The Faithful

Friends,

We've kept this blog rolling for some time and it will live here as a form of record, but our place for ongoing conversation is now on our new website. Having two places to call home no longer made sense, so we've streamlined things.

Those of you that kindly followed this website can now keep up to speed on our new blog.

Please come join us.

Thanks for the memories,

Half Acre Beer Co
Chicago, IL

Deals de los Muertos

A word from the Monster Mash Pit,

Halloween is lurking around the corner and to celebrate, we’re gonna do it like we use to back when our parents picked out our outfits and the acquisition of unhealthy mounds of sugar was the only thing on the agenda. We’re gonna do October a solid by encouraging you to dress ridiculous and by desecrating some gourds. In fact, we would like to offer a treat to anyone who partakes in these sadistic rituals. It breaks down as follows:

-No Jokes, perform a noteworthy trick…receive 10% off Half Acre items
-Come in and make your Half Acre Purchases entirely in costume…receive 15% off
-From October 25th to 29th, bring in a thoughtfully carved pumpkin…receive 15% off Half Acre suds & duds

…make ‘em count though as both costumes and pumpkins will be judged by us with the winner receiving yet another treat. We will give you one guess as to what that treat will be…

Bob Away,

Half Acre Beer Co.

Pale Ales & You

This is the week of sun and Pale Ales.

Tomorrow, Wednesday 10/5, we release growler fills of Mr. Ouroboros, the German-Americo Wet Hop Pale Ale brewed with Kolsch yeast, at our brewery. 6% abv

Fills: $15
Fill & Growler: $19


Friday October 7th we release growlers and bombers of Tasty Waves Pale Ale, the gusher that waves goodbye to summer in all the right ways. 5% abv

Fills: $14
Fill & Growler: $18
Bombers: $6.99 (drink it right from the bottle)
T-shirts: $20

Both beers released at 12noon when our brewery store opens. 4257 N. Lincoln Ave / Chicago

A late summer charge before diving into the weighty beers of the brisk days.

Also, remember this Saturday is the pop-up cheese shop featuring some limited / generally not found brews/cheeses & breads at our brewery. Read More.


Half Acre Beer Co
Chicago, IL

Pop-Up Cheese Shop

We're pleased to announce that next Saturday October 8, 2011, we'll be hosting a Pop-Up Cheese Shop at our brewery, featuring cheese from Cellars at Jasper Hill, and bread from Elmore Mountain Bread. We'll also have some specialty beers on hand, lending delicious support...of course.

Jasper Hill is a group of people in Vermont dedicated to creating and cellaring world class cheese. We were introduced to Jasper Hill by family friends at Elmore Mountain Bread, also mega-talented Vermonters. Maybe you read about both on our blog this past spring.

Anyway, we're orchestrating a day of cheese and beer at our brewery during Jasper Hill's upcoming Chicago visit, and following it up with an evening of continued cheese & beering at Lush Wine & Sprits on Chicago Ave.

The first part will begin at our brewery at 3pm. You'll find the below cheeses being plated el solo, and/or pressed into dreamy sandwiches on hand made/carried Elmore Mountain bread. Cheese goodies will be available for purchase - and available for accompaniment with a complimentary flight of sample sized pours, representing 4 of our particularly cheese friendly brews. In short, you buy the cheese, you get the beers.

At 6:00pm, we'll take down the Pop-Up, and make our way to Lush Wine & Spirits on Chicago for an exquisite continuation.

The Lush event will be ticketed, and will run from 6:30pm to 9:30pm. Lush will be preparing an array of suitable accompaniments to pair with our beer and Jasper Hill cheeses. Contact Lush for ticketing info: (312) 666-6900

Cheeses:

Cabot Clothbound Cheddar - butterscotch, tangy, brothy, nutty
Landaff - bright, grassy, tonicy (best melter for grilled cheeses)
Bayley Hazen Blue - anisey, raisiny, chocolatey
Harbison - spoonable bloomy rind wrapped in bark - sweet cream, woodsy, herbal, mustardy

Oh my, if there were ever an event to savor! Please, come join us.

Half Acre Beer Co
Chicago, IL

Waves

As fall hits and summer fades we throw out one last toast to summer.

This beer is about summer today and yesterday, a mindset, an ease.....

Tasty Waves is the summer session pale that glides in and around your long days soaked in sunshine. It's a 5% cruiser we're putting into 22's and growlers.

Put down your ambition and ride these tasty waves while it's hot.

