The Half-Acre thread (2018)

No, but I will later tonight. I don't skip SK, even if it's Stout Season(tm).

 

Just got back home. Pretty smooth release, it actually ended up busier than I thought when I initially got into line. I think a lot of people went to the tap room/tasting area first. I guess once you had your ticket, there was no point in waiting in line. In retrospect that would have been the better move as I could have tried everything before deciding what to get. I ended up doing one package of everything (Reg, Vanilla, BA, and Sailor's Kush IIPA) which was $90 out the door. Had a Maple Big Hugs to console myself when I read I missed out on Bottles and Can's BCBS lottery again. Only took about 90 minutes, including the 20 minute round trip walk from my place.

 

Maybe I’ll get lucky and there will be some left tomorrow

 

I believe both locations are closed on Mondays.

 

Yeah, I think Tuesday would be the day.

 

There seemed to be a lot left right now. Just walked up and got all three, no waiting, no line.

 

Am I missing something on any of the Big Hugs? This release fell flat for me again this year. Tried them at the tap room and still don't get the hype. Benthic crushes Big Hugs all day long.

 

No, you're not missing anything. I stopped in a Lincoln with a buddy and got to taste Maple, Vanilla and BA. I don't think I'd order any of them again and scored the BA as a 3.5. And, I'm a big Half Acre fan. Big Hugs love is perhaps the biggest mystery in the Chicago beer scene to me. But, palates are palates I guess, that's what it comes down to.

 

That's how it was last year, too. If they were at Lincoln I'd have done the same.

I maintain that BH is overrated, but I like BA and Vanilla (Maple is better than either, though).

 

I guess it's for tradition purposes at this point, but Half Acre should just scrap Big Hugs altogether. Again, I absolutely love HA but come on.

 

I wish they would take the Benthic base stout, toss some Dark matter coffee, and sell it as Big Hugs. The flavor is good in the base and variants, but it’s so damn thin

 

Yeah honestly, just scrap BH and use that brewing capacity for more Benthic and variants. Totally agree on base Benny.

 

Vanilla was a huge let down. It is very light on nilla and coffee for that matter, comes across like a porter really. Glad I only grabbed one 4pk, I’ll give a couple to buddies. Hoping BA is at least solid. I did not buy the limit on that either and passed on regular all together. Got there just before noon, in and out in 5 minutes. Wasn’t even gonna stop but me and cousin got shut out at Bottles and Cans Raffle and after a few BCS pours at Rocks Northcenter figured why not.

 

Sailor's Kush is phenomenal. Definitely grabbed I grabbed after getting shut out at B&C lottery.

 

Checking in to confirm that this batch of Sailor's Kush is great. Great mouthfeel with a nice dank bitterness.

Also, while I agree that Benthic is the standout beer for Half Acre's stout program, I think that big hugs is great for what it is...a solid coffee stout. Also, it's always a great day at the brewery as the Half Acre team goes all out to put on a great party.

 

Sailor's Kush is real good.
Maybe better than last year; none of the greenness the first batch had. I'm trying REAL hard not to talk myself into a second 4-pack.

 

Looks like a haze-r, but I'm assuming this is NOT a NE IPA because it's from Half Acre.

Am I correct in my assumption?

 

Honestly I'd say it's an NE beer if I were blind tasting it. The only "demerit" I can give it is that it doesn't have the edge that it had last year.

 

Cinnamon Hugs on tap was mediocre.
Vanilla Hugs from the can is fucking great.
Kush is fantastic as usual.

A nice (but expensive) Sunday. I’ll take it.

 

That teku though was damn sexy!! The mrs claimed it as her beer glass from now on