Found..

The capsule was just found after a record long hunt.
It was found slightly north of Dakin on Seminary.

The Dakin reaction is the chemical reaction of phenolic aldehydes (or ketones) with hydrogen peroxide to form bisphenols and carboxylic acids.[1][2] The reaction is named after Henry Drysdale Dakin.

You are persistent hunters and we commend you.

Half Acre Beer Co
Chicago, IL

A record

The capsule still sits in it's hiding place. I guess we stumped you.

Half Acre
Chicago, IL

Hunt Is Here

A great day for a Half Acre Hunt.  

It's out there waiting for you.

Remember, call or text 773 351 5709 or email gabriel@halfacrebeer.com as soon as you've found it.  This is important.

This week's winner gets some freshly bottled Daisy Cutter Pale Ale to glug on these summer days.

Go out, hunt, Michael Jackson would've wanted you to.

And your clue:

"Tucked behind a building hugging pole piece just north of where science (a reaction) and religion intersect."

Good Luck,

Half Acre Beer Co

Chicago, IL

Project Heifer

In an earlier post, I talked about two groups of Northwestern Engineering students that were working on a project that dealt with our spent brewer’s grain. You can view it here. Their semester ended a couple weeks back and I had the opportunity to sit in on their final presentations.

I was hoping for more of a face-off, last man standing format that lent itself towards yelling and under-handed tactics, but got very professional (suit and tie), thoughtful presentations that were useful and informative.

Group #1 came up with some compelling ideas for composting that involved actually creating a second tier of business. They designed an area in the brewery that would serve as a breakdown area where we’d produce an additional product ready for sale. If we had the time and resources we would seriously look at this option.

Group #2 designed a rake system that would help us to make our current “grain out” process easier. Coming to the idea was smart because most in the brewing industry have these handy contraptions in their Mash Tun that rake out the grain automatically. We have none. Maybe they were trying to rub it in, but either way, it was a very practical solution.

Thanks to both teams for working with Half Acre Beer Co.

And for the finale……

Introducing: Project Heifer!

A farmer named Ben lives right here in Northcenter, and his farm is about 50 miles south. He’s begun to take the grain to his cows, and a couple of pigs he bought. Apparently cows are far more finicky than I realized – he’s in the process of gradually integrating it into their diet to see if they like it. I had the impression that you could throw used auto parts into a trough and they’d gobble it up, but I guess they, too, have temperamental palettes that aim to be pleased. I hope those prissy sonsabitches take to it.


We’ll keep you informed.

Half Acre Beer Co
Chicago, IL

Let it rain

There will be no hunt today because mother nature has discouraged it.  The capsule finds its hiding spot by way of two motorized wheels, and the Enduro won't be subjected to the rain.

Chin up, we'll see you next week.

Half Acre Beer Co

Chicago, IL

Goose Down & Horsepower

During the Craft Brewers Convention in Boston this past April Greg Koch from Stone Brewing Co gave the keynote address entitled “I am a Craft Brewer.” If you have 45 min, you can view it here. Since then a mixtape-ish ode to the speech featuring a bunch of industry notables was made. You can view it here.

Unquestionably the pride in the community and craft comes through very strongly and a lot of talented guys that have devoted themselves to thoughtfully making beer get rightfully recognized, but…. I get lost when Koch's speech focuses on the overlord nature of the macro brewers and their dominance. What’s with all the whining? It’s like heading out to the playground when you’re a kid and getting whaled on by a kid that’s bigger than you. You don’t go rat him out to the teacher or sit there and cry about it, you lip up, get up, and hit the bigger kid in the head with a board. At the very least, you grab your dignity and move on.

I’m not sure how dragging down the other guy creates upward mobility. I’m grateful the big guys make beer that’s indistinguishable and strives to offend the fewest consumers. “Fizzy Yellow Beer,” is pretty great if you ask me. Fizzy, yellow beer and huge marketing campaigns give little shit breweries like my own a point of differentiation that works out pretty nicely; we want to make beer with strong characteristics and have no money for marketing campaigns. There’s a beautiful balance and a differentiation that's useful.

