Half Acre — Benthic 2025

Technical Details

Tasting Profile

The nose reveals intense waves of toasted coconut and dark molasses, interwoven with bourbon-soaked oak and espresso grounds. On the palate, this imperial stout delivers viscous layers of burnt caramel, bittersweet chocolate, and vanilla-laced bourbon warmth, balanced by a subtle roasted coffee bitterness. The finish is remarkably long and warming, with lingering notes of coconut macaroon, dark toffee, and whiskey barrel char that slowly fade into a pleasantly drying espresso aftertaste. At 16.1% ABV, it maintains impressive cohesion despite its formidable strength.

Food Pairing

Pair with a rich chocolate bourbon pecan pie, where the dessert’s sweetness and nutty elements mirror the beer’s caramel and coconut notes while the bourbon creates a seamless bridge. Alternatively, serve alongside aged Gouda or Parmigiano-Reggiano, whose crystalline texture and caramel-like umami complement the stout’s roasted complexity and warming alcohol.

About Half Acre Beer Company

Half Acre Beer Company was founded by Gabriel Magliaro in 2006 in Chicago, Illinois, establishing itself as a pioneering force in the city’s craft beer movement. After initially brewing their recipes at an out-of-state facility, the company opened its own brewery on Lincoln Avenue in Chicago’s North Center neighborhood in March 2009, marking a significant milestone in its evolution. The brewery’s commitment to both quality and community quickly garnered recognition, with its tap room being named Chicago’s eighth best bar by Chicago magazine in 2013. Half Acre’s approach extends beyond brewing, demonstrating environmental responsibility by partnering with Northwestern University engineering students to minimize waste and find innovative ways to reduce or reuse brewing byproducts. The company’s growth trajectory led to opening a second, larger brewhouse and pub on Balmoral Avenue in the Bowmanville neighborhood in 2015, eventually consolidating all operations there in 2021. Today, Half Acre produces six year-round beers, three seasonal offerings, and regular special releases, while maintaining strong ties to the local community through sponsorship of Half Acre Cycling since 2007.