Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Posters

We've had a lot of questions from people about where / if they can buy prints of our labels. So we set up an online system so you can buy prints and plaster your home. Do so.

We'll be adding stickers and things, as well.

Check it out: POSTERS



Half Acre Beer Co
Chicago, IL

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Ween & Beer


We at Half Acre are fans of the band Ween. There's a slew of reasons this band holds a special place at the brewery, but I think the main thing is their outlandish approach to making music.

Ween also holds the hearts of some other brewers, the good folks at Short's Brewing Co and Jonathan Cutler from Piece. Ween is also playing the Aragon Ballroom tomorrow night (need tickets?). What does all this spell? Ween collaboration beer.

Today we're hosting Joe Short of Short's Brewing and Jonathan Cutler from Piece for a day of brewing a beer we're calling "Freedom Of '78." The style is a Guava India Pale Ale, brewed with 1000 lbs of actual guava fruit. We're aiming for an IPA that's kind of outlandish, much like the inspiration.

In honor of brewing this beer, being able to brew beers with friends and going to the Ween show tomorrow night - we're offering a 15% discount on all Half Acre beers at our brewery to anyone with a ticket to the Ween Show tomorrow night. You must have proof that you're going to the show - valid until we close tomorrow night.

You'll see this beer in two / three weeks. In the meantime, open your heads up and pour a little of the Ween bizarre into your mind.

Cheers,

Half Acre Beer Co
Chicago, IL


Label Illustration by our friend, Phineas.


Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Shewolf


There are a lot of things that go well together. After thinking about that for a bit I posed the question to my colorful coworkers: What are your two favorite things to experience together? And the only pairing that I could appropriately transmit on the internet was: The Jersey shore & cream doughnuts (not TV program Jersey Shore, but the wonder that is the actual Jersey Shore, far from Seaside Heights and the d-bags that star in that piece of crap). The point is, sometimes you can make one thing better by including another.

Case In Point: IPA's and Summer

It's tough to beat the fine quality of tipping back an IPA on a summer day.

In that spirit, in collaboration with Three Floyds Brewing Co, we drop the Shewolf. This India Pale Ale has a minimalist's approach with clean & uncluttered grain and hop usage. Filling out at 7.5% abv and closer to straw in color, we're excited to get this beer in the hands of summer.

We're aiming to release it Friday 7/2 (That could change, but we'll let you know). It will be available only at our brewery for sale in both bomber bottles and growlers. We will also throw a party out in the world and you're invited -- location to be announced.

To Summer,

Half Acre Beer Co
Chicago, IL


Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Unearthed


When digging out the last few feet of concrete for the new trench drain, this bottle was pulled out of the ground.

We don't know everything about this building. We know it was built in 1907 for $7000. The rear of the building was used for stables while the front, where our store is now, was used for the sale of dry goods. There were a number of uses, including housing, over the years.

We're thinking that in the early 30's there was brilliant & deranged medicine man that took up shop in this building, and that he used bottles like this one to store his various head shrinking potions, soul saving elixirs, aphrodisiacs and such.

Who can be sure, but that's probably what it is.

Half Acre Beer Co
Chicago, IL

Monday, June 21, 2010

Wet Saws, Jackhammers & IPA's


Half Acre is involved in its second construction project this month.

#1. Late last month we took over more of the building so we could accommodate the increasing amount of cans, kegs, bottles and cardboard we accumulate. Then, in order to use the space best, we knocked down a large wall so we could drive into the space with the "Pork Chop Express," our forklift. So now we can access that space from the overheard door (our third) that sits on an angle leading out to Cullom st. or just drive in through the gaping hole in the wall we created.

#2. Stair removal and trench drain. In order to brew more beer brewers need more fermentation space. When we originally built this place we had four 30bbl tanks and three 15bbl tanks. We then got rid of one 15bbl tank and added two 55bbl tanks. About a month ago we added another 30bbl tank, which totally fills both areas we've been using for fermentation. In order to keep on traveling down this rabbit hole we decided to create another area that will house additional tanks. We're removing one of two stair wells that lead to the second floor which will free up a lot of floor space. We're putting in a 40' trench drain so we can effectively work in that space and preparing for the arrival of new tanks. Right now we have two 60bbl tanks on their way. These tanks will give us a little breathing room and allow us to allot at least one of our other vessels for specialty / funky / one-off beers.

These last couple / few months we've slowed on our special releases because of capacity issues and we're eager to get back on track and get our store jammed with a wider array of beers, not to mention sending them out to the bars. We realize having two on draft at the store is lame -- we can assure you we're doing everything we can to rectify the situation and get things dialed in.

And speaking of special releases: we have two coming. Both collaborations, both IPA's, but that's for another post.

Cheers,


Half Acre Beer Co
Chicago, IL







Wednesday, June 9, 2010

It's On..


As you may or may not know, we've been riding with the Hawks through the series as Mayor Daley has wagered our beer against the mayor of each competitor's team. We took out Vancouver, then sliced and diced San Jose and now we're battling Philly. Even though we have roots in Philly and the east coast, we're without question rooting to bring the Cup back to Chicago. Tonight could be it. Check out the smuggled in Daisy can eyeing down the Yeungling for this evening's game 6. That's awesome.

Half Acre Beer Co
Chicago, IL

For the Homebrew nerd within


One of our own, Rog, was gifted this carboy cozy by his lady friend, Sally. She knitted it herself, and if I do say so myself, did a fine job. This carboy sweater might put the T-shirt, the main carboy go-to, out of work. Maybe you homebrewers out there have developed your own method. Maybe this cozy is nothing compared to the rig your glass is sporting at home. Maybe you'd like to show us?

Half Acre Beer Co
Chicago, IL


Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Angry


Pictured above is a sink hole that opened up in the northern part of Guatemala City during a down pour. It swallowed a three story building and a house. I think our scampering and tinkering is upsetting this orbiting piece of mudd and atoms that we call home. Angry atoms.

Half Acre Beer Co
Chicago, IL

Shewolf


It's coming. Soon.

Creative Stylings/ Illustration by our friend, Phineas.

Half Acre Beer Co
Chicago, IL