Half Acre Brewing Co. (2025)

How was the 2024 version?

 

The DB version (last years) sold out instantly, I would imagine the triple somehow goes faster.

 

I seem to recall hearing last year's was a very small batch, at least in comparison to the various stouts. Here's hoping they made more of the triple.

 

If it’s like how the Catch Hell iterations went, there may be less yield for each successive barreling.

 

Anyone ever hear what happened with Big Hugs this past year? Kind of crazy a long time annual staple just disappeared without any fanfare.

 

I could be wrong, but I imagine most breweries doing a January release would be doing a modest release size to limit exposure anyways

 

I believe it would have been the 15th anniversary of Big Hugs as well in 2024. Seems the only mention I could find on their social media was a "No Big Hugs this year" reply in a buried comment.

 

Ppl. Temps. Wallet size after the holidays? Spitballing here

 

I’ve always thought Big Hugs was a failed beer for HA and below their standards and am surprised it has lasted 15 years.

 

Well...it didn't last 15 years. But I'm equally surprised it lasted 14 years, until I remember I used to really like Big Hugs and hate Orin. Now the opposite is true.

The real Big Hugs were the ones exchanged with fellow FUPA Gods along the way.

 

I picked up a recent release of Big Hugs maybe a couple years ago and thought it was pretty good (no idea if they've tweaked the recipe over the years, apart from how they've added the coffee).

Similar to the extinction of non-BA barleywines, I'm just wondering if higher ABV non-BA stouts are also going the way of the dodo. If a high ABV stout is not barrel aged these days, it just doesn't sell it seems. Still would have been cool to see them do a draft only release of Big Hugs even, if only to keep the yearly release streak going.

 

Love the King Kong / Godzilla vibes here...

 

Of all my hot takes, this was the one that sparked haha. Yeah I meant $ exposure

 

Big Hugs will always hold a special place in my heart because I had it on my first date with my now wife, but yeah, as the years went by, I think it really started to stand out as a not great beer.

Still, I always used to buy at least 1 can every year, so I'll be sad if it's never brewed again.

 

At least you made one smart choice that night.

 

Well...fuck. Already sold out.

 

Given the instant sellout it seems you were right, unfortunately. I guess it’s just more money I can spend on Rev this month, and Half Acre will miss out on the extra $50+ that I would have spent on a taproom visit.