Release date to follow.

Cheers,

Half Acre Beer Co
Chicago, IL

The Cycle

We first have to step back to our last beer, StickyFat, to truly understand this beer. The next beer about to gush from the tanks is Mr. Ouroboros. Mr. Ouroboros is the follow up wet hop beer to StickyFat. Both are brewed with freshly picked, whole cone hops straight from the harvest. Both are hop forward, juicy potions demonstrating the perfume quality you can extract from the cones. And, both are odes to the lore of the fields. We were joined by friend and fellow brewer Jonathan Cutler of Piece Brewpub to bring this beer to you. We utilized a kolsch yeast strain and bags & bags of whole cone Citra to land on a beer all its own.

Mr. Ouroboros is the ghost of Coney Bottoms, the one and only concrete evidence of the StickyFat Bear. Coney Bottoms, a simple minded farmer that happened to be puttering around in the wrong row when the StickyFat bear was gorging on the ooey-gooey, was taken down by the bear. Since then, the ghost of Coney Bottoms, who the hill-people call Mr. Ouroboros, resurfaces each cycle to loom, to lurk, to gurgle.

As one farmer's 11 year old son recounts:

"Daddy, I saw the Mr. Ouroboros creaking and cacklin' in the field.......gumming all he's got left of his hand and makin' creepy."

This wet hop brew pays homage to this cycle and Mr. Ouroboros.

This will be a draft only / growler pour beer. Release date to follow.

Half Acre Beer Co
Chicago, IL

StickyFat

***This year we've brewed two wet hop / harvest beers.

Today we'll discuss the first:

Each year hop farmers trudge into their sea of vines and pull down the hop cones.
Most of these sticky chunks will get broken down and converted to pellets so we brewers can work them all year.
However, some are left whole and quickly passed to brewers for the purpose of brewing wet hopped harvest beers.

Last year we took these cones and brewed StickyFat for the first time. StickyFat is a dark ale that's spent time with the wet hops.
We've brewed this again. It's on draft right now in our store. You can buy it beginning today 9/8 at 12pm.

StickyFat of 2010 was anything but subtle. Many flavors flying in your face at once, each fighting for dominance. StickyFat of 2011 is more refined. It's a different beer because we used new hops from a different crop year with a different approach, but tailored well and built better, with a result we're pleased to announce.

Working with wet hops is a process without strict rules. The results speak to the year, the crop, the weather and the choices you made. StickyFat is here again, our tribute to the StickyFat Bear, the very tired, the very mellow bear that looks to get hold of the hops farmers nurtured all those months.

As one farmer of old was quoted saying:

"The Bear, he sleepy, but quick. He eat the sticky hop and run away. I got nothin' left cause the Bear's fat now. It's all gone."

Sad, but true. Come grab some of the annual Wet Hop brew for your harvest time session.

We made T-shirts again this year and they are sweet.

Growlers fills $16
New Growler & Fill $20

Half Acre Beer Co
Chicago, IL

Galactic Double Daisy Cutter: Destinations, Vol. 2

Happy Labor Day, everybody. If you're spending the holiday out and about, soaking up our sunny city and suddenly find yourself with beer needs of the Galactic sort, here are your Galactic Double Daisy Cutter: Destinations, Vol. 2

Small Bar Fullerton (TAPPING TODAY!)
Binny's South Loop
Whole Foods Kingsbury
Beer Bistro

Ooh, and Maria's Packaged Goods & Community Bar in Bridgeport still has some GDDC from Saturday night's tapping. Thanks again for hosting us alongside all those other incredible beers, Maria's!

And remember, these kegs are tapped only when the good people at each establishment see fit. Alright then, enjoy today's holiday, and more importantly, a shorter work week.

Yay!
-Rog

Galactic Double Daisy Cutter: Destinations Vol. 1

In an effort to get Galactic Double Daisy Cutter down the gullets of those unable to secure a bomber or growler on release day, here's a list of outposts potentially offering encore tappings of Galactic DDC in the near future:

The Map Room
Jerry's Sandwiches & Beer
Village Tap
Hopleaf
Small Bar Fullerton
Fountainhead
Bad Apple
Acre
Maria's Packaged Goods & Community Bar

A couple of things to keep in mind, keg tappings happen only when the good folks at these establishments see fit.

Also, there will be a Vol. 2 to this list.

Happy hunting. We'll see you guys out there.

Your faithful Brand Wizard,
Rog

The Skinny

There's been some very passionate dialogue concerning our special release beers, their quantity, how they're sold, etc.

