Half Acre Baume

Appearance: Very dark, not much head.

Smell: Very little initially, but eventual notes of chocolate and smoky burnt bread.

Taste: Just like the dark rye stout intended; forward; bold.

Mouthfeel: Very full mouthfeel, full palette; slightly gritty.

Drinkability: This limited batch beer was released in summer 2009 to commemorate Half Acre's opening of their new home on Lincoln Avenue in the Lincoln Square neighborhood in Chicago (conveniently enough, right in my 'hood).  I cold-aged the bottle for 5 months, which may have been a mistake, as there was very limited carbonation left in the bottle. The result was almost overwhelming and not at all smooth. There was a slightly bitter aftertaste which was initially offputting, but became more bearable over time. In all, one of the better dark rye's I've tried, though not one necessarily worth pining over.


Serving type: Bottle

Grade:  B- 

Beer Advocate says:

BA OVERALL B+ very good w/ 13 Reviews

rAvg: 3.88 High: A / 4.4 Low: B- / 3.4 pDev: 6.7% Brewed by: Half Acre Beer Company  Illinois, United States Style | ABV American Stout |  6.50% ABV Notes: Limited (brewed once).

Brooklyn Manhattan Project @ Beer Bistro

Appearance: Looked like a strong ale, reddish-brown translucent. 

Smell: Spicy, notes of cherry and oak.

Taste: Definite "manhattan" flavor, cherry

Mouthful: Slightly gritty, dry, lingering cherry aftertaste. Heavy, syrupy, but pleasant.

Drinkability: This is among the supposedly new wave of beers infused with flavors resembling cocktails. This definitely has manhattan notes and is pleasantly interesting. I defy anybody to drink more than one or two but as a beer as an aside, it's very nice.

Serving type: Tap

Grade:  B+


Beer Advocate says:

Brooklyn Manhattan Project

BA OVERALL B+ very good w/ 21 Reviews THE BROS N/A no reviews; yet! send 'em beer » rAvg: 3.95 High: A+ / 4.6 Low: C+ / 3.05 pDev: 9.87%

Duvel green @ Beer Bistro

Apparently this beer has been hotly anticipated. Michel Moortgat, from Duvel Moortgat, had this to say about Duvel Green in a recent interview : "We in the brewery have enjoyed for decades the fresh, light taste of the 'single-fermented' Duvel, and we have traditionally cold-filtered and bottled a small portion of this beer for sale, but only at the brewery and a few selected locations in Belgium. The beer was labeled with a green label, as the nickname 'kleine' Duvel (or 'Green' Duvel) was used to describe the beer taken at a young stage of the brewing process of Duvel. A small quantity of Duvel Green has now been made available on draft allowing a wider range of beer lovers to discover the beer."

This is what I have to say about Duvel Green: Slightly sour with a slight ale taste like regular Duvel . This new Green label beer however is a unique strong pilsner sour. The concept is interesting but it's rather off putting. The sourness is really unappealing and makes for a squishy face aftertaste. D

Beer Advocate says:

Duvel Draft

BA OVERALL B+ very good w/ 42 Reviews THE BROS N/A no reviews; yet! send 'em beer » rAvg: 3.99 High: A+ / 4.75 Low: C- / 2.7 pDev: 9.02%

Finally, a word about the Beer Bistro : it's a nice, if generic, pub-style beer bar. It's probably the best beer bar in the greater United-Center area, at least that I've tried, as evidenced by the many Blackhawks garb bedecked pregamers that packed the bar. A-

Harar Beer

Appearance: Pale yellow, translucent; Like a Pilsner.

Smell: Bitter, stale.

Taste: Tastes just like a Thai beer with that slightly skunky sweet flavor.

Mouthfeel: Slightly bitter, crisp, and pungent flavors twinge the tongue in just the right way that I love Thai beers for. Very thin (not ideal for pairing with spicy Ethiopian food).

Drinkability: Unlike other Ethiopian beers which can be pretty exotic tasting Harar Beer tastes a lot like Thai beer which, in general, you either love or hate.  It's a little too thin for pairing with food, and a little to skunky to drink on its own, so it's a situational beer at best.

Serving type: Bottle

Serving location: Ras Dashen

Grade:  C

Brewer says: N/A, but Wikipedia says: "Harar Brewery produces Harar Beer, a 4.25% abv pale lager, and Hakim Stout, a 5.8% abv stout.^[2][1][3] The brewery also produces Harar Sofi, a non-alcoholic beverage which it markets toward the Muslim population.^[4] Harar Brewery uses water from the Genela spring, located on its premises, and supplements this with water it pumps from Finkile, located 33 km from the site." 

Beer Advocate says:

BA OVERALL B- worthy w/ 25 Reviews THE BROS N/A no reviews; yet! send 'em beer » rAvg: 3.39 High: A- / 4.1 Low: C- / 2.55 pDev: 11.5%

4.25% ABV (unofficial)

New Holland Mad Hatter IPA

Appearance: pale reddish-brown, very little head.

Smell: moderate hops smell, otherwise mostly odorless.

Taste: full IPA hoppiness, but otherwise unremarkable.

Mouthfeel: Rather watery and slightly chalky. Very little coverage.

Drinkability: Easy drinking, but the overt hoppiness may be a turnoff, especially if looking for an easy-drinking beer. 

Serving type: Draft

Serving location: Simon's Tavern

Grade:  B- 

Brewer says: "Mad Hatter is an I.P.A. that explodes with hop flavors. Dry-hopping provides a distinctive and floral hop aroma, while the lively and hoppy body is subtly balanced with delicious malt notes. Hatter's hop character makes it a great fit for spicy dishes, bitter greens and beef.

12.5° Plato, Alc. 5.25% by Vol.

26 IBU

Beer Advocate says:

BA OVERALL  B+ very good w/ 536 Reviews

THE BROS  A- excellent read more »

rAvg: 3.87 High: A+ / 4.8 Low: D- / 1.95 pDev: 10.08%