The Half-Acre thread (2018)

I was going to write almost this same comment today. Indefinite Portal was incredibly delicious. I couldn’t believe it’s sub 5% abv. Need to get back this week and pick up a growler of it. Also a huge fan of Now and Then.

 

I thought I saw a social media reply by Half Acre saying it was only going to be available at Lincoln and Balmoral.

 

I've been confused by their posts. On their first instagram post they responded to questions from out and said "cans are Chicago only this round but draft will ship out. Later this year we’ll do full distribution on cans, too." Most of the people they were replying to were asking if it was coming to Pennsylvania. On the release day they said Balmoral / Lincoln only, so it sounds like it could be brewery only for cans, with some draft to be found around the city. But it's kind of interpretive so not sure.

 

Yea, I didn't think Plane Wave would see distro, and yet here we are.

 

Stopped by to grab a couple 4 packs of Now & Then after work today; guy there said he didn't think they'd last past tonight, just in case anyone is still interested.

 

I know I'm on the minority but I'm not really digging Now and Then.

 

By any chance, do you dislike Simcoe (or Equinox, maybe)? I really like Now & Then, but none of those hops (counting Citra and I guess Comet, which I'm barely familiar with) are ones I take issue with.

Frankly, I wish they had something with a profile like this available year round; I'd switch off between these and Navaja any weeks there wasn't something new I was dying to try.

 

the only hop I dislike is El Dorado (makes everything taste like old grass). I've only had one can, but N&T kinda had a subtle pilsner thing going on.

But I agree with you on Navaja. IMO it's the closest regional beer to Heady.

 

I think I know what you're talking about; I get a "lagery" finish to some of these beers (N&T included) that might be the vienna malt. I like it, but occasionally it causes them to taste a little samesy to me.

 

Yes.

 

I love Half Acre, but I would say this is my biggest complaint with them. I find most of their IPAs all 'finish' the same I guess is how I would describe it. Different aromas, different upfront taste, but the finish is very similar across the board.

 

I thought that was more the case before they started pumping out the no-distro cans that didn't have the dryness I associate with Daisy Cutter and its variant versions.

 

Yep, agreed. Now, I'm not counting stuff like Sailor's Kush, since that's an entirely different animal, but in general their more "traditional" IPAs have a pretty distinct "Half Acre finish" to them. Which is generally fine since I love HA's stuff (and if I have a craving for that dry, crackery finish of theirs, this is ideal), but every once in a while I want a new IPA of theirs to taste very different.

 

I agree - it's just that I like that finish.

 

Now speaking of Navaja, last time I had it was one year ago when I first moved to Chicago (I've been living here one year now, yay!). And I thought it was way too boozy.
These comments comparing it to Heady Topper are interesting, I've never had a Heady Topper before. Is Heady also boozy?
Maybe I'm overstating the boozyness of Navaja, it was one of the first things I tried when I moved here and I haven't touched it since. Maybe I should give it another try.

 

Navaja is def boozier but just as nicely balanced. I think that's the comparison.

 

For sure. I've been just about as on the hazy IPA bandwagon as anyone, but the more I drink 'em, the more I get a craving for one of HA's drier IPAs. Hell, I've had a craving for Navaja since it last hit (6 months or so ago)!

Yeah, it's definitely boozy, although I'd argue crazy drinkable for a 10% DIPA. I prefer it on the slightly colder side (as I do most IPAs), but I do think that the balance + really nice, bold hop profile is where the HT comparisons come in (because they don't taste that similarly, hop-wise to me). Heady is what, 6.5 or 7%? Not even close ABV-wise.

 

Navaja is a bit more boozy at 10%. Heady is 8%.

8%

 

I forget how close Heady, Focal and Crusher are in ABV (the only 3 I've had). Crusher was 9%, I think, and was relatively bitter, so I suppose that's an appropriate comparison, too (to show Navaja's balance).

 

They are officially out of cans of now and then