We first want to recognize that having this debate at all is a luxury. We could concept these beers, guide them through our tanks and release them to the sound of crickets.
Fortunately, people are interested and show up to see what we made.

When we release beers, throw parties or whatever, we do our best to think through the process and run things in the best way for you, the faithful consumer, and Half Acre.

Here's where we'll address the common issues we've come across:

Why don't you release beers on the weekend, so us 9-5ers can have equal access?

-We release beers during the week because Saturdays are our tour day, which already has 100+ people lining up outside the brewery every week. To have that line and then a release line would make life for everyone a little crazy. We haven't released beers on Sundays because like most of you, we need some rest. Much like you 9-5ers we work all week, too. We actually put in hours that can sometimes be described as "brutal," and "exhausting." We're tossing around some ideas and might have a solution, but that's why releases have been during the week so far.

Bottle / Growler limits.

-They've been to high and will be reduced for the first day or two after release.

Why don't you just make more?

-We have made more. We do make more and will make more. The amount of beer we produce today relative to two years ago is pretty staggering. We have expanded….dramatically. With that said, we struggle to keep inventories in line and have responsibilities to the people carrying our beer in bars & stores. Thumbing our nose at those people would be out of line. Additionally, we produce as much or more special release beer relative to our total production than any production brewery making beer in this thirsty country.

A lottery system

- This could probably work if we had the time and energy to effectively work out the details.

We are a small brewery that utilizes every hand on deck to produce the beer we brew each and every week. Our days are long, intentions positive and aim constantly geared towards improvement.

Cheers,

Half Acre Beer Co
Chicago, IL

Tears

We released Galactic Double Daisy Cutter this past Friday. It sold out by 7pm.

We first want to thank everyone that came, sent people, drove hours and showed an interest in hoisting this beer. We send out a pixelated embrace to each one of you.

To those that weren't able to get your hands on some of this brew: Bottom line, we thought it would last longer. Our last big release was for Small Animal Big Machine which also sold out in the same amount of time, but was half the volume. We thought double the volume would increase the odds of spreading this hop-goon to interested parties, but again we underestimated the passion for the sticky bits.

We're going to explore some other options, but none are great and all increase the rigamarole considerably, so we'll see what hits.

That's for your understanding and solid support.

Till Then,

Half Acre Beer Co
Chicago, IL

Galactic DDC

Friday 8/19 is the day and the Galactic will drop at 12noon when we open.

This beer insisted on being a beast. Uber-hazy and jam packed with the sticky, Galaxy hops, this beer isn't for the faint of heart.
As if pulled from the core of a distant, inhospitable planet, The Galactic Double Daisy is juicy and dank, rough and tumble and beautifully ugly. Strap on your boots and pull down some of the ooze, Galactic Double Daisy is here.

Half Acre Beer Co
Chicago, IL

Bottle Boom

We've heard of two instances where a bottle of Small Animal Big Machine has blown. We want to give anyone a heads up that if they still have a bottle or two, they should be kept cold. We don't think you have to wear artillery armor in your house, just be aware that warm environments could be an issue and this has happened.

Should your bottle have an issue, then take a photo, get a hold of us and we'll make it right.

Half Acre Beer Co
Chicago, IL

Whooaaa Donkey!

Due to our chaotic packaging schedule and our plans to travel to the Great Taste Of The Midwest, we will be postponing the release of Galactic Double Daisy Cutter until next Friday 8/19.

We don't want to rush the beer and our ability to tenderly package it, so it must wait. We apologize for the delay and we'll see you soon.

Half Acre Beer Co
Chicago, IL

Donkey In Space

We're still set go go for the release of Galactic Double Daisy Cutter next Friday 8/12.
Here are the details:

22oz bombers: $9.99
Growler refills: $17
Fill with new growler: $21

6 bottle limit per person.

We begin sales at the open of our store at 12noon.

Request: Don't cellar this beer. Buy it and drink it. Hoppy beers are meant to be consumed fresh out of the gate -- they don't get better with time.


Half Acre Beer Co
Chicago, IL

In & Out

Some of you may have noticed that when shopping at the Half Acre Craft Beer Emporium that we've had a less than modern point of sale system and that speed was not our thing. If so, you'll be happy to know that we've replaced the rock, chisel and abacus with a state of the art, low-end POS system that will have you regulars gliding in and out of this joint with ease.

