Big Hugs - Half Acre Beer Company

Lolli1315

Illinois

4.2/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A- A nearly opaque black color with a small amount of brown showing through on the sides. A small tan head disappears almost entirely except for a small ring, but this is a growler that I got earlier in the week so that probably has something to do with it. Small amounts of lacing as well

S- A rich full chocolate smell right away. Moderate amount of roasted malts that is layered with smells of dark chocolate. There might be some slight hints of coffee as well, but this is dominated by the chocolate and roasted malts. There is also small amounts of alcohol noticeable.

T- Smooth chocolate similar to the smell. The chocolate seems to be almost bitter sweet throughout the beer, jumping from one to the other. Some malt sweetness can be tasted as well. Light amount of coffee, but it doesn't quick stack up to the chocolate character. Medium amounts of roasted malt also are apparent throughout. Although this is 10% alcohol, there is only a small amount noticeable at the end of the beer.

M- Full bodied and slightly creamy. Some alcohol warmth towards the end. Terribly smooth for 10% beer.

O- I have been looking forward to this beer and it did not disappoint. Incredibly smooth for its size and its combination of chocolate and roasted malts were a great balance.

Serving type: growler

12-22-2012 20:03:11 | More by Lolli1315

tasteegood

Illinois

4.45/5  rDev +6.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I've had the pleasure of having this beer on tap, bottle, and in growler...yay!!!

Anyway on this occasion, I will look back to my wonderous experience on the day of its December release in 2011.

Serving type: Growler-split amongst 3 people in 2Hopleaf tulip glasses and 1 Bell's tulip glass.

S- Robust coffee, hints of chocolate....ah Dark Matter Coffee!!!
A-Black, black, black. W a thin brown lacing that coated the side of the glass as you drink.
T- Robust black Coffee (maybe a darker roast) w/ a pinch of azucar
M- LIght carbonation, coffee definitely stays on your buds for a bit.
O-Fantastic buy. One of my favorite ovarall and possibly my favorite seasonals from Half Acre. I will hodl on to my last 22 oz until my last breathe.

Serving type: growler

01-20-2012 04:31:38 | More by tasteegood

AJacob81

Illinois

4.38/5  rDev +5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Growler purchased at Half Acre on Dec. 18, 2011 and shared with family a week later on Christmas day. Served in my lovely new HA-branded snifter/tulip.

A - Dark chocolate/black in color, topped with 2 fingers of creamy, latte-colored foam that leaves behind a decent amount of lacing as it recedes.

S - Freshly roasted house blend, and not much else. It's a lovely coffee aroma, but a bit one-dimensional. As it warms, some basic stout roastiness, mild hop aroma, and some cocoa shows up as well.

T - Great, bitter coffee stout. The coffee is spot on, and is supported nicely by dark bread and bittersweet chocolate notes from the malt bill, and just the right kick of spicy, earthy hops to provide a well-rounded flavor profile. Slight warming brings out a subtly sweeter hot cocoa taste and some boozy warmth. Really quite fantastic and much more complex than what the nose seemed to offer.

M - Full-bodied, nicely carbonated, finishes rather dry for a big stout. I'd like to just sip at it, but it keeps disappearing from my glass.

O - My first time in the kitten's embrace, certainly won't be my last. Highly recommended.

Serving type: growler

12-26-2011 23:16:21 | More by AJacob81

JoeBoxer522

Illinois

4.53/5  rDev +8.6%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Wow! What a phenomenal brew! Got this from the Big Hugs release in late December of 2011 and cracked open the growler the next day.

A: Darker than dark, very inky black pour with a deep tan foamy head.

S: Roasty, a hint of coffee, a deep sweet smelling stout. Already getting a contact high.

T: A little more bitter than I expected, but incredibly smooth. You can tell the alcohol is there, but not quite as overbearing as other Imperial Stouts I've tried. Velvety smooth texture and a lingering bitter-sweetness. Overall excellent.

M: Velvety smooth, surprisingly sticky given it's not super sweet. Definitely lingers in your mouth well after it's gone.

Overall a fantastic brew. As a side note, I had 3 Snifters worth of the growler and I got a unique wonderful buzz that lasted through the night and into the morning, without any real hangover. Quality stuff :)

Serving type: growler

12-20-2011 20:08:10 | More by JoeBoxer522

Khazadum

Illinois

4.85/5  rDev +16.3%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A- This beer is amazing poured. Big inky stout, full lacing, sticky body, mocha topping. Its got the carbonation I want, its got no imperfections I can spot. Perfect appearance.

