The Half-Acre thread (2018)

Orin is very good, but Benthic knocks it out of the park. I wonder if HA has any spies on this feed. In case they do... MAKE MORE GOSHDERNIT! That would make a trip next November back to Chicago much more enticing (awkward cough).

 

I finally had Orin on tap at Beer Temple - have to agree, it's the best brown ale (or whatever you want to call it) I can remember having.

 

Don't get me wrong, I'm a sucker for BA stouts, especially ones with shit in 'em like vanilla and coconut, so I still prefer Benthic. But for what it was, I was really blown away by Orin--I'm not a huge brown ale fan, and didn't have my hopes up when it was all I grabbed last year, but it's a damn good (and different) beer.

And the fact that HA has had Orin on tap for weeks is awesome.

 

In case you needed another reason to visit either taproom...



IMO their sours have been pretty delicious. Looking forward to trying this one

 

Dammnit I want this to go lol......they are making the best sours in the city.

 

...has anybody tried the new Bivouac Double IPA at the Balmoral taproom? Hmm... might need a return visit very soon.

 

Half Acre is putting out a lot of IPAs, but is failing at communication on why I should be drinking that IPA. I look at the menu and see 5 IPAs I've never heard of with little description. They may want to fix that. Social media is the perfect avenue for announcing these...

 

Bivouac is pretty solid. I ordered it on Saturday, and my wife ordered Dopee, and we ended up switching beers because she greatly preferred Bivouac. Dopee is a pretty standard HA IPA with all the bitter crispness that entails (which I was in the mood for), Bivouac is a little fruitier and is not particularly bitter at all. It's not one of my favorites of theirs, but it's very balanced and easy to drink.

 

"Alongside Big Hugs this year, we give you Sailor's Kush. This beer calls up English yeast with 2row, Vienna, Pale Malt & oats. The cold side met a ferocious hop program: 2 servings of Enigma, Equinox, Comet, Galaxy, Nelson, Citra. Only available at our Lincoln Ave brewery: 12/3."

From Half Acre's twitter. Another incredible label.

 

Can I start the 'sounds NEish' talk again on this one? Sounds 'double dry hopped'

 

Yeah, I was wondering this myself. Sounds pretty tasty.

 

!!!!!

 

I absolutely HATE Enigma and Equinox hops. Easy pass for me.

 

Alrighty then. I will admit that I have a similar reaction to some of the Australian hops (esp Vic Secret - too much of that and I get a 'over ripe mango' whiff which really smell like tropical dumpster to me). But when Daisy Toronado was on in August, I freaking loved that beer, and that was the regular Daisy + enigma hops. So dry, cutting, and bittering... unh (that's a pleasure "unh"). I remember thinking THAT should be the standard Daisy I liked it so much.
Yesterday:
Tried the Bivouac DIPA - nice, but on the verge of sweetness for me.
And I gotta say that Fill the Air Stout continues to impress, visit after visit.

 

Forecast is a high of 48 on Sunday. A massive upgrade from a year ago with the awful snowstorm

 

No Sailor's Kush along side Big Hugs Release. Instead...

 

I was there last year and yeah... no fun. Kinda funny that it snowed for Bentic and now it is warm. I am coming down for BC at Whole Foods Friday and hope to see you guys! I will be back for the Full Burrito hopefully.

 

I'm disappointed Sailor's Kush isn't coming on Sunday; really wanted to try that one. My gameplan is probably to wander by at some point on Sunday, see if there's anything Big Hugs-related left, and otherwise keep on waiting for SK to drop.

 

Beer Cellar in Glen Ellyn is doing a big hugs event on Wednesday the 6th. Will have it on tap and to go according to their fb post.

 

I may have to stop by for Fluorescent...that beer was absolute fire when they first released and my wife still gives me shit (and appropriately so) that we didn’t pick up a second 4 pack.