Half Acre — Benthic 2025 Marabi

Technical Details

Tasting Profile

The nose opens with an intense wave of toasted coconut and dark molasses, laced with bourbon-soaked oak and roasted coffee beans. On the palate, this 16.8% imperial stout delivers viscous, almost syrupy richness—waves of burnt caramel, coconut macaroon, and espresso crema coat the mouth with pastry-like decadence. Bourbon warmth builds steadily, while dark chocolate bitterness provides structure. The finish extends long and warming, leaving lingering impressions of coffee grounds, charred oak, and sweet vanilla custard that fade slowly into pleasant alcohol heat.

Food Pairing

Pair with a dark chocolate lava cake with salted caramel sauce, where the beer’s bourbon and molasses notes amplify the dessert’s richness while cutting through sweetness. Alternatively, serve alongside aged Manchego or smoked Gouda; the cheese’s nutty complexity and crystalline texture provide textural contrast to the stout’s viscosity while echoing its caramelized flavors.

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.