This becomes of particular importance on release days when lines tend to get long. It will take us a bit to wrap our heads around this technological dynamo, but once we do, speed is ours.

Half Acre Beer Co
Chicago, IL

Galactic DD

TIme to dust off the old blog and drop some beer news.

We've brewed a variant of Double Daisy Cutter we're calling Galactic Double Daisy Cutter. This version highlights Galaxy hops, a bruiser grown in Australia specifically to make pallets numb.

We're giving this one some time to relax in the tank, but it's looking like it will land in our brewery store on August 12th. Should that change in any way, then we'll let you know. We will be selling bombers and growlers. We're even going to throw some wax on this one...

The label, seen above, is particularly galactic. What you can't see here is the metallic silver that will print in the gray areas. Two headed donkeys never looked so good.

Yours,

Half Acre Beer Co
Chicago, IL

New Shirts

We know it's too hot for shirts of any sort, but laws and stuff say we should probably wear 'em. If you gotta wear a shirt, and you dig these styles, consider the following, freshly available for purchase at our brewery store. Please excuse Mr. Zombie Mannequin Torso.











By the way, we've got Smalls and XXL's of each of these. Hungry for more? Check out our online store, where you can find other styles for sale, all from the comfort of your very own sweat lodge; http://www.bluecollardistro.com/halfacre/categories.php?cPath=1198

Love,
Rog

Captain Fantasy Release, this Friday, 7/15

Our latest saison, Captain Fantasy, will be ready for you to sip and score the moment we flip the 'Open' sign at our Craft Beer Emporium this Friday, July 15th, at noon precisely.

This tantalizer for fellow fantasizers has long, lemony legs that stem from Sorachi Ace hops and spin-kick the pear-puree we threw in this brew, commanding savory submission.

22oz: $8.99

Growler Fills: $15 ($19 w/ growler)

Come…get 2 close 2 our FANTASY!

Happy 4th of July

We wanted to get a blog post out there before anyone skated off for the holiday weekend.

Happy 4th of July to all of you.

There's something great about an all inclusive holiday that celebrates everyone standing in our country by lighting off explosives and consuming in excess. Everyone can get behind the 4th. Do some neighborhoods become reckless, dangerous places hazed over with smoke & combustion, yes, yes they do, but embrace it this weekend.

Enjoy yourselves.

Half Acre Beer Co
Chicago, IL

Dripping over Everest

Two things folks:

First, tomorrow we release Dripping Saison. We're really happy with this effort. We aimed to carve this beer from the heart wood of what a Saison can achieve during the warm months. Quenching.

Draft only: $12 growler refills / $16 with a new growler
Released at our brewery at 12noon on June 29th, 2011.


Second, we have some friends that like to stomp around the earth seeing new things. They've always been kind enough to throw on some Half Acre T's when visiting far flung places and snap a photo for the guys in the brewery back home. They're trying to win a competition that would send them to base camp in Nepal. All they need is votes. Voting is super easy, just two clicks of your mice. If you have a minute, click this link and vote for them -- they're really close to being in the top few that actually get to go and walk up the big hill.

Many Thanks,

Half Acre Beer Co
Chicago, IL

Dripping Saison

The Dripping Saison will be released on Wednesday June 29th.

This is an all draft / growler pour beer, so bring your glass and take home 64oz of summer.

Cheers,

Half Acre Beer Co
Chicago, IL

Southside

You may have read yesterday's post on the Chicagoist.

We wanted to follow that up with one of our own:

As a brewery we don't take on any additional accounts, whether that's the northside, southside, Milwaukee or Denmark.
That means if you are a bar two blocks from our brewery and you're jazzed about carrying our beer, we can't accept the business today. We can't because we run out of beer on an all too regular basis at the bars & stores that have already been supporting our brewery. Our added capacity that we create in our brewery allows us to make good on the relationships that exist today.

These aren't distributor issues, these aren't law driven decisions and they certainly aren't preferential treatment towards one side of a city or location.

We appreciate the people and establishments doing interesting things across this city and hope with time we can access them without the concern of flubbing the brave soles that already hooked their cart to our scrappy wagon.


Half Acre Beer Co
Chicago, IL

Forklifts are King

We knew a long time ago that our forklift was the key to our brewery. Pretty much everything we do gets heavy real quick, so using our forklift is crucial, but these days someone is using a forklift almost continuously in our brewery.

We had a forklift called the Pork Chop Express, but the Chop was experiencing some technical difficulties and kept crapping out on us, so we brought in another forklift we're tentatively calling Digital Señor. We're putting Digital S. through the paces.

