Half Acre Brewing Co. (2023)

no interstate driving required. Most times it was a 30 minutes or less drive. I made the trip several times a month. Depending on what was on draft multiple times in a week.

 

This year's five variants are…
1. Benthic
Barrel Aged Imperial Stout with Toasted Coconut & Coffee 13.6% ABV

2. Vanilla Benthic
Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout with Toasted Coconut & Madagascar Vanilla 13.6% ABV

3. Chocolate Hazelnut Benthic
Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout with Chocolate and Hazelnut 14.8% ABV

4. Immortal Vintage Blend
Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout Aged 10 – 33 Months 14.2% ABV

5. 2X4 Benthic
Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout with 2X Coffee and 4X Toasted Coconut 13.6% ABV


Online sale info:
Wed Nov 8 at 9am CT on Oznr
Sold as a collection of 12 x 12oz cans in one box
Benthic x 4, Vanilla x 2, Chocolate Hazel x 2, Immortal x 2, 2x4 x 2
$184.95 plus taxes & fees

 

@bread_c vs @lopy -- who wore it better?

 

If you’re not first, you’re last.

 

Looks like bread takes it…

 

Sorry to beat a dead horse here, but damn $61/4pk or $30.8/2pk...

I heckin' love all the variants and they're the talk of every FOBAB I've been to, but (hot take) the base Benthic is just kind of meh. Anyone else feel this way?
When I think Coconut, I think reg Benthic probably has the least explosive coconut flavor out of any coconut beer outside of Rev's Coconut Deth or maybe something Dragon Milk.

I'm tempted to just grab a 2-pack of one of the variants from the taproom.

 

I am particularly sensitive to coconut, and by that I mean it takes quite a bit for me to taste it. I definitely taste it in base Benthic, but I have lost track of all the coconut beers that seemingly have none. Cocomungo is one of them - almost nothing.

But, I am a benthic fanboy, and I love it - and part of that is because I really, really love coconut.

I will say that I felt like 2x4 had too much coffee, and felt like it drowned out the coconut more than it should have. I personally wish base Benthic was slightly less coffee forward, but I mean, maybe that would throw it all out of whack? So, I assume this is the best option within the balance they are trying to achieve with the saturation of flavors that they are looking to extract/illicit.

 

Oh yeah, agreed on Cocomungo. The good thing (and bad) about coffee is that it drops off pretty drastically in the first few months. Fresh, yes, 2x4 had tons of coffee. 3 months later the balance was awesome, and having had it about 8 months after, I got almost no coffee - mostly coconut and base.
Coconut does seem to persist a bit longer in my mind.

 

I was surprised, but I did enjoy my 2x4 @ 10mo better than the one I had @ 1-2mo. Always worried that coconut will fade, fade fade!

Also, I will say that I particularly love the fact that they use toasted coconut. That is certainly a much more unique flavor that I think tends to last a bit longer than 'raw' coconut, which seems more common.

 

They charge what they know they can take from you. That’s why I’ll try it on draft somewhere, but I’m putting their kids through college.

 

There is a LOT worse pricing out there. Benthic is IMO the premier Chicago BA beer each year. I will gladly pay it

 

Is this even an option? I thought variants were only available in the box.

 

They do 2 packs of variants where they'll release 1 each Friday. At least that's what they have done in the past

 

When they released Double Barrel Benthic back in April they still had 2pks of 2022 Vanilla and 2x4 for sale. Don't think they lasted in the shop much longer than that.

 

Can confirm, when I went to pick up DBB I left with way more than intended, in the best way. Very nice surprise. There was some Before Land Shook too, plus I think it was near the end of the pick-up window.

And so with Benthic going up next Wednesday 11/8, is it safe to assume the release and pick-up will be very soon after on the weekend of the 10th? I might have to double dip and hit Half Acre and Rev again.

 

Pick up is 11/8 with draft starting that day too.

 

No, not at all. To me it's the best barrel aged release in Chicagoland.

Agree, the price is very steep.

 

For those interested, they announced the barrels in the blend for each of the Benthics:

Benthic Barrel Aged Imperial Stout with Toasted Coconut & Coffee 13.6% ABV
Barrels: Willett, Heaven Hill, Orange Wine, Wild Turkey, Elijah Craig, Rittenhouse Rye, BLIS Maple Syrup Vanilla

Vanilla Benthic Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout with Toasted Coconut & Madagascar Vanilla 13.6% ABV
Barrels: Willett, Heaven Hill, Orange Wine, Wild Turkey, Elijah Craig, Rittenhouse Rye, BLIS Maple Syrup Vanilla

Chocolate Hazelnut Benthic Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout with Chocolate and Hazelnut 14.8% ABV
Barrels: Old Fitzgerald, Elijah Craig, Willett, Heaven Hill

Immortal Vintage Blend Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout Aged 10 – 33 Months with Toasted Coconut and Coffee 14.2% ABV
Barrels: Blantons, Eagle Rare, Brown Forman, Wild Turkey, Old Fitzgerald

2X4 Benthic Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout with 2X Coffee and 4X Toasted Coconut 13.6% ABV
Barrels: Willett, Heaven Hill, Orange Wine, Wild Turkey, Elijah Craig, Rittenhouse Rye, BLIS Maple Syrup Vanilla

The box is painted black again so I am assuming we will have our annual paint huffing upon depositing the box in your home before immediately removing the cans and throwing it out.

 

WTF is an orange wine barrel