Half Acre Sticky Fat American Dark Ale

Brewed by Half Acre Beer Company
Style: Black IPA
Chicago, Illinois USA

Serve in Shaker, Tulip

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Normally would stand out but had it at hills farmstead so it’s a little watery. Hoppy and roasted as you could imagine

Growler via a trade. Pours with a black body and a large tan head with good lace and pretty decent retention. Aroma has an odd styrofoam quality, but past that there is chocolate, some fruit, citrus, orange and some esters. Malt bill is a bit on the prominent side of things. Flavors of chocolate, an odd grape character, fruit, citrus, tangerine, lightly grassy. Only a medium bitterness, with a dry finish and medium carbonation.

I had this from a growler that I picked up on release day. Pours nice and dark brown color with a creamy stout-like head. Very balanced and pungent aromas of hops, grains, chocolate, roasted coffee and some malty tones as well. Rich and full bodied without being overdone or over the top. Very smooth feel as well that catches me off guard a little bit in a good way. This was really good and I’d love to see this bottled

On tap at the CBS annual picnic, and dispensed to my hard plastic shaker with a darkest brown color, a touch of ruby highlighting, modest, light tan head foam, and spots & streaks of lacing. Roasty, mocha notes were surpassed by potent citrus & pine notes in the aroma. Low but lingering, hop bitterness and a touch of caramel were presented in the flavor of this medium bodied brew, thus resulting in a tasty addition to the growing Black IPA roster, IMO.

Growler picked up at the brewpub. Pours a black body with a finger-width, dense and creamy, brown head that dissipates slowly and leaves a nice lacing throughout. Aroma is really nice. Very solid blend of roasts and piney hops. Lots of citruses with some resins and a touch of caramel. The hops are very fresh and abundant, but not overly aggressive and go really well with the roasts. Flavor is solid as well. Lots of citrusy pines up front with a light caramel along with a really nice roast. Roast increases towards the end along with the citrus pines and this finishes dry with a sturdy, resiny, roasty and piney bitterness that leaves a very lengthy aftertaste. Medium-light body and a moderate carbonation. Very easy drinking and pleasantly dry. Overall, a really nice black IPA. Lots of fresh hops that are abundant, but not overly aggressive. Plenty of roast alongside the big citruses and a firm resiny bitterness. The caramel offers just enough of a balance while allowing the fresh hops and roasts to shine. Very enjoyable beer.

2011 growler from 09/09. Dark pour with a 1 finger head. Piney smell. Very woodsy. Mouthfeel is full and thick. After taste is all bitter hops. There is a slight roasted caramel in there, but it is overtaken by the wet hopping. This is very drinkable. I liked this stuff quite a bit and happens to be the first Black IPA I have tried.

Draft from Half Acre. Pours a deep brown black. Nose isn’t as bright and shiny as expected. Of course, I think Galactic DD ruined that for me. Lots of piney hops and some distance roast notes as well. Fairly straight forward. On tasting, it is a quite dry beer. Minimal sweetness. Strong sense of piney resin and a very firm bitterness. Chewy hoppy notes. Resiny fullness to the palate. Overall, a pretty solid beer, just could use some bright floral notes to really bring it out to play.

Growler from the brewery provided by Alex. Pours a dark brown, coca cola on the edges, light tan head, good carbonation...Aroma is super hop, can tell it was wet hopped, lots of grass...The taste is really boring, not much going on, light brown sugar, a little hops, but really pretty boring. Light chalk finish that just seals the deal as not being a good one.

On tap at the Half Acre Hop Leaf event. Citrus nutty nose. Malty sweet and dry bitterness. Lots of dry citrus flavors. Finishes dry. At first this didn’t make much of an impression on me, but it grew on me quick. 7/4/8/4/15

On tap at Sheffields in Chicago. Pours a deep amber with a frothy light tan head. Aroma is an excellent blend of rich roasty malt, cocoa and a touch of coffee behind a more aggressive pungent piney hops and resiny notes. Floral and earthy hops as well, not overly citric. Flavor is also nicely blended between chocolatey notes and fresh aggressive hops without a sharp bitter finish, Very smooth and drinkable. Medium body and a soft but fizzy carbonation. Nice black IPA, well balanced to accentuate the hops and dark malt while keeping it smooth and refreshing.