Freedom Of '78
Half Acre Beer Company
Beer Geek Stats:
| Print Shelf Talker
- Style:
- IPA - American
Ranked #358 - ABV:
- 7.5%
- Score:
- 91
Ranked #4,624 - Avg:
- 4.1 | pDev: 8.29%
- Reviews:
- 75
- Ratings:
- From:
- Half Acre Beer Company
- Illinois, United States
- Avail:
- Rotating/Seasonal
- Wants
- 35
- Gots
- 20
SCORE
91
Outstanding
91
Outstanding
Notes:
Collaboration with Short's Brewing Company
Brewed in collaboration with Short's Brewing, featuring Jonathan Cutler of Piece. This beer was made in honor of the band Ween. We loaded up a Citra Hop forward IPA with some wheat and 1000 lbs of Guava Fruit from Ecuador.
You should check out Ween.
Brewed in collaboration with Short's Brewing, featuring Jonathan Cutler of Piece. This beer was made in honor of the band Ween. We loaded up a Citra Hop forward IPA with some wheat and 1000 lbs of Guava Fruit from Ecuador.
You should check out Ween.
Reviews: 75
| Ratings: 206
| Log in to view all ratings and sort
Reviews by tpd975:
tpd975 from Florida
4.09/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A: Pours orangeish yellow with a very small head. No retention or lace.
S: Guava for sure, light citrus, with hints of pale malt.
T: There guava is there but I would not call it forward. Hints of grapefruit pale malts malts, and a bit of cracker.
M: On the lighter side of medium, average carbonation.
D: Not bad, solid, not great.
Sep 04, 2010
4.09/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A: Pours orangeish yellow with a very small head. No retention or lace.
S: Guava for sure, light citrus, with hints of pale malt.
T: There guava is there but I would not call it forward. Hints of grapefruit pale malts malts, and a bit of cracker.
M: On the lighter side of medium, average carbonation.
D: Not bad, solid, not great.
Sep 04, 2010
More User Reviews:
joe1510 from Illinois
4.24/5 rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
22oz Bomber
$7.99
Binny's - Willowbrook
An IPA from two tremendously fun and talented brewers? Sign me up! Freedom of '78 is a juicy looking beast. Apricot orange in color that pales up when backlit. A few clusters of carbonation bubbles pop to the surface. The foam is easy to conjure up, a little dirty white and a finger in height on the pour. It's silky smooth and leaves sheet lacing with each drink. This is a mighty fine looking beer.
The nose is potent and full of depth. Guava leads the way in it's purest form. Peppery, underripe mango and orange marmalade make themselves known shortly thereafter. There is a really cool spruce tip/juniper character that I don't remember in past versions, though it's been a couple years since I have last had Freedom of '78. To wrap it all up is a softly sweet sugar cookie malt base that allows the fruit and hop profile to shine.
The flavor profile follows the nose closely and, I appreciate that. Big guava upfront, pure juice. As a matter of fact, tropical notes run from the start to the finish. Peppery mango pops up mid-palate and pineapple on the finish. Orange marmalade and that spruce tip/juniper character I mentioned above comes along in the middle and the spruce tips bring with it a bitter finish. The malt profile brings a touch of sweet along but it's simply there so the hops don't run away with the show and it's in the form of sugar cookie again.
The body is a hair shy of moderate in weight with a really silky feel. The carbonation is soft and the feel is downright luxurious. The bitterness rises to moderate and while it's juicy on the swallow it dries up shortly thereafter. This beer is incredibly easy to put away, a bomber is not nearly enough.
Freedom of '78 is a damn fine beer from two damn fine brewers. It's unique in the tropical department with a good bitterness and hefty drinkability. It would be nice to see this beer in cans, I can tell you that much. Good job, fellas!
Jul 24, 2016
4.24/5 rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
22oz Bomber
$7.99
Binny's - Willowbrook
An IPA from two tremendously fun and talented brewers? Sign me up! Freedom of '78 is a juicy looking beast. Apricot orange in color that pales up when backlit. A few clusters of carbonation bubbles pop to the surface. The foam is easy to conjure up, a little dirty white and a finger in height on the pour. It's silky smooth and leaves sheet lacing with each drink. This is a mighty fine looking beer.
The nose is potent and full of depth. Guava leads the way in it's purest form. Peppery, underripe mango and orange marmalade make themselves known shortly thereafter. There is a really cool spruce tip/juniper character that I don't remember in past versions, though it's been a couple years since I have last had Freedom of '78. To wrap it all up is a softly sweet sugar cookie malt base that allows the fruit and hop profile to shine.
The flavor profile follows the nose closely and, I appreciate that. Big guava upfront, pure juice. As a matter of fact, tropical notes run from the start to the finish. Peppery mango pops up mid-palate and pineapple on the finish. Orange marmalade and that spruce tip/juniper character I mentioned above comes along in the middle and the spruce tips bring with it a bitter finish. The malt profile brings a touch of sweet along but it's simply there so the hops don't run away with the show and it's in the form of sugar cookie again.
The body is a hair shy of moderate in weight with a really silky feel. The carbonation is soft and the feel is downright luxurious. The bitterness rises to moderate and while it's juicy on the swallow it dries up shortly thereafter. This beer is incredibly easy to put away, a bomber is not nearly enough.
