Hearths Ablaze | Half Acre Beer Company
Brewed by:
Half Acre Beer Company
Illinois, United States | website
Style: American Stout
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 6.50%
Availability: Winter
Notes / Commercial Description:
Clocking in at a pleasant 6.5% ABV, Hearths Ablaze is a stout brewed to be enjoyed while basking in the warmth of your fireplace. Hoisted up by roasted-chocolate aroma, jet black in color, silky smooth in taste and feel, this is a straight-forward stout built for wintertime accompaniment.
Added by MasterSki on 12-11-2012
View: Beers | Place Reviews | Events
Reviews: 16 | Ratings: 78
4.32/5 rDev +10.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
This stout is not black but rather a deep dark garnet hue held against bright light. Slight head with some nice lacing.
One sniff reveals sweet chocolate and some coffee with aromatic roasted malt.
The taste is smooth, creamy and velvety. A nice dark chocolate flavor with some coffee and slight roast with none of the bitter roast of some stouts. Just the right amount of malty sweetness that finishes with a slight earthy hop bitterness.
This has a light body for a stout which makes for a drinkable beer. Light carbonation with fine bubbles for a smooth texture.
I really appreciate this stout. Full of flavor without being heavy. Tastes more choco forward than last year's version which is good! Cheers and Merry Christmas to the staff at HA!!!
★ 752 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
This stout is not black but rather a deep dark garnet hue held against bright light. Slight head with some nice lacing.
One sniff reveals sweet chocolate and some coffee with aromatic roasted malt.
The taste is smooth, creamy and velvety. A nice dark chocolate flavor with some coffee and slight roast with none of the bitter roast of some stouts. Just the right amount of malty sweetness that finishes with a slight earthy hop bitterness.
This has a light body for a stout which makes for a drinkable beer. Light carbonation with fine bubbles for a smooth texture.
I really appreciate this stout. Full of flavor without being heavy. Tastes more choco forward than last year's version which is good! Cheers and Merry Christmas to the staff at HA!!!
★ 752 characters
4.22/5 rDev +7.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
(Served in a Nonic)
A- This beer pours a jet black body and a rigorous pour only produces a bubbly mesh of light tan for a short bit. There are a few microbubbles that glide to the surface.
S- The slightly sweet dry roasted malt has a dark chocolate nougat note and a finish with just a touch of soy sauce but it is very pleasant.
T- The roasted black malt is slightly dry and fresh with a black roasted graham flavor in there and a dark roasted cola flavor in the finish. A touch of sweetness compliments the gentle roasted barley flavor that lingers.
M- The medium mouthfeel has a nice tight fizz and no alcohol heat noticed.
O- This is a nice tasty stout with some dry stout character and some milk stout character. It also has many subtle layers of flavor that leave me wanting another sip.
★ 802 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
(Served in a Nonic)
A- This beer pours a jet black body and a rigorous pour only produces a bubbly mesh of light tan for a short bit. There are a few microbubbles that glide to the surface.
S- The slightly sweet dry roasted malt has a dark chocolate nougat note and a finish with just a touch of soy sauce but it is very pleasant.
T- The roasted black malt is slightly dry and fresh with a black roasted graham flavor in there and a dark roasted cola flavor in the finish. A touch of sweetness compliments the gentle roasted barley flavor that lingers.
M- The medium mouthfeel has a nice tight fizz and no alcohol heat noticed.
O- This is a nice tasty stout with some dry stout character and some milk stout character. It also has many subtle layers of flavor that leave me wanting another sip.
★ 802 characters
4.03/5 rDev +3.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Dark brown in color with some garnet highlights. Good head after the pour with a somewhat strong, mild brown foam.
Great roasty and hints of smoky malt aromas. Great dark coffee and chocolate with dark rye bread crust and some creamy milk notes as well. Smells satisfying and relaxing for a colder day.
Palate feels a little thin, but there's still some creaminess to the flavor and feel after each sip. Add that creamy flavor to some chocolate and you have a satisfying stout come round Winter time.
★ 502 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Dark brown in color with some garnet highlights. Good head after the pour with a somewhat strong, mild brown foam.
Great roasty and hints of smoky malt aromas. Great dark coffee and chocolate with dark rye bread crust and some creamy milk notes as well. Smells satisfying and relaxing for a colder day.
