Half Acre (2019)

Also, Fader is as exceptional as ever. I need cans of this regularly damn it!

 

Any word if variants will be on tomorrow? Won't be able to make it until tomorrow to pick up my allotment.

 

Yeah, I missed cans this year, and given that this was my biggest "lager year" ever...not cool

 

Agree that Vanilla masks some of the underlying beer, which is odd as my experience is usually that vanilla loses the battle with other adjuncts. So on one hand you may be a little bummed if you love the base beer.

On the other, I think it’s one of the best vanilla forward stouts out of Chicago area in past several years.

 

Vanilla> apple brandy>pommeau> reg

Rarely do I find where there isn't a better variant than the base beer
No exception here. I'd much rather have a pour of any of the variants than reg Benthic

Reg is good but nothing spectacular/next level

 

Are there any Benthic cans for sale at all or just the presale pickups?

 

Pretty sure the entire sale was online only.

 

I wholeheartedly disagree with, but to each their own.

 

great release. had apple brandy, Pom, and vanilla, and then retired to some ‘18 double dose. I found Apple brandy barrel to be much more “Apple-y” than the Pom. The Pom had more acidity to me. Vanilla was very vanilla forward - and was better as it warmed.

Interesting note - coffee is not added to Apple Brandy or Vanilla. So, when we think of Benthic as coffee / coconut, we are wrong.

 

Nitro Benthic was incredible

 

This is their description of the base beer:

Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout brewed with coffee and toasted coconut, a remedy coaxed from the deepest caverns; it's char bound in the systematic sweetness and density only found in the colossal beers of our time.

We usually release this beer around the end of the year.

https://www.halfacrebeer.com/benthic

So...I think you have to say Benthic is a beer with coconut & coffee? Unless I'm misunderstanding you...

 

Per HA, "a very limited number of original Benthic 2packs will see distribution, so if you missed out, check your local craft beer shop".

 

Vanilla Benthic is outstanding. And I don’t like vanilla.

 

If you’re looking for variant pours then Balmoral is the play. Waltz in at 8pm and the place had zero wait for tables. Dinner was their delicious brisket cheesesteak. Very good! Variants wise:

Vanilla benthic was fantastic!!! The vanilla wasn’t subtle but not overpowering to give a fake vibe. Love love loved it.

Apple Brandy was meh. Perhaps I simply wasn’t a fan of the flavors but letting it warm up did nothing to change my feelings. It was fine.

Didn’t try Pommeau.

Anyways —Balmoral is always the play when Half Acre has something tapped at both locations.

 

Yeah, it's weird; Benthic is a BA coffee/coconut stout, but they've decided that the variants don't necessarily have coffee.

HA is just making up their own rules, as usual.

 

Totally agree. The vanilla was totally authentic tasting and not fake at all, IMO.

 

Anyone know if Lincoln still has any Benthic on tap in any form?

 

Regular, Nitro, and Vanilla are on tap.

 

Didn’t notice vanilla at Lincoln when I was there 30 minutes ago, nitro was on though. Balmoral has vanilla, AB, Pommeau and regular on