To illustrate our point that any self respecting outfit needs a forklift, I'm sharing with you a couple things accomplished with a forklift today.

First -- we got another 60bbl fermenter today. This chunker is sorely needed and will be the bookend in the almost complete line of new tanks. The last one comes in about three weeks. We used two forklifts to get it in and upright.

Second, when Matt innocently pulled up in front of the brewery today, ready to brew and do his part, the ground gave way and Matt and his car fell in. In my mind there are a couple things that you should invariably be able to rely on -- one of those is the earth below you. Not so today.

Fortunately, we were armed with a slew of forklifts and were able to pick up Matt's car and restore what simple truths we have left.

If you don't have one, do yourself a favor and go grab a forklift for your home or business. Father's Day is this weekend -- might I recommend a 5000 lb truck with a quad lift and side-shifter, they are the answer to most any lifting question.

Half Acre Beer Co
Chicago, IL

New Saisons; An Introduction

We want to start by thanking all those who came out for Small Animal Big Machine. You guys crushed that beer in record time and turned out in record numbers. Steering clear of an emotional, Tom Hanks sort of sappy moment, I'll just say thanks and extend our appreciation for supporting our endeavors.

Next endeavors:

At Half Acre we typically only maintian one house strain of ale yeast, so if we veer off the reservation a bit we usually source another strain and try to get a couple beers out of it. A one brew stand is no way to treat our one-celled sugar metabolizing friends.

We just scored some Saison yeast so we're brewing two back to back Saisons -- the first is a draft only beer called Dripping Saison. This is aimed at a core Saison to aid us all in gliding through the summer season with a stable go-to session anchor. We took a bit of it and roughed it up with some off-beat treatment that may or may not eek it's way out to you, but the bulk will be poured into growlers at our store.

The second Saison is part of a two-part double brew with our friends from Short's Brewing in Bellaire, MI. For the first half we hit the road and brewed it in MI at their facility this past Monday. The second will be brewed this Friday here on Lincoln Ave before heading out to the My Morning Jacket show.

The beer is called Captain Fantasy. We're brewing identical recipes at each location with two separate labels of our own interpretation. Captain Fantasy is a Saison brewed with pears and Sorachi Ace hops. The beer should be pleasantly off kilter and our time with Short's is always time well spent.

Captain Fantasy will be available in 22's and for growler pours.

See you here or there.

Half Acre Beer Co
Chicago, IL

Small Animal Big Machine this Friday

Our latest collaborative effort, Small Animal Big Machine, is set for release this coming Friday, June 10th.

Small Animal Big Machine will be available ONLY in 22 oz. bottles.

Brewing trailblazers, Pipeworks & De Struise co-outfitted our foray into the funky realm of sour mash brews, fermented with dark cherries and red currants. The fruit cuts the funk but jumps back before crossing into candyland. A three-point landing for this steampunk: aroma complexity, balanced flavor, ABV punch.

Bottles will retail for $11.99 each.

There will be a four bottle limit per customer.

Half Acre / City Provisions Farm Dinner

Every year we team up with City Provisions to take a bus out to a farm where we dine on that farm's offerings and pair our beer.

This year we're headed to Dietzler Farm where we'll be checking out the ways of their farm, having a meal amongst it all.
In addition, Koval Distillery is joining us so we'll enjoy a cocktail hour featuring their spirits.

Every year we have a nice time spacing out from the city and mucking it up courtesy of a farmer who provides a lot of the restaurants that serve fresh & local products.

We hear there are still spaces to be had. For more details and to reserve contact City Provisions.

Half Acre Beer Co
Chicago, IL

Beer Dinner at Isla Pilipina

We patronize Isla Pilipina, a local filipino establishment on Lawrence.
They enjoy beer and we enjoy food: a barter system is born.
Through this enjoyable give and take we decided to kick up a beer dinner highlighting our collective offering.

Isla Pilipina will be dropping their main menu to pull out some filipino classics just for the evening.

Isla is a BYOB, so register for this food explosion and we'll bring the glug.


June 9, 2011
7pm
$35

Check out the registration info on their site.

Half Acre Beer Co
Chicago, IL

The Growlers Show Tomorrow.

We will be giving away 100 tickets to the Growlers show tomorrow night, where we'll have a bunch of beer and good times to be had.

