Half Acre Vanilla Bean Big Hugs Imperial Stout

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

Serve in Snifter

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Cask pour at the taproom (Chicago, IL). Quick stop in for a one-and-done on an early get out of work. Pours a rich thicker blackish pour, dark opaque body with just a faint touch of brownish light on the edges. A loose darker brown head sits atop and dies down to a ruddy ring, laces small. Aromas are a good dose of vanilla bean, cool and mellow sweet, richer bean elements cover up some cocoa, roast, silky sweet and roasty dark malts intertwine. Bakers chocolate, some coffee, more vanilla for me. Initial is thicker body, lightened a bit, silky smooth on the palate, the vanilla bean treatment brings some bigger flavors. Cocoa, roast, and chocolate. Coffee, caramel, toast, and biscuits. That kiss of dark fruit influence gets covered up a bit for me that I see in normal Big Hugs. Backend and finish throw some more dryness, cocoa, and a good dose of vanilla stays for he duration. Fun cask experiment. I’m not the biggest fan of Big Hugs, but the treatment was fun.