Palate feels a little thin, but there's still some creaminess to the flavor and feel after each sip. Add that creamy flavor to some chocolate and you have a satisfying stout come round Winter time.
★ 502 characters
3.89/5 rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
650ml bottle poured into a Half Acre holiday snifter.
It pours a nice jet black color, very opaque, touches of cola brown when struck by the light. A finger high, compact, tan head rises from the glass but recedes quickly leaving some trace film and some soapy lacing. Nice roast on the nose, light coffee and toasted grain, a bit of dark chocolate and licorice and some lingering sweetness. The flavors are similar, roasted coffee, licorice with dark chocolate, a bit of molasses and toasted grain, finishes a bit weakly. Despite the finish, the flavors are very well integrated and balanced. The body is okay, a bit thin and carbonated for my liking, but still adequately smooth with a bit of a fizzy finish.
Verdict: A very pleasant American Stout from Half Acre. Amply robust and rich while being quaffable, they hit the mark with a simple stout for the winter months.
★ 875 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
650ml bottle poured into a Half Acre holiday snifter.
It pours a nice jet black color, very opaque, touches of cola brown when struck by the light. A finger high, compact, tan head rises from the glass but recedes quickly leaving some trace film and some soapy lacing. Nice roast on the nose, light coffee and toasted grain, a bit of dark chocolate and licorice and some lingering sweetness. The flavors are similar, roasted coffee, licorice with dark chocolate, a bit of molasses and toasted grain, finishes a bit weakly. Despite the finish, the flavors are very well integrated and balanced. The body is okay, a bit thin and carbonated for my liking, but still adequately smooth with a bit of a fizzy finish.
Verdict: A very pleasant American Stout from Half Acre. Amply robust and rich while being quaffable, they hit the mark with a simple stout for the winter months.
★ 875 characters
4.37/5 rDev +11.8%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
bottle picked up in chicago suburbs when i was there not all that long ago. enjoyed from my half acre snifter.
a - poured a bold, yet watery black. shined like silk. thin to no head leaving small bubble pools and a ring on the surface of the beer.
s - nice cocoa smell...some big coffee roast. bittery bakers chocolate. some nuttiness.
t - big roast. some coffee crossed with chocolate. great stout to warm up with next to a fire. very VERY solid.
m - medium bodied, great feel. bold and roasty.
o - overall, a really nice big robust american stout. great roast, nice chocolate and coffee. i'm surprised the ratings aren't better for this. for an american stout, this puppy kills!
★ 685 characters
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
bottle picked up in chicago suburbs when i was there not all that long ago. enjoyed from my half acre snifter.
a - poured a bold, yet watery black. shined like silk. thin to no head leaving small bubble pools and a ring on the surface of the beer.
s - nice cocoa smell...some big coffee roast. bittery bakers chocolate. some nuttiness.
t - big roast. some coffee crossed with chocolate. great stout to warm up with next to a fire. very VERY solid.
m - medium bodied, great feel. bold and roasty.
o - overall, a really nice big robust american stout. great roast, nice chocolate and coffee. i'm surprised the ratings aren't better for this. for an american stout, this puppy kills!
★ 685 characters
3.82/5 rDev -2.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
A: Very dark brown in color, but still a little translucent. Forms a small tan colored head on an aggressive pour that doesn't bother sticking around for too long. No lacing.
S: Aroma is full of heavily roasted malts, molasses, chocolate, and a slight bit of smoky char.
T: Taste starts off dry, with heavily roasted malts, molasses, cola, and a touch of char. There is a hint of smoke on the backend, but its rather faint. Long, somewhat earthy, finish.
M: On the heavier side of medium. Moderate bitterness. Medium carbonation.
O: A decent beer. Relatively drinkable, but not overly exciting.
★ 602 characters
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
A: Very dark brown in color, but still a little translucent. Forms a small tan colored head on an aggressive pour that doesn't bother sticking around for too long. No lacing.
S: Aroma is full of heavily roasted malts, molasses, chocolate, and a slight bit of smoky char.
T: Taste starts off dry, with heavily roasted malts, molasses, cola, and a touch of char. There is a hint of smoke on the backend, but its rather faint. Long, somewhat earthy, finish.