In the end I would hope that people aim to treat their senses to the best time they can. If knocking back eighteen Miller Lite’s tonight is really the thing that flips your switch, well, then enjoy it.

In my opinion, trying to get people feeling that big is bad and marketing campaigns muddle your mind is fine and dandy, but appealing to people’s sense of worth and enjoyment seems to make more sense.

If you sleep at my home for a night and before bed I offer you two pillows, one is thin, stuffed with twigs and covered in latex. The other is stuffed with down, hypoallergenic, and covered in a case sewn with an innumerable thread count. You’re going with latter - lets face it. Beer is no different. Some just offer richer experience. You might have to work harder to find the one that offers your reward, but it’s out there.

You’re going to the car dealership because your Ford Pinto just took a shit. You show up at the car lot, take the new Focus out for a cruise, then work out the numbers on a used Neon and realize it’s a great buy. Then pulling through the lot is brand new Porsche 911 Turbo. A guy hops out and says he’d like to offer it to you, but it’s just a little more money than the Neon. The Porsche might get horrendous gas mileage, but it’s a sleek, road-eating piece of mechanical wonder, and you’d be a jackass to walk away from it. Craft beer is this mechanical wonder designed with quality craftsmanship, uncompromisingly seeking your pleasure.

If you want to sleep on twigs and latex and drive your Neon home in the morning, then go ahead. As for me, I’ll be resting my head in comfort and hugging the turns in the 911.

Half Acre Beer Co
Chicago, IL

Monday

A new week is upon us.  How about a video to get things going.

Half Acre Beer Co

Chicago, IL

No Hunt Today.

There will be no hunt today. We've gone on an excursion.  We all need them, and we suggest you do the same.  Enjoy the weekend.  And remember, Be As big As Your Beer.

Movement

Things happen quickly, sometimes as though you're speeding along in a high powered vehicle that guides itself. Lets hope it manages to keep us out of harms way, rapidly traversing the landscape into the distance.

Half Acre Beer Co
Chicago, IL

Found..

Found it at Hoyne & Walton in Ukie Village

Hunt Now

It’s Friday and the capsule is out there settled in and waiting for an eager hunter.
The weather is great, so take the opportunity to head out and soak it up. The Daisy Cutter is flowing all over town – if you haven’t had the chance to check it out, do it.

Remember to call 773 351 5709 or email gabriel@halfacrebeer.com as soon as you find it. We need to let the other hunters know to give up hope and go home.

This week’s winner gets a variety pack of beer and a big hug from the head brewer.

Here’s today’s clue.

"This house of God is for sale in the Rusyny village. Look for the 1905and you’ll see the fence. It’s hidden in the greenery below."


Good luck

Half Acre Head

This marks the first in what will be a never-ending series called, “Half Acre Heads.”
One of the best things about our brewing company are all the folks that come out of the shadows to spend time with us. We really get an array of people that make the days, weeks and months add up to a colorful experience.

So without furthering babbling, the first “Half Acre Head,” I’d like to introduce is:

Chuck.

Chuck has been drinking and selling craft beer since before the term was thrown around in every shitbox, watering hole from here to Juno. Before Beer Advocate there were beer advocates like Chuck, and others, that quietly preached the gospel of bigger beer.

We met Chuck in the industry and have caught up with him at many a beer event as he meanders from one sample to the next, eerily smiling at what seems like a joke only he’s taking part in. He comes to the brewery with the same grin.

I know he drives an American car that he’s owned for more than 20 years and has lived on the near south side for just as long. He’s been aging a Boston Beer Co beer since the mid 90’s and is currently seeking a new position in the world of beer.

He’s like a free-agent waiting for his next team. So, all of you out there who have oodles of positions that were made for Chuck – send him an email and hire him to lead you: chuck@wagsbeer.com

Half Acre Beer Co
Chicago, IL