Half Acre — Benthic 2025 Vanilla

Technical Details

Tasting Profile

The nose opens with bold Madagascar vanilla pods layered over dark chocolate ganache and espresso crema, with whispers of toasted coconut and bourbon-soaked oak. On the palate, this imperial stout delivers luxurious thickness—waves of blackstrap molasses, burnt caramel, and rich coffee merge with creamy vanilla custard. The coconut character weaves throughout, adding tropical sweetness to the roasted malt foundation. The finish lingers considerably, leaving warming alcohol heat balanced by bittersweet cocoa and lingering vanilla bean.

Food Pairing

Pair with a warm chocolate lava cake with vanilla ice cream, where the beer’s intense vanilla and roasted character amplifies the dessert’s molten center. Alternatively, serve alongside artisanal aged Manchego or smoked Gouda—the beer’s sweetness and coconut notes provide elegant contrast to nutty, crystalline cheese textures while the bourbon undertones echo complex aging profiles.

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.