 4Pk

Alarmist Toke 4Pk is a cherrywood-smoked lager brewed by Alarmist Brewing in Illinois at 4.6% ABV, sold as a four-pack. This specialty smoked beer distinguishes itself through the use of toasted cherrywood smoke rather than the beechwood more commonly associated with the smoked lager tradition, resulting in a lighter, more approachable take on the style.

Quick Facts: ABV: 4.6%  |  Origin: Illinois, USA  |  Style: Smoked Lager  |  Brewery: Alarmist Brewing

Production & Heritage

Alarmist Brewing is a Chicago-area craft brewery that gained national recognition when its Le Jus hazy IPA won the first-ever gold medal in the Hazy IPA category at the Great American Beer Festival in 2018. The brewery's Toke takes a decidedly different path, applying cherrywood smoke to a clean lager base. The toasted cherrywood imparts a gentler, more nuanced smokiness compared to the assertive beechwood character found in traditional German rauchbiers, keeping the beer sessionable at just 4.6% ABV.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: A waft of toasted cherrywood smoke greets the nose first, followed by subtle malt sweetness. Beneath that initial smokiness sits a clean, bready lager character with faint hints of brown sugar.

Taste: The entry is crisp and refreshing, leaning on the lager's clean grain backbone. At mid-palate, the cherrywood smoke arrives — restrained rather than overpowering — layered with a slight brown sugar sweetness that rounds out the flavor. The balance tilts toward drinkability, never letting the smoke dominate the lighter malt structure.

Finish: Moderate in length, with lingering toasted wood and a dry, lager-clean close. A final whisper of smoke persists without heaviness, inviting the next sip.

How to Drink Toke

Serve cold in a standard pint glass or a Willi Becher to concentrate the smoke aromatics. Toke's restrained smokiness and low ABV make it a natural session beer straight from the can on warmer days. For a smoky twist on a Michelada, its cherrywood character pairs well with tomato juice, lime, and hot sauce. It also works in a beer-based Bloody Mary as a float, where the smoke adds depth without overwhelming the drink. A Shandy made with Toke and fresh lemonade creates a surprisingly balanced sweet-smoky combination.

Best For

• Backyard cookouts where the cherrywood smoke mirrors the grill
• Introducing a smoke-curious friend to the smoked beer category
• Pairing with barbecue as an alternative to heavier rauchbiers
• Building a tasting flight exploring American craft smoked beers

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Toke taste like? Toke opens with clean lager crispness and lands on gentle toasted cherrywood smoke with a slight brown sugar sweetness. The smoke is present but restrained, making this a lighter, more sessionable smoked beer than many European examples.

How does Toke compare to Schlenkerla Rauchbier Märzen? Schlenkerla Rauchbier Märzen uses beechwood-smoked malt and delivers a bold, intensely smoky profile at around 5.1% ABV, rooted in centuries of Bamberg brewing tradition. Toke dials back the smoke intensity with cherrywood at a lower 4.6% ABV, making it a more approachable entry point for drinkers new to smoked lagers.

Is Toke good for beginners? Yes — at 4.6% ABV with gentle, toasted cherrywood smoke rather than aggressive campfire character, Toke is one of the more accessible smoked beers available. It serves as an excellent gateway into the style for drinkers who find traditional rauchbiers too intense.

Where is Toke made? Toke is brewed by Alarmist Brewing in Illinois. The brewery is known in the Chicago-area craft beer scene, having earned recognition at the Great American Beer Festival for its Le Jus hazy IPA.

What foods pair well with Toke? Smoked brisket or pulled pork mirrors the cherrywood smoke in the beer. Grilled bratwurst and mustard complement the lager's clean malt base. Sharp cheddar provides a contrasting richness against the dry finish. Smoked salmon or trout creates a harmonious smoke-on-smoke pairing, and roasted root vegetables echo the beer's subtle brown sugar sweetness.

What sizes does Toke come in? Toke is available as a four-pack of cans, which is the standard retail format from Alarmist Brewing for this release.

Is Toke worth the price? Toke positions as a specialty craft offering within the smoked beer niche, a category with relatively few American-made options. For drinkers seeking a sessionable, cherrywood-smoked lager from a respected Illinois brewery, it represents solid value in a small but growing segment.

Why Toke?

Smoked beers remain one of craft brewing's most underexplored styles in the American market, and Toke carves out a distinct space by using toasted cherrywood rather than the beechwood that dominates the traditional German approach. The result is a smoked lager that doesn't demand commitment — at 4.6% ABV, it stays light enough to drink through a session without fatigue. Alarmist Brewing has demonstrated its ability to nail difficult styles, evidenced by its GABF gold medal for Le Jus in 2018, and Toke shows that same precision applied to a subtler, smoke-driven lager. For anyone looking beyond the standard craft lineup, this is a genuinely different beer from a brewery that understands restraint.