Freedom of '78 is a damn fine beer from two damn fine brewers. It's unique in the tropical department with a good bitterness and hefty drinkability. It would be nice to see this beer in cans, I can tell you that much. Good job, fellas!
Jul 24, 2016
CHickman from New York
3.38/5 rDev -17.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25
Too much guava works against the beer, as it negated all the hops and made it seem like parts of a cactus were floating around in the brew. Not for me, this is a swing and a miss in my book. Lacks any real hop flavor and seems to be a sugary, sweet fruit drink. Not a drain pour, but this was not at all smooth in my book.
Jul 22, 2017
3.38/5 rDev -17.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.25
Too much guava works against the beer, as it negated all the hops and made it seem like parts of a cactus were floating around in the brew. Not for me, this is a swing and a miss in my book. Lacks any real hop flavor and seems to be a sugary, sweet fruit drink. Not a drain pour, but this was not at all smooth in my book.
Jul 22, 2017
Stignacious from New York
3.83/5 rDev -6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Jul 19, 2017
3.83/5 rDev -6.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Jul 19, 2017
puftdank from Illinois
3.52/5 rDev -14.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Jan 16, 2019
3.52/5 rDev -14.1%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Jan 16, 2019
unclejazz from New York
4.18/5 rDev +2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Jul 18, 2017
4.18/5 rDev +2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Jul 18, 2017
johunnic from Illinois
3.75/5 rDev -8.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Jul 24, 2015
3.75/5 rDev -8.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Jul 24, 2015
rumorsofsurf from Pennsylvania
4.39/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Jun 18, 2016
4.39/5 rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Jun 18, 2016
egrace84 from Illinois
4.02/5 rDev -2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Jul 20, 2016
4.02/5 rDev -2%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Jul 20, 2016
smartassboiler from Illinois
4/5 rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Jul 15, 2016
4/5 rDev -2.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Jul 15, 2016
WillieThreebiers from Connecticut
3.69/5 rDev -10%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Dec 04, 2017
3.69/5 rDev -10%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Dec 04, 2017
jschott75 from Illinois
4.21/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Aug 03, 2015
4.21/5 rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
Aug 03, 2015
BeerOps from Illinois
3.9/5 rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Jul 06, 2016
3.9/5 rDev -4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Jul 06, 2016
Ri0 from Wisconsin
3.82/5 rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Poured 16oz can into snifter.It is a lighter amber orange, clear and has a 2 finger white head. Thick cap remains for the session and the lacing is minimal. Heavy aromas of guava and other citrus hops. This beer has one of the biggest guava and lime flavors on the first sip. It is slightly tart and bitter. The malts are laid back with mild sweet caramel notes. It is a lighter body for a IPA and that is okay. Slightly resinous and sticky. Solid flavored IPA from HA.
Sep 20, 2017
3.82/5 rDev -6.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
Poured 16oz can into snifter.It is a lighter amber orange, clear and has a 2 finger white head. Thick cap remains for the session and the lacing is minimal. Heavy aromas of guava and other citrus hops. This beer has one of the biggest guava and lime flavors on the first sip. It is slightly tart and bitter. The malts are laid back with mild sweet caramel notes. It is a lighter body for a IPA and that is okay. Slightly resinous and sticky. Solid flavored IPA from HA.
Sep 20, 2017
Farnswurth from Illinois
4.25/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Dec 29, 2015
4.25/5 rDev +3.7%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Dec 29, 2015
Casey3236 from Pennsylvania
4.34/5 rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Oct 14, 2016
4.34/5 rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Oct 14, 2016
Rimbimhoot from Illinois
4.16/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A: Hazy, light orange, head quickly dissipates
S: Sweet tropical fruit, guava, light spice
T: Balanced bitterness, guava, pineapple, grassy
M: very nice
O: I'm really glad they kept this lower abv and didn't go imperial. The guava flavor comes out better without alcohol getting in the way
Jul 22, 2016
4.16/5 rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
A: Hazy, light orange, head quickly dissipates
S: Sweet tropical fruit, guava, light spice
T: Balanced bitterness, guava, pineapple, grassy
M: very nice
O: I'm really glad they kept this lower abv and didn't go imperial. The guava flavor comes out better without alcohol getting in the way
Jul 22, 2016
malfunxion from New York
4.5/5 rDev +9.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
Jun 06, 2017
4.5/5 rDev +9.8%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5
Jun 06, 2017
Hopheadjeffery from Illinois
4.09/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Tasted in a pint glass from draught at firkin on July 14, 2016.
Jul 14, 2016
4.09/5 rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Tasted in a pint glass from draught at firkin on July 14, 2016.
Jul 14, 2016
Freedom Of '78 from Half Acre Beer Company
Beer rating:
91 out of
100 with
206 ratings
0 characters. We love reviews! Turn your rating into one with ≥ 150 characters.
Explain why you're giving this rating. Your review must discuss the beer's attributes (look, smell, taste, feel) and your overall impression in order to indicate that you have legitimately tried the beer. Nonconstructive reviews may be removed without notice and action may be taken on your account.
Close