Half Acre Big Hugs Imperial Stout

Brewed by Half Acre Beer Company
Style: Imperial Stout
Chicago, Illinois USA

Serve in Snifter

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This is the Imperial Stout that got me into drinking stouts. It has a beautiful slight coffee essence. Not over bearing, while I liked the original (9.5% abv) I think the release from last year (12.5% abv) was even more robust and delicious. This beer will have me waiting in line once again on a cold December day when it is next released.

Originally reviewed: 7/23/10. 22oz bottle poured into a goblet. Pours an opaque black. A thin mocha-colored head sits atop. Leaves a ring around the edge upon it’s release. Minor lace sticks around. Big scents of coffee, espresso, baker’s chocolate, wood, wet grass. Wow. That’s a nice nose on a beer for sure. The mouth on this beer is spectacular. Absolutely silky smooth. So buttery and creamy. Coats the entire palate well. Perfect blend of roasted dark malts, bittering espresso, and dark chocolate. Light vinous grapes on the back end. Aftertaste reminds me of melted milk chocolate. Absolutely wonderful beer. One of the best big stouts I have had the pleasure to enjoy. Kudos, Half Acre! And thanks again, Ed.

UPDATED: APR 23, 2012 Poured from bomber into a tulip. Pours a dark black color, but lacking a bit of head. Very good aromas of coffee, caramel, belgian chocolate and a good amount of malts. Very balanced, but slightly shy compared to the rest of the beer. Full bodied with a real great and smooth feel. Dangerously smooth with great depth too. Polished with great flavors of belgian chocolate, roasted malts, and a good amount of hot caramel. You can’t notice the alcohol on this at all. This is really damn good. Insanely smooth and polished, this is really impressive from half acre.

Just perfect. Aroma is deep chocolates and all those dark things. Beautiful pour. Dark as night and extremely creamy head that is aweosme. balanced. Perfectly smooth. A rarity.

Aged for a year. Smelled like raspberries and dark chocolate. Tasted like crazy layers of citrus and spice, dates, fruits. Chocolate of course, coffee, roasted perfectly. Good thick mouth feel. Possibly my favorite imperial stout yet.

Draught at Mikkeller Bar, Copenhagen. Pitch black beer with a small but lasting beige head. Roasted licorice aroma, vinous, cocoa powder, chocolate, raisins, figs,salty, some caramel. Licorice föavor, caramel, roasted chocolate, cocoa powder, hay, floral notes, vinous, soot, tar. Great body and a nice chocolate and prune finish.

tasting on 3/19/11. bottle thanks to Dave (from CHI), who I met in line at Hunahpu’s Day. light black pour with a 1/4" tan head. coffee nose with light vanilla. medium body with some cherry, oats, vanilla, coffee and chocolate. dry, oat driven, cherry / vanilla finish.

Poured into a snifter. Big thanks to Khazadum. 4.5 A: Black color. Two fingers of creamy light brown head with good retention and plenty of lacing. Very nice here. 4.5 S: Great mix of roasty toastiness, TONS of chocolate, coffee with lots of cream, and layers of caramel. A touch of smoke and burntness. Not ridiculously complex, but really elegant. 4.5 T: I really like the flavor this has. It tastes like it might be EE Toaster’s little brother. Toastiness is the main attraction here. Roasted barley, semisweet chocolate, espresso strength coffee, some crystal malt sweetness, and a moderate bitterness from the malts and hops. Really wonderful. 5.0 M: Heavier medium to heavy body. Good moderate carbonation. Super creamy and super smooth with a touch of burnt aftertaste. Really nice here. If this was just a touch thicker it would be perfect. Still, very good here. 5.0 D: This is a damn good beer and right up there with my favorite RISs. I’m going to need more of this. Like I mentioned, this shares some traits with Toaster and since Toaster isn’t going to be made again, this can fill in and do a great job doing that. Serving type: bottle Reviewed on: 12-28-2010 00:51:54

Bottle shared by smokepot23 at RBWG. One of my favorites of the weekend, actually. Love the older label. Pours coffee black with a beige head. Smells and tastes of balanced notes of roasted coffee, toasted malts, bitter cocoa, caramel, and oatmeal. Hearty and delicious. I felt the love.

Smell of sgar and coffee, somewhat burnt. Almost porter like in smell. Appearance is black, no head, small white ring. Heavy taste, smooth texture. No after taste for a big stout. Nice overall beer.