We'll make it easy. First come first serve at the Bottle tomorrow night. We'll have a man with the tickets outside the Bottle at 9:00pm. If come come and he still has tickets, then you get in free. You can buy tickets here. Additionally -- all Half Acre beers will be $3.50. You can't beat that. To top it off, slather some of the The Growlers "Beach Goth" all over it and you have a night to remember.

See you there.

Half Acre Beer CO
Chicago, IL

The Growlers

Ladies & Gents:

This Thursday 5/26 we are setting up shop at the Empty Bottle for the "Half Acre Presents, The Growlers," show. We are taking over the taps, selling beers for $3.50 per pint and looking to let our collective hair down. That, to me, sounds like a trip worth making. We'll be pouring some off the funkier froth.

We're also going to give away a bunch of tickets for free -- details coming tomorrow.

You can buy tickets here to insure you'll be there, only $8.

Come and do this.


Half Acre Beer Co
Chicago, IL

Meat Wave

Meat Wave will be released tomorrow at our brewery @ 12noon, when we open.
Our event with Floyds & Dogfish begins @ 8:00pm in Bridgeport.

In addition, we're going to be grilling Brats at the brewery during the release. So, if you swing by for the Wave, we will also get you dining on meats that have been guided into casements for your scarfing pleasure. Brats are on us.

Lets get fired up, Chicago.

Half Acre Beer Co
Chicago, IL

Our ode to Chicago and its affinity for pork products rolls out.....

We're pumped about this beer. And now we can all drink it together. Earthy hops abound.

We release Meat Wave this Friday May 20.... We will dole out 22oz bottles & growlers.

22oz: $8.99

Growler Fills: $15 ($19 w/ growler)

T-shirts: $20

PLEASE NOTE: OUT STORE WILL BE CLOSING AT 7PM SO OUR RETIAL STAFF CAN HEAD SOUTH TO DRINK BEER WITH YOU AT THE COLLABORATIVE EVENT W/ 3 FLOYDS & DOGFISHHEAD.


Squeal Chicago,

Half Acre Beer Co
Chicago, IL

Bread & Cheese

This post comes to you from our own Matt Gallagher:


My brother/sister in-law, Andrew and Blair, own and operate Elmore Mountain Bread, baking bread in a wood fired oven attached to their house in northern Vermont. They're located a few miles up a dirt road from the town of Elmore, which consists of a general store and a one room school house...the only one room school house left in Vermont. Their bread is historic....a country french, seven grain, baguettes, a brewers bread made with spent grain and beer from their local brewery, maple cinnamon raisin, and a few focaccia, which are intense. My wife and I were just out for a visit and I got fat eating and drinking.

Here is what we had for dinner one night: spoonable Winnimere from Jasper Hill, Hartwell from Ploughgate Creamery, Cabot clothbound cheddar from the Jasper Hill Cellars, Edward from Hill Farmstead Brewery, and Elmore Mountain country french. All procured while touring the mud roads around the area stopping in for visits at these innovative producers. Shaun E. Hill took some time to show us around his awesome farm brewery, Hill Farmstead, located in rural Greensboro. Inside Shaun's tasting room we ran into Vince, who works down the road at the Jasper Hill Cellars. He offered to show us around and we were blown away by their cheese cellaring facility built into/under their farm. We were also lucky enough to visit with The Alchemist and The Three Penny Tap Room. Both amazing.

You may have read about these places in the NYT, or any number of national food publications. Northern Vermont food producers are trending. And deservedly so. They all work extremely hard dedicating their lives to producing something authentic. And this dedication shines through in their products. We hear these words thrown around a lot in the craft beer world, so much so that they sometimes lose their meaning....hand crafted....artesian....small batch...local. Spending time in Vermont brought meaning back to these words. Here are some photos.

~Matt

Half Acre Beer Co
Chicago, IL

An Event

Chicago Craft Beer Week is racing toward us. Last week we posted some details about Half Acre events during that time.
A few of these nights are going to be especially great events for us; events that we hope you don't miss.

We'll be posting on each of these events to be a bit more descriptive and shed some more light on details and cause for the event.


First:

This Friday May 20, 2011 we are doing a collaborative event with Three Floyds -- and we just tagged in our friends from Dogfish Head, as well -- at Maria's Package Goods & Community Bar + The Co-Prosperity Sphere in Bridgeport.

Chicago Craft Beer Week, for us, is about getting out with our brewing brethren and celebrating what we do. It's also about highlighting Chicago and the beer scene that's rumbling in this city. There's plenty of places on the northside that spread craft beer cheer, but Friday we'd like to take you south to Bridgeport. Chicago's other hemisphere deserves to shine and Friday we'll shine with it.

