The Half-Acre thread (2018)

Navaja is a bit too high in abv for my liking. Now that I'm out of GDDC and BHA for the year and craving more, how about dropping something similar or bringing back Canyon of Heroes... or Sapping Mammoth.

 

I can't recall if I've ever had Navaja, but I plan on grabbing a 4-pack on Friday based on its reputation alone and checking it out. I mean, the cans are gold, so it has to be good, right?

 

Half Acre related so I'm posting it here: http://www.chicagotribune.com/dining/ct-beer-bar-crawl-no-11-bus-route-story.html

 

Bottle share!

 

Ahhh, good call! It's still weird to see the bus running up Lincoln, so I forget it's there. Definitely a nice option for getting up to HA if you're not driving.

 

Very important question:

It's been a while since I turned in one of HA's growler cards for a free growler (I lost an almost completed card, and I buy mostly bottles there); do you get a free 64 oz. growler (or $1, or whatever it is), or is it a free 32 oz. howler?

 

Big North list just revealed and I can't wipe this grin off my face. So glad a scooped a ticket up and well worth the price. 30 plus taps, tons of first looks at many brews from the Wyld barrel cove and balmoral barrel cellar

 

Yeah, it seems like a pretty awesome taplist. I've been waiting to try some barrel aged stuff from Half Acre for awhile, and this seems like it will deliver.

 

Be sure to post on what you tried and your thoughts on it. We are curious. I forgot the name of the thick stout they brought a BA version of to Fobab, but I thought the barrel treatment ruined an otherwise exceptional stout.

 

They had BA Rambus at Fobab this year which was pretty lackluster. The year before, they brought BA Big Hugs for which I would gladly donate one or both of my kidneys.

 

Nope, wasn't Rambus that I tried so you made me do some research. It was BA Power Steering I had at Fobab this year. Wasn't very good compared to base beer which is excellent.

 

The canned Navaja tastes like it's primarily Mosaic-hopped. It's not what I hoped it would be, but it's still a very solid option for a go-to DIPA.

 

Tried a few of their newer beers last night, big fan of Navaja. Juice Man was OK.

 

Drinking a canned Navaja right now. I'm going to agree with the assessment that this is primarily mosaic hops. But man it is...syrupy. Like dole pineapple juice. I can't believe this is going to be year-round in cans. It is delicious.

 

I just booked a short vacation with my family to Chicago this weekend. Is Navaja going to be available enough for me to pick some up?

I'm also going to be keeping my eye out for some Daisy Cutter and probably some of HA's other cans as well. Is there anything I need to make sure I don't miss?

 

Navaja hasn't hit store shelves yet, it's just at Half Acre. I think it'll be in distribution next week, based on how their releases usually work. I doubt you'll have trouble finding it, but I can't really say since this is new to cans. As for the rest of what's available from HA in stores, I think they make plenty of solid brews that are widely available.

 

If you're staying in the city and can do it, make a trip over to HA's Lincoln Ave store. You will assuredly get Navaja there as well as Daisy Cutter. I recommend Vallejo cans as well. Can even stop by their taproom next door for a pint and lunch if interested in that. If you cannot swing a visit there, you should be able to pick any of them up at a local Binny's although Navaja might go fast at stores this coming week as mentioned.

 

If I remember correctly it was 1x 64oz or 2x 32oz. If someone would care to confirm, that would be great.

 

Yeah, I was initially let-down because it didn't have the type of profile I expected (I know Navaja changes each batch or two, but this one seems extra different). Once I got over the fact that it didn't taste like I expected, I thought about the fact that this was going to be something I could theoretically pick up locally year-round (in cans), and got really excited. Chicago has a phenomenal beer selection in general, but I think this (upper tier year-round stuff) is one of the few things we've traditionally lacked.

Also, the cans are so badass looking.

 

Is year round Navaja HA's shot at Pipeworks for doing Lizard King? Pipeworks has traditionally had the >8% abv offerings while HA has traditionally been the 8% or less beers. They are starting to encroach on each other's territory.