Noon Whistle Smack That! 4Pk

Noon Whistle Smack That! 4Pk is a dry-hopped kettle sour ale from Lombard, Illinois, brewed at 5% ABV and sold in a 4-pack of cans. Rated 3.7 out of 5 on Untappd across more than 3,100 reviews, this release from Noon Whistle Brewing has earned a loyal following among drinkers who want genuine tartness without sacrificing hop complexity.

Quick Facts: ABV: 5%  |  Origin: Lombard, Illinois, USA  |  Style: Dry-Hopped Kettle Sour  |  Brewery: Noon Whistle Brewing

Production & Heritage

Noon Whistle Brewing was founded in 2014 in Lombard, a western suburb of Chicago, and has built its reputation on inventive, flavor-forward ales. Smack That! begins with kettle souring — a process in which the unfermented wort is inoculated with Lactobacillus cultures and held at elevated temperatures (roughly 90–110°F) until the desired acidity is reached. Initial hop additions are kept minimal so the bacteria can work unimpeded, with IBUs staying below the 5–7 range during souring. Once the target pH is locked in through a full boil, the beer is fermented and then dry hopped with a tri-hop blend of Simcoe, Galaxy, and Hallertau Blanc. This sequencing is what separates Smack That! from simpler sour offerings: the tartness is clean and intentional, and the hops arrive as aroma and flavor rather than competing bitterness.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Passion fruit and light stone fruit — primarily apricot — rise first, followed by the resinous, piney punch of Simcoe. Underneath, Hallertau Blanc contributes a delicate white-wine-grape character that lifts the overall bouquet.

Taste: The entry is big tart, with a pronounced lacto acidity that grabs your attention immediately. Mid-palate, juicy grapefruit flesh emerges alongside tropical and stone fruit notes from the Galaxy and Simcoe hops. A mild, balanced bitterness develops toward the finish, rounding out the sourness rather than clashing with it.

Finish: Clean, moderate in length, with a lingering kiss of hops and a refreshing tartness that invites the next sip. The body is light, golden-brown in hue, with moderate carbonation and a notably smooth texture.

How to Drink Smack That!

Serve cold — around 38–42°F — straight from the can or poured into a tulip glass to concentrate the hop aromatics. This is a sessionable 5% ABV beer that rewards casual, unadorned drinking. For cocktail-curious drinkers: try it as the sour component in a Beer Margarita, where its natural tartness replaces citrus juice; blend it into a Radler with fresh lemonade for a low-ABV summer sipper; or float it over a shot of tequila in a Beer-a-Rita format, where the grapefruit and passion fruit notes complement agave spirit beautifully.

Best For

• Backyard barbecues and warm-weather cookouts where sessionability matters
• Introducing IPA drinkers to the sour beer category through a hop-forward bridge
• Pairing with spicy or fried foods that benefit from palate-cleansing acidity
• Sharing among craft beer enthusiasts exploring the Chicago-area brewing scene

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Smack That! taste like? Smack That! delivers bright lacto tartness up front, followed by juicy grapefruit and tropical fruit flavors from its Simcoe, Galaxy, and Hallertau Blanc dry-hop blend. The finish is clean and refreshing with a mild hop bitterness that balances the sour character.

How does Smack That! compare to a traditional gose? A classic gose relies on coriander and salt for its flavor complexity, while Smack That! skips those additions entirely and uses a triple dry-hop bill to build depth. The result is a more hop-forward, fruit-driven sour with comparable tartness but a distinctly different aromatic profile.

Is Smack That! good for sour beer beginners? Yes — its 5% ABV, clean kettle-sour acidity, and familiar hop-driven fruit flavors make it an approachable entry point for drinkers who have not yet explored sour styles extensively.

Where is Smack That! made? Smack That! is brewed by Noon Whistle Brewing in Lombard, Illinois, a suburb located roughly 20 miles west of downtown Chicago. The brewery has been operating since 2014.

What foods pair well with Smack That!? Grilled shrimp tacos, where the citrus-tart beer echoes lime; fried chicken, with the acidity cutting through richness; Thai green papaya salad, matching tartness with tartness; sharp white cheddar, which contrasts the fruit-forward hops; and ceviche, where the beer's grapefruit notes complement the dish's acidity.

What sizes does Smack That! come in? Smack That! is commonly available in a 4-pack of cans, which is the standard retail format from Noon Whistle Brewing for this release.

Is Smack That! worth the price? Smack That! positions as a mid-range craft sour ale, priced competitively with other dry-hopped kettle sours from independent Midwest breweries. Its sessionable ABV and layered hop profile deliver strong value within the style.

Why Smack That!?

The defining move here is the sequencing: sour first, hops second. By completing the kettle sour before any significant hopping, Noon Whistle ensures the Lactobacillus achieves full, uncompromised tartness — then layers Simcoe, Galaxy, and Hallertau Blanc on top as dry-hop additions that deliver aroma and fruit flavor without unwanted bitterness. That technical discipline is what keeps more than 3,100 Untappd reviewers coming back. At 5% ABV, it sits in a sessionable sweet spot that many hop-forward sours overshoot, making it equally suited to a single glass and a full afternoon. Among dry-hopped sours in the Chicago craft scene, Smack That! remains one of the more consistent and well-balanced options available.