Each brewery will have numerous beers pouring. We'll have something freaky on at Maria's, then an array of beer at the Co-Prosperity Sphere, which is a block away. The Sphere has an Urban Cowboy exhibition, we'll have someone spinning and some minor edibles to keep you on your toes.

Time: 8pm - 11pm
Cost: $10 at the door at Co-Prosperity

See you there,

Half Acre Beer Co
Chicago, IL

Half Acre on you iThing

Hey, so who wants Half Acre wallpaper for your favorite iOS device? Below you will find links to Meat Wave and Small Animal Big Machine wallpapers. In the future, forthcoming (and possibly past) label designs will also be appearing in device-portable format, so get excited already.

For your iPad

• Meat Wave - iPad Lock Screen


• Meat Wave- iPad Background


• Small Animal Big Machine- iPad Lock Screen

For your iPhone

• Meat Wave - iPhone Lock Screen


• Meat Wave- iPhone Background


• Small Animal Big Machine- iPhone Lock Screen

I don't know anything about the dimensions of all the various Android devices out there. I'm strictly iOS myself. But if one of these sizes can't be adapted for Android, give me pixel dimensions you need in the comments and we will see what can be done.

- Phineas

Small Animal Big Machine

On Wednesday we brewed a collaboration beer with Pipeworks and De Struise.

This beer is called Small Animal Big Machine. I would say that each influence had a chance to impact this beer and the result will be something of its own.

We did a traditional sour mash, used Urbain's yeast from Belgium and are incorporating a slew of fruit. This beer will be here soon.

22oz bottles will be yours.

Half Acre Beer Co

Chicago, IL

Chicago Craft Beer Week

Ladies & Gentlemen,

As you know, last year was the first real Chicago Craft Beer Week. It was a great week filled with your favorite froth from around town. This year, we as a city, are celebrating again: May 19th - May 29th (we're extending it to the 29th, but the technical closing party is on the 27th)

What does this mean for you and the breweries of Chicago? It's time to expand the range of what's possible in the art of consumption.

If you want to check out the Chicago Craft Beer website, please do. It should consistently be updated.

We're planning to leave it all out on the field that week. We're hoping to see you, the beer public, out at events all week long. We have a number of events that are sure to be kick-ass.

Here are the basics on where Half Acre & Friends will be. We plan on dragging out special release beers to all these events. You will want to check with the individual establishments when gauging event times / reservations, etc.

1. 5/19 (5:30pm - 8:30pm) Beer Under Glass. All local breweries at the Garfield Park Conservatory

2. 5/20 (Times TBD) Three Floyds / Half Acre collaboration event down south at Maria's Packaged Goods & Community Bar and the Co-Prosperity Sphere. This will be killer.

3. 5/21 (1pm - 5pm) Map Room and FIZZ bar & Grill for a Craft Day Afternoon

4. 5/25 (5ish - late) Half Acre Hike. We will start at our brewery with a special tour (registration will happen at the participating bars) then travel to Hopleaf, Acre & Fountainhead, where we'll be pouring funky beers.

5. 5/26 (9:30 show start) Half Acre Presents The Growlers at The Empty Bottle. Half Acre is taking over the Empty Bottle and their draft lines while throwing down with the sounds of The Growlers (awesome name). We will be giving away 150 tickets to this show.

5. 5/27 (night time) Half Acre will be joining our friends at Revolution Brewing for the closing event.

6. 5/29 (brunch time) Half Acre is gearing up with Small Bar Division to offer you guys a beer brunch. Delicious foods - including home-made pork roll, a New Jersey classic.

These will be some great events. Let us help you to embrace Chicago and it's culture of mixing intoxicating potions.

Cheers,

Half Acre Beer Co

Chicago, IL

Meat Wave

Chicago Craft Beer Week is rapidly approaching -- May 19th through May 29th.

We're leaving it all out on the field this year. We have a load of events, which we will post shortly. It is our request that you abandon any real life responsibilities and celebrate the mirth of craft beer with us for a full ten days. Details to follow.

We're going to release a number of beers in the coming weeks, but for one we aimed at capturing the essence of what Chicago is and how it's people do what they do. Clearly our city hosts all kinds of interests, but we combed the fabric of this town and came back with: Pigs.

