Half Acre (2021)

Left HA about 20 min. ago, plenty of 4 packs left..

 

they must have restocked it!

 

I tried XTRA DUBL today. Really a big improvement over last year's mess. Could actually taste the coconut, the base beer, and barrel flavor still. There were still a decent amount of 4 packs (maybe 30?) when I left at 130ish

 

if xtra dubl was a “mess” last year I’m more than excited to try this years version

 

Maybe I am just saying this because I have to keep positive, but…

it seems wild to me to think that they would run out of 4-packs before all the pickup windows, GIVEN that they didn’t allow you to buy an extra 4 pack (or more) when you bought the package.

 

LOL

 

Yeah. I just did not like very many of the variants last year. Could have just been me but thought the additional adjuncts didn't make it any better.

 

Surely someone else by now has sampled at least the base. Any other reviews?

 

Have to put up my official yet but thought it was one of the best Reg in years due to the increased barrel presence. Barrel and bourbon shine brightest, with the coconut most prevalent on the nose and finish and hints of coffee. Not as thick as Double Catch Hell but weighty.

 

This year's Regular Benthic is the best it's tasted to me of all the years I have tried. Which goes back to the days of bomber bottles.

 

agree with the others this years Benthic is excellent. I had it on tap at half acre, I thought the barrel and coffee really shine this year, I didn’t get a ton of coconut but the pour was a little cold. Not boozy, very drinkable and not too sweet. I’d say compared to last year (which was also excellent) this year is smoother.

I was worried that the variants would all taste the same but given how much the barrel shines this year, I’m excited to see how the variants punch up certain aspects of the base beer.

 

I have been cruising through some of the UnTappd Check-Ins.....all of them seem to be averaging in excess of 4.5 right now....all have been pretty consistent with "Wow, so much coconut" or "Love me some coconut!".....I am pretty excited to pick up

Edit: I know Untappd reviews are to be taken with a grain of salt.....lol

 

Untappd generally has inflated rankings, and hyped breweries have even more inflated ratings (not every stout from SP deserves to be a 4.6 - 5, but it's amazing how so many are 4.85+ for example). I get that. That said, untappd is a decent geiger for general impressions. If it's 4.25 or less, I consider it pretty weak. When it starts creaping above 4.4, and especially about 4.5, I start getting really excited.

I'm thrilled this years came out so well. I'm stoked to get the full immersive experience. Only ever had 1 can of 'regular' benthic. Really, really stoked.

 

I had reg and vanilla benthic on tap and although I don't know if the reg lived up to my overly high expectations, the vanilla was outstanding. Tons of vanilla but in a good, very well integrated way (and I'm less into vanilla beers than most people). I don't remember liking the previous vanilla benthic I had anywhere near this much.

I have extremely high expectations for xtra dubl since I've always loved that one/type of one in the past and the nitro one on tap at FOBAB was apparently awesome. I'm scared of the rum because rum+coconut isn't something I've actually enjoyed in a very long time, if ever really.

 

I opened cans of Vampira and Vanilla this weekend. Both were insanely good. Vampira was one of the best BA stouts I've had in recent years. Good barrel combined with good balance on the coconut and coffee (which sat just in the background of the beer, where it should be for a longer aged beer). The beer was thick without being overly viscous. Really glad HA included two cans of each in the pack this year.

 

Made my way through all 5 different cans of Benthic… they are all very good (no ground breaking news there), but that Xtra Dubl…. Wow. It’s ridiculously good. Mounds bar soaked and aged in bourbon barrels. Thicker feel and smooth too. As far as coconut stouts go, it’s this and Coconut Vibes b2 from Shared for me… with slight edge on Xtra Dubl.

As for five Benthic rankings for me:
Xtra Dubl > Vanilla > Rum Coconut (something about Rum and coconut goes great together for me) > Regular > Vampira…. Vampira still being a 4.25 in my book. Great execution this year on the whole line up.

 

New beer announced on Instagram yesterday. Southern Hemisphere Double Daisy. No hops included in the post. Someone asked if riwaka was used and HA replied ooooo ya like they were koolaid man.

apparently it’s in person purchase only. Major bummer. hopefully a suburbanite like me can make it to the city before it sells out

riwaka ddc was my favorite hazy beer every produced by HA, maybe favorite ever.

update: another poster got a response from HA. Hops are Nelson, Galaxy, Riwaka, Rakau, Enigma

 

I asked about riwaka! Glad they replied, now it’s an instant buy

 

Any idea if Double Daisy Cutter 4 packs will last until tomorrow evening?

 

I imagine it lasts until next week.