M: On the heavier side of medium. Moderate bitterness. Medium carbonation.
O: A decent beer. Relatively drinkable, but not overly exciting.
★ 602 characters
3.85/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Saw this bottle sitting at the store, intriguing label as all Half Acre brew are. Pours a dark black, not thick like an imperial, but definitely opaque. Short tan head forms and retains nicely. The nose is roasty with mild smoke character and a touch of bitter chocolate. Did not get the campfire quality that the label art promised me. The taste is more smokey than the nose with a bit of malty sweetness. The woody smoke character comes on stronger at the end with a considerable amount of bitterness. Mouthfeel is a bit towards the thin side with high carbonation. This taste good but is somewhat forgettable.
★ 612 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Saw this bottle sitting at the store, intriguing label as all Half Acre brew are. Pours a dark black, not thick like an imperial, but definitely opaque. Short tan head forms and retains nicely. The nose is roasty with mild smoke character and a touch of bitter chocolate. Did not get the campfire quality that the label art promised me. The taste is more smokey than the nose with a bit of malty sweetness. The woody smoke character comes on stronger at the end with a considerable amount of bitterness. Mouthfeel is a bit towards the thin side with high carbonation. This taste good but is somewhat forgettable.
★ 612 characters
4.38/5 rDev +12%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Had this on tap at Half Acre. Liked it enough to pick up a bomber.
A - Pours relatively thick. A nice, nearly black color. Good half finger of head, settles to a thin tan surface layer. 4.25
S - Nice. Nothing too crazy, but decent coffee and dry cocoa powder. 4.25
T - Super roasty. Taste is more akin to a robust porter with tons of roasty flavor. Good amount of chocolate and burnt toast. Really up my alley. 4.5
M - Good carbonation, medium body. Right on for the style. 4.5
O - This is a great beer--underrated in my opinion. Oh well, more for me. 4.25
★ 561 characters
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
Had this on tap at Half Acre. Liked it enough to pick up a bomber.
A - Pours relatively thick. A nice, nearly black color. Good half finger of head, settles to a thin tan surface layer. 4.25
S - Nice. Nothing too crazy, but decent coffee and dry cocoa powder. 4.25
T - Super roasty. Taste is more akin to a robust porter with tons of roasty flavor. Good amount of chocolate and burnt toast. Really up my alley. 4.5
M - Good carbonation, medium body. Right on for the style. 4.5
O - This is a great beer--underrated in my opinion. Oh well, more for me. 4.25
★ 561 characters
3.96/5 rDev +1.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Served very cold from bottle (left in freezer too long before drinking).
Solid tasting beer, but nothing extraordinary. The taste is fairly typical for a stout, with nothing unpleasant, and it is very easy to drink. I'd say its worth getting if you find it on tap at a bar, but not really worth the cost of a bomber.
★ 317 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Served very cold from bottle (left in freezer too long before drinking).
Solid tasting beer, but nothing extraordinary. The taste is fairly typical for a stout, with nothing unpleasant, and it is very easy to drink. I'd say its worth getting if you find it on tap at a bar, but not really worth the cost of a bomber.
★ 317 characters
3.8/5 rDev -2.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Served in a snifter at the tap room.
Finishing things up here with a beer I though I missed out on by not investing in a gift basket. Nice. This stuff pours a dark garnet-tinged black-brown topped by a finger of tan foam. The nose comprises toasted biscuit, roasted malts, dark chocolate, and a decent sense of cinnamon. The taste brings in more of the same, though a general sense of toasted sourdough pervades, providing a mild bit of bready sourness that detracts a bit, but not enough to make me unhappy in any tangible manner. The body is a light-leaning medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a sorta/kinda drying finish. Overall, a nice stout, nothing to get excited about, but a more-than-tasty beverage for those cold winter nights in the City.
★ 761 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Served in a snifter at the tap room.
Finishing things up here with a beer I though I missed out on by not investing in a gift basket. Nice. This stuff pours a dark garnet-tinged black-brown topped by a finger of tan foam. The nose comprises toasted biscuit, roasted malts, dark chocolate, and a decent sense of cinnamon. The taste brings in more of the same, though a general sense of toasted sourdough pervades, providing a mild bit of bready sourness that detracts a bit, but not enough to make me unhappy in any tangible manner. The body is a light-leaning medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a sorta/kinda drying finish. Overall, a nice stout, nothing to get excited about, but a more-than-tasty beverage for those cold winter nights in the City.