Chicago has been romancing pigs and their tasty bodies in ways like never before. Pigs are hot, totally trending, and part of what we do. Chicago popular culture is running rampant with our succulent friends, while our history is steeped in pork parts.

What we're saying, is that Chicago has been entrenched in the pig for ages and we're about to climax. Meat Wave is an english-bent India Pale Ale that will be our Chicago Craft Beer Week beer. Earthy delicious, this meat centric offering is for you, Chicago.

T-shirts too....

Cheers,

Half Acre Beer Co

Chicago, IL

Northern New Mexico

I recently went on a trip to Northern New Mexico and had a blast. Chicago and the high desert have practically nothing in common. Space is abundant, humidity is non existent and I didn't work for a second.

Living in a rad city like Chicago has its many perks, but dipping out of town to wander the canyons at 7000 ft has its benefits too.

Here are some pics from the trip.

Half Acre Beer Co

Chicago, IL

TWINS AHOY!

The mighty Ginger Twin will once again drop anchor at 4257 N. Lincoln, this Friday, April 29th.

This hop thruster will be available on draft for growler pours, and in 22 oz bombers; multiple ship-in-a-bottle modeling challenges for you steady handed, sea fanatics.

22's will sell for $8.99, growler refills will be $15, and new growlers $19.

A beer befitting the burly brethren.

Longshoremen Be Ready

Ginger Discount:

*Anyone with God given red hair will be granted an 8% discount on Ginger Twin purchases.

**Anyone with God given red hair and a Longshoremen's beard will be granted a 10% discount on Ginger Twin purchases.

***Identical Twins will be granted a 15% discount on Ginger Twin Purchases

****Identical Twins with God given red hair will be granted a 25% discount on Ginger Twin purchases.

*****Identical Twins with God Given red hair and Longshoremen's beards will be granted a special treat (each) and 50% off additional Ginger Twin purchases.

(The Ginger Discount only valid at the Half Acre Beer Emporium located at the Half Acre Brewery & World Headquarters. 4257 N. Lincoln Ave Chicago, IL)

Long Live The Ginger,

Half Acre Beer Co

Chicago, IL

The Crusch

Ladies & Gents:

We're releasing the Crusch tomorrow 4/13.

This Kolsch aims at warmer temps and the various happenings that go hand-in-hand. Roughly 5.5%, this one will be a growler buddy that won't be around long.

Draft only.

Only to be sold at our brewery.

Growler fills $14 ($18 w/ growler)

See you soon,

Half Acre Beer Co

Chicago, IL

Marty & The Crusch

Mart Stouffer's Wild America Barleywine is on schedule and ready to release on Friday, as planned.

22oz. Bomber bottles: $10.99

Growler Fills: $18 ($22 w/ Growler)

We also have another one-off to be released next Wednesday 4/13. It's a Kolsch called The Crusch. This will be a draft only release for growler fills at the brewery. Come by and pick up a growler, it's easy.......

Cheers,

Half Acre Beer Co

Chicago, IL

Goose Island & AB

We've been getting bombarded with calls and questions about the sale of Goose Island Beer Co.

For the record: We wish Goose Island all the luck with their decisions, through the years they have earned the right to run their company however they see fit. They are their decisions to make and only they can understand them completely. They've been good to us, and for that we're grateful. We want what's best for the Hall's and their brewers. They blazed this path.

As for AB, well, we don't know those guys.

From where I sit, this industry is pretty great. Compared to all the truly horrible crap that happens in business -- the really terrible, sweat shop, working children to the bone, chemical rampant, human atrocity kind of crap -- this is pretty good.

Take it easy,

Half Acre Beer Co

Chicago, IL

Marty Stouffer's Wild America Barley Wine

We've been allowing Marty Stouffer's Wild America Barley Wine time to mature. Being as large as it is, we feel it can only benefit from some time to mellow and round out before we start ushering it into our bodies.

The release date will be: Friday April 8th, 2010.

There's a petition that's been created by a fan. If you're interested in getting Marty here to wash down some pints, then visit the petition and let your voice be heard. You can visit it here.

See you soon,

Half Acre Beer Co

Chicago, IL

Longroom

Tomorrow night (3/22) we, as a clan, are heading over to Longroom to tip back some black beer. We'll be pouring Big Hugs, Baume', Chocolate Camaro & SS Simon Short. Come Stout with us and hoist dark beer while the getting is good.

7-10pm

Check out Longroom's Facebook post.

Cheers,

Half Acre Beer Co

Chicago, IL