S- What more can I ask for? Sweetness on teh back end. Like a light maple syrup. This is surrounded by a sweet coffee roast. A non-bold, not espresso blend this year. What a great choice. Its roasty aroma, not bitter, not overwhelming, but distinctly coffee. It also has some toasted grain characteristic.

T- Oh those flavors. Opens sweet milk chocolate, lactose sugars, ethanolic laden dark fruits. Plums, dates, raisins. Almost the whole gamut. It has a placement of roasted coffee that isn't roasted grain. Behind the coffee is the roasted grain! Two flavors but identifiable. They really hit a home run this year in terms of flavors. I'm amazed at how good this tastes. Finishes relatively clean but you have the memory of roast with little bitterness there. It exists to balance, but you know its coffee you are tasting. Here and there you taste some hops, muddied, murky, sometimes citrus and vegetation.

M- Thick, viscous, syrupy. Delightful. Sticky flavors, really hard to determine the alcoholic nature. definitely not a 9%+ beer, but a 6%+ for sure. Carbonation is light, appropriate, allows it to not be cloying.

This is the BEST year of Big Hugs in the past 3 years. Fantastic, amazing. Delicious. I drank a half growler of this in one sitting, I'm sure.

Serving type: growler

12-19-2011 06:11:02 | More by Khazadum

seeswo

Ohio

4.05/5  rDev -2.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Shared from a growler at a recent local Madison tasting.

Pours black with a minimal tan head. Smells like dark roasted coffee. Nothing overwhelming, but pleasant. Taste is very smooth, well integrated dark roasted coffee. No booze on it at all, with an enjoyable, slightly bitter finish. I like really dark coffee, though. Very well balanced, smooth and very drinkable. The somewhat thin mouthfeel and low carbonation contribute strongly to the drinkability, even if they are not quite ideal.

Serving type: growler

01-16-2011 18:53:26 | More by seeswo

weatherdog

Illinois

3.85/5  rDev -7.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Growler provided by Richard and shared among friends, poured into a Cigar City snifter.

It pours big, black and thick with a smaller mocha colored head.

The aroma is filled with a deep roasted fresh coffee with a backend of bitter chocolate

The taste follows up with the huge roasted coffee flavor, it borders on burnt though which is distracting. An alcohol is pretty noticeable at the end as well.

The mouthfeel is on the lighter side which really help the beer from becoming too sweet. Drinkability is also pretty good with the only exception being the alcohol finish.

Serving type: growler

01-11-2011 00:26:05 | More by weatherdog

sliverX

New York

4.55/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured a pitch black with a nice thick coffee colored head that Hung around well kind of rocky.
Smells of roasted malt alcohol and coffee with a hint of hop acid.
Tastes sweet at first followed by alpha acids finishing with nice roasted coffee
Mouthfeel is medium to thick and perfect
Could drink this all night and thanks to Matt (bauermj) I will be ...

Serving type: growler

12-25-2010 01:23:24 | More by sliverX

klikger

Wisconsin

4.22/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Growler pours served in a tulip glass

A - Black, solid brown head, and great lacing

S - Coffee, biscuit, and a touch of chocolate

T - Fresh coffee and chocolate, alternating between milky and dark --> a little molasses, loads more roasted malts --> lots of dark coffee and sweet chocolate with just enough hops to balance it out. Very nicely done; I'll drink this stuff every chance I get.

M - Medium-bodied and creamy; good carbonation

D - Booze isn't detectable, and this tastes great --- Very drinkable for a big stout.

Serving type: growler

12-24-2010 21:26:50 | More by klikger

samie85

Illinois

4.08/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A-Pours a very robust midnight black with a dark mocha colored, two fingered head.

S-Coffee upfront with deep roasted malt and chocolate malt notes.

T-Very complex roasted notes with some dark chocolate and coffee.

M-Rich and thick at first but ends a little thin and dry. Letting this one warm up quite a bit is key. It becomes way more rich and decadent the warmer it is.

D-Really easy drinking considering the ABV. I've consumed about 3/4 of the growler and it's finally starting to hit me. A very nice imperial stout, just wish the price tag was a little more reasonable.