★ 761 characters
3.7/5 rDev -5.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
On-tap at Half Acre. Served in a 5oz taster glass.
A - Tan foam with a thin cap, thicker collar, and a few specks of lace. Dark brown body with some ruby-brown glints to it.
S - Molasses-heavy, with dark breads, baker's chocolate, a touch of caramel, and a bit of roast that comes out as the beer warms up.
T - The taste is definitely on the liquid dark and toasty bread side of things, with fairly low roast and sweetness. Some baker's chocolate, anise, and a hint of molasses.
M - Very chewy, with good heft for only 6.5%. Fairly dry and roasty texture even if it didn't manifest that much in the flavor. No alcohol presence and moderate carbonation.
D - Solid beer, but nothing super crazy. I could have used a bit more chocolate and roast, but this is a pretty solid straight-up stout.
★ 794 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5
On-tap at Half Acre. Served in a 5oz taster glass.
A - Tan foam with a thin cap, thicker collar, and a few specks of lace. Dark brown body with some ruby-brown glints to it.
S - Molasses-heavy, with dark breads, baker's chocolate, a touch of caramel, and a bit of roast that comes out as the beer warms up.
T - The taste is definitely on the liquid dark and toasty bread side of things, with fairly low roast and sweetness. Some baker's chocolate, anise, and a hint of molasses.
M - Very chewy, with good heft for only 6.5%. Fairly dry and roasty texture even if it didn't manifest that much in the flavor. No alcohol presence and moderate carbonation.
D - Solid beer, but nothing super crazy. I could have used a bit more chocolate and roast, but this is a pretty solid straight-up stout.
★ 794 characters
3.76/5 rDev -3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
22 oz. bottle served in a Dechutes snifter.
A: Pours a dark black color with dark brown highlights around the edges. A tan head recedes to a thin cap and collar of foam. Sticky, soapy lace is left down the glass.
S: Roasty and sweet up front. There are some light dark fruits and some bitter backer chocolate.
T: More dark and roasty than the nose would suggest. Sweet, creamy malts. Bitter bakers chocolate with just a faint hint of coffee.
M: Medium bodied with a medium carbonation. Smooth and slightly dry on the finish. Easily drinkable.
O: Not going to knock your socks off with flavor, but it's a really easy drinking stout (almost porter-like). I'd recommend if lower ABV stouts tickle your fancy.
★ 710 characters
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
22 oz. bottle served in a Dechutes snifter.
A: Pours a dark black color with dark brown highlights around the edges. A tan head recedes to a thin cap and collar of foam. Sticky, soapy lace is left down the glass.
S: Roasty and sweet up front. There are some light dark fruits and some bitter backer chocolate.
T: More dark and roasty than the nose would suggest. Sweet, creamy malts. Bitter bakers chocolate with just a faint hint of coffee.
M: Medium bodied with a medium carbonation. Smooth and slightly dry on the finish. Easily drinkable.
O: Not going to knock your socks off with flavor, but it's a really easy drinking stout (almost porter-like). I'd recommend if lower ABV stouts tickle your fancy.
★ 710 characters
3.75/5 rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
32 oz. growler, poured into a pint glass.
Thin layer of creamy tan foam, a collar forms around the edges, irregular arcs of lace adhere to the glass as well.
Initial aroma had a note of peanut butter, later becoming roasty with a little bit of blackened malt.
Dry and bitter with a smooth feel, though a bit of a CO2 bite at first. It mellows out nicely as it warms. Nutty aftertaste with a bit of coffee bitterness and unsweetened chocolate. Light bodied, drinks more like a porter almost. Pleasant and drinkable, tasty and suited well to cooler weather when hearths are indeed ablazin'.
★ 594 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
32 oz. growler, poured into a pint glass.
Thin layer of creamy tan foam, a collar forms around the edges, irregular arcs of lace adhere to the glass as well.
Initial aroma had a note of peanut butter, later becoming roasty with a little bit of blackened malt.
