Half Acre — Benthic 2025 Immortal

Technical Details

Tasting Profile

The nose opens with waves of dark chocolate ganache, toasted coconut, and vanilla-soaked oak, layered over espresso and molasses undertones. Nearly two years in barrel transforms the palate into a decadent tapestry of bittersweet cocoa, caramelized sugar, and coconut cream, supported by a subtle bourbon warmth and roasted malt backbone. The finish lingers magnificently—velvety and coating, with dulce de leche, dark fruit whispers, and a gentle tannic grip from extended oak contact that balances the pastry-like richness.

Food Pairing

Pair with a flourless chocolate torte topped with toasted coconut flakes, where the beer’s barrel character echoes the dessert’s intensity while its roasted notes provide contrast. Alternatively, serve alongside aged Gouda or Manchego—the cheese’s crystalline texture and nutty sweetness harmonize beautifully with the stout’s caramel and vanilla dimensions.

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.