The Half-Acre thread (2018)

The thing that makes HA so awesome to me (aside from the fact that they consistently crank out great beer in various styles) is that they're staying true to non-hazy IPAs. I love it when they branch out and do something more hazy, but they're one of the most consistent breweries I turn to when I want a crisp, clean hoppy beer.

 

Flourescent is awesome! Don’t sleep on this one!

 

Ugh as if missing the Big North due to being out of town wasn't bad enough

 

Yeah, Fluour is definitely worth a try. Big North sounds tasty as well.

 

I know where im stopping after work tomorrow!

 

yeah, in town, stoked that Fluorescent is out on my last day in Chicago. See you all there.. perhaps. I'll be in the bear/Patagonia cap, with a salt and pepper beard (does that help? isn't that like half the people in that joint?) at the Lincoln taproom. Say hello. I'm a nice person when I'm not online.
Doing Balmoral this afternoon. CHEERZ!

 

Super excited for BN

 

I can confidently state that Preen is my favorite imperial ipa to be made in the greater Chicagoland area in the last year or two.

I’ve had upwards of 20 servings between draft and can, and was still infatuated with it this evening the same as I was when I tried it only a day after canning. It doesn’t show any signs of slowing down either. Might even be better now.

I feel like I am constantly gushing over HA, and I’ve loved so many of their IPAs over the last six months, but preen has taken it to a new level.

Just so I don’t seem like a homer, fluorescent isn’t for me. Had a can tonight, and it’s fine. Just not for me.

 

Get out. You’re no longer welcome here.

 

IM spending a ridiculous amount of time in lines at Big North. Every station is 5-10 min to get a beer.

 

Saw a pic. Looked real crowded.

 

Great event. Some lines, awesome beer.

 

Any new beers or variations?

 

I loved Peppermint Patty Benthic. Apricot Eat Shop and Double Barrel Benthic were also great. Lots of others were really good.

 

Also, Chocolate Strawberry Seltzer was a biiiig winner.

 

I thought you were being an a-hole until I checked Untappd

 

Great time at Big North as always last night.

One man's opinion, but here's my benthic rankings from last night:

1) Cinnamon Toast Crunch remains the undisputed champion. Please bottle this, Half Acre.
2) Double Barrel (Double Coconut too) Benthic
3) Brownie Batter Benthic
4) Vanilla Benthic
5) Regular Benthic
6) Peanut Butter Benthic (not noticeably different from regular, to be honest)
10000) York Peppermint Patty Benthic (drain pour, honestly. and I'm biased to want to like everything benthic)

Outside of Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Double Barrel, think my 3rd favorite beer of the entire evening was Raspberry Loam. That was fantastic as well. Peppermint Patty Benthic gave me the immediate realization that I never want mint in a stout again. Bon Hut another standout - the Half Acre wild lineup continues to get deeper and deeper.

Food was much better last year - this year was just a burger and a bag of chips; but was definitely helpful after 2 hours of chasing 14%+ stout variants. Lines a little longer this year (like 10 min lines v. little to no lines at all previously), but I think that's directly correlated to each tent having a big name one off at pretty much all times. Do think this is the right way to go because if you stashed them all in one spot that line would be enormous.

Vibe was overall fantastic per usual - met some great people and had a good time with friends. Post Animal a very enjoyable band to cap it off with.

10/10, will obviously attend again and continue to speak of it in only hyperbolic statements.

 

Had a great time. Tried a ton of beers.
Highlights were: Cay Hut, Animal Print Mexican Hot Chocolate, Cinnamon Toast Crunch Benthic and some Apricot beer. Forgot the name.

Worst beer: animal print mint. Gross gross gross

The system for serving stations was wonky. Not sure if this was per Half Acre's instruction but the pourers seemed to be stapled to their taps/section of the tent. So a few times I saw a long line but then just walked to the other side of the tent or table and instantly got a pour.

 

First-time attendee of The Big North yesterday. Not quite what I'd hoped -- the 20-minute line to get in was kind of ridiculous (we arrived at 415) and lines in general were kind of long. Still a very fun time and great to try a few Benthic variants. Plus balloon animals!

Whoever decided mayo should be mandatory on a burger should be slapped, though. But not eating the bottom bun left me with room for steak frites at Hopleaf at 930pm.