Dry and bitter with a smooth feel, though a bit of a CO2 bite at first. It mellows out nicely as it warms. Nutty aftertaste with a bit of coffee bitterness and unsweetened chocolate. Light bodied, drinks more like a porter almost. Pleasant and drinkable, tasty and suited well to cooler weather when hearths are indeed ablazin'.
★ 594 characters
3.88/5 rDev -0.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a 22 oz bottle into a Half Acre snifter.
A- pours black with a 1 finger dark tan head. Some blotches and trails of lacing remain on the glass.
S- dark chocolate, maple syrup, roast, and coffee
T- roasted malt, some ash, dark chocolate and bitter coffee.
M- medium body and carbonation. Easy drink with slight acidity.
O- good stout with big roast and chocolate notes.
★ 384 characters
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a 22 oz bottle into a Half Acre snifter.
A- pours black with a 1 finger dark tan head. Some blotches and trails of lacing remain on the glass.
S- dark chocolate, maple syrup, roast, and coffee
T- roasted malt, some ash, dark chocolate and bitter coffee.
M- medium body and carbonation. Easy drink with slight acidity.
O- good stout with big roast and chocolate notes.
★ 384 characters
3.85/5 rDev -1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a 22oz bottle into two pint glasses. Special thanks the HeatherAnn for the assist! Extra special thanks to the dood for making the trip with me!
A: Pours an appropriately dark, inky black-brown. Two fingers of creamy, light khaki colored foam spings up on top before slowly settling down to a full skim that left a bunch of lace behind.
S: A slight aroma of toasted marshmallow when first poured. This is followed by some dark chocolate, cocoa, and lots of roasted malt. Healthy roast in the smell.
T: See above. The roastiness of the smell get balanced here by more chocolate & cocoa. Pretty standard yet solid.
M: A tad thin when first poured. This chilled for about 4 hours in our beer fridge before we shared the bottle and it was around 52-54 degrees. Perfect temp for me for a stout. I let mine sit for about 20 minutes and it thickened slightly, but still remained a bit on the thin side of the stout spectrum.
O: We liked this and dug the balance between chocolate and roast. I was, however, slightly off-put by the thinness I perceived in my pour. We have another bottle and will re-evaluate at a later date.
★ 1,135 characters
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5
Poured from a 22oz bottle into two pint glasses. Special thanks the HeatherAnn for the assist! Extra special thanks to the dood for making the trip with me!
A: Pours an appropriately dark, inky black-brown. Two fingers of creamy, light khaki colored foam spings up on top before slowly settling down to a full skim that left a bunch of lace behind.
S: A slight aroma of toasted marshmallow when first poured. This is followed by some dark chocolate, cocoa, and lots of roasted malt. Healthy roast in the smell.
T: See above. The roastiness of the smell get balanced here by more chocolate & cocoa. Pretty standard yet solid.
M: A tad thin when first poured. This chilled for about 4 hours in our beer fridge before we shared the bottle and it was around 52-54 degrees. Perfect temp for me for a stout. I let mine sit for about 20 minutes and it thickened slightly, but still remained a bit on the thin side of the stout spectrum.
O: We liked this and dug the balance between chocolate and roast. I was, however, slightly off-put by the thinness I perceived in my pour. We have another bottle and will re-evaluate at a later date.
★ 1,135 characters
Hearths Ablaze from Half Acre Beer Company
3.91
out of 5
based on 78 ratings.
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.25
Not sure if it was shaken up, or frozen, or heated up, but this was flat, and almost scent less/tasteless. Received as an extra in a trade. Thanks Chris!
Ap - Deep brown, with a lighter brown around the edges. The head looked like flat, work out khaki foam. It settled to a tiny ring and left some spotty lace.
Ar - Not a whole lot going on. From what I can gather, it seems like raisinettes with a hint of char.
T - Ugh... Boring. Odd raisinettes flavor again. No noticeable off-flavors. It just tastes, off. This reminds me of someone's first attempt at a big brown ale homebrew.
M - Flat. Almost no alcohol, or carbonation. This is not good.
O - I would like to try this on draught. I hope it's just the bottle. This is one of those beers that have a great label, but... I hope this is a bad bottle.
★ 811 characters