Serving type: growler

12-12-2010 04:45:04 | More by samie85

Vdubb86

Illinois

4.2/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Served in a pint glass

This beer pours the expected beauty that is darkness with a darker tan foam. The smell is surprisingly vacant in comparison to what I assumed that it would be. What I did pick up was notes of coffee and dark chocolate pretty much exclusively. The taste was the same mocha goodness that the aroma had, only it was much stronger in the flavor department. The one thing that I can say for this beer is that it needs a bit of time to warm up, drinking it cold doesn't do it justice. When it warmed up and opened up there was a nice rich creaminess to the mouthfeel that was a vast improvement from the initial mouthfeel of astringent alcohol. I do however wonder what a year on this would actually accomplish. It was a pretty darn good beer. It was by far my favorite offering from Half Acre so far.

Serving type: growler

12-10-2010 07:42:38 | More by Vdubb86

TMoney2591

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a Buffalo Bills/Coors Light shaker pint glass.

Thanks to VDubb86 for sharing his growler!

It's the most adorable bringer of devastation I have ever seen. I think. It pours a straight obsidian topped by a nice finger of tan foam. The nose comprises roasted malts, coffee, molasses, and a touch of dark chocolate. The taste doesn't want to deviate too far therefrom, though the coffee is stepped up a notch and the chocolate is a bit richer. The body is a hefty medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a nearly chewy feel. Overall, if ya like yourself some coffee stout, look not much further than right here, mister! Very nice.

Serving type: growler

12-10-2010 06:11:17 | More by TMoney2591

RJUGA03

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A- Jet black as night body with gathering carbination slowly working it's way to the thin (1/16") head surface while diminishing.
S-Initially I gathered a rather robust roasted coffeelike smell rolling into malty overtones.
T-Again with the roasted coffee, but this time it has a chocolate nip slowly finishing with a very Imp. Stoutlike aftertaste.
M-Heavy and with a slight syrup character leaving my mouth slightly dry as if the beer was crying "sip me again good sir".
D- This beer is very drinkable although with my current income level I will leave this $23.05 ($4 dollars less if you bring your own) dollar growler for special occasions. Kudos to Gabe and the crew!

UPDATE: As I expected the warmer the beer got(above refrigerator temprature) I noticed bigger flavors and a more pungent alcohol content.

Serving type: growler

12-06-2010 07:59:36 | More by RJUGA03

KickInTheChalice

Illinois

4.1/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a growler -- filled today -- into a tulip.

Appearance: Pours a firm black color with a 3 cm brown head. Said head slowly dissipates, leaving dabs of lace on the glass.

Smell: A jolt of coffee in the nose, with vanilla, roasted and chocolate malt, a hint of cocoa present as well.

Taste: It starts out with a touch of sweetness, almost like molasses, then moves to a ton of coffee, bringing a strong bitterness with it. In the midst of this coffee bombardment, the chocolate and roasted malts are noticeable. Some smooth creamy flavor in here too. Finishes fairly sweet, with a touch of alcohol.

Mouthfeel: Creamy, medium carbonation, full body. A bit sticky on the lips, and some heat from the alcohol warms the stomach.

Drinkability: This was quite nice, and really in my wheelhouse ABV-wise. I would drink this frequently.

Serving type: growler

12-05-2010 09:41:11 | More by KickInTheChalice

heliosphann

Indiana

4.1/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

64oz growler from paco1029384756. Thanks Frank! Shared with fellow BA infestaxion in pint glasses.

A: Pours Dark black/brown. A finger of dense, mocha head that collapses somewhat quickly. Small amount of lacing, but not much to write home about.

S: Roasted coffee and creamy chocolate reign big in the fragrance dept. Nutty, earthy tones come to the front as the beer warms up.

T: Some of the same coffee and chocolate that were mentioned above are present, although not nearly as prevalent. Instead there is a good amount of dark fruit and malty sweetness. There is also some nutty flavors mixed in as well. Some earthy hops squeak through to balance things out. Along they way there is a little bit of booziness, but not much.

M: Medium bodied. Carbonation is just right and helps highlight the flavors. I think it could be a little thicker, but my qualms are minor in this regard.

D: For a 9.5% Stout, this drinks really well. There is a slight bit of booze shining through, but overall very little. I'm getting ready for my second pint and might be ready for a third after that.

Half Acre continues to churn out a very nice lineup. Luckily they're pretty close by and hopefully I'll be able to visit the Brewery/Tasting Room soon. I found Big Hugs to be a little deceptive, but it turned out to be a solid brew.

Serving type: growler

01-03-2010 21:53:03 | More by heliosphann

jhoban19

Illinois

4.22/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4

Growler fresh from the brewery (and only walked a block from there to my house), served in my favorite personalized chalice (12oz).

A: Jet black with a finger's worth of foamy, caramel head. When held to the light, some subtle ruby hues are visible. Head dissipates very quickly into a thin ring around the edge with sparse surface coverage. Dotted lines of lacing cling to the glass like a stock chart on the sipping side of the glass. On the opposite side, a solid yet fleeting lace akin to a receding tide on the beach.

S: Initial aromas of coffee with some dark chocolate and even a hint of hazelnut. As it warms, not much change- the bitter coffee and dark chocolate continue to dominate the nose.

T: tastes like a cold cup of coffee with cream (no sugar), in a good way. A pleasant coffee bitterness lingers throughout the entire glass. I don't detect the 10% ABV at all. I also don't detect any hop flavors, but I'm usually not very good at detecting hops in a beer like this. Guess I need to get working on my Hops Appreciation kit!

M: before warming up, Big Hugs is a little too fizzy. As it warms, the carbonation settles and I'm left with a medium-bodied beer with a smooth and creamy finish, though still a pleasant fizz as the liquid hits the back of throat. I was expecting a bit more of a full body and this where Big Hugs loses a little bit of steam. Some sticky hops resin on the lips also starts to develop (at least I assume that to be a result of the hops). The bitterness (and probably the alcohol) is really creating a dry-mouth situation as I near the end of my glass, though nothing a sip of water or a few scoops of vanilla ice cream wouldn't cure!

D: if you like stouts, this is a good one. At 10% I'm finding myself being cautious- was saving it for a NYE party tonight, but I couldn't wait, just had to bust it open (one glass now, I'll save the rest for when my guests arrive). This is a good one for a cold day when you want to sit back and really take your time to enjoy a big beer like Big Hugs.

Serving type: growler

12-31-2009 20:22:01 | More by jhoban19

paco1029384756

Illinois

4.43/5  rDev +6.2%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 4.5

Pours black with one finger of creamy tan head that settles into a smooth thin layer.

Scent of sweet dark fruit, a hint of juicy hops, sugars, earth, caramel, and a nice punch of bitter coffee. This stuff smells incredible, the fresh coffee and sweet dark fruit work so well together.

Taste of dark fruit and strong coffee start, juicy hops, roasted malts, and sugar round it out. Finishes with a lasting coffee flavor, very nice.

Mouthfeel is medium bodied and oily, but thin and fairly flat.

Serving type: growler

12-20-2009 23:26:01 | More by paco1029384756

rudylaw

Illinois

4.28/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Picked up a growler on release day 12/18/09. Served in my Boulevard Smokestack chalice.

Pours a deathly black with a whispy light brown head that quickly subsides into a thin rim.

This sucker smells like freshly brewed coffee! Immediately, I'm reminded of the beauty that is Founders Breakfast Stout. Fresh ground coffee beans, dark bakers chocolate and the slightest hints of marshmallow and whipped cream.

Tastes like a coffee stout. In fact, this is much better described as such, rather than a straightforward imperial. Screw it, this IS a coffee stout. Now, the taste is much more complex than the smell. Sure, the coffee grounds and chocolate are here, but I'm also picking up dark fruit. Plums... the farmers market kind, some heavy cream, toffee and roasted malt. There's also a slight bit of hops here on the finish.

At 9.5%, this is amazingly drinkable. It's too thin for an RIS (this is where FBS separates itself), but as a coffee stout, it's darn solid. I know there are to be other takes on Big Hugs and I can't wait to see where it goes, or how it translates to the bottle.

Serving type: growler

12-20-2009 18:34:43 | More by rudylaw

ehammond1

California

3.86/5  rDev -7.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Bottle (2010)

Acquired via trade
Thanks, crushedvol!

(Aged for 3 years)

Nearly black, but truly a very dark brown and ruby. Small dark brown head. Irregular spots of stick left down the glass. Pretty stout.

Not a hugely expressive aroma. Will adjust this as I let the beer warm throughout the review, if necessary. Roast and a touch of coffee. Just a bit of chocolate-covered dark fruit as well. In fact, as the beer warms, lots of oxidation character emerges. It's not distracting, but it's not ideal, either.

The flavor follows the aroma, with chocolate-covered dark fruits and a bit of roasted coffee character emerging nicely. Moderate bitterness. Very drinkable, and the alcohol is exceptionally well hidden.

Near full in body with low carbonation.

Excellent. This aged nicely.

Serving type: bottle

05-17-2013 01:21:41 | More by ehammond1

UCLABrewN84

California

3.95/5  rDev -5.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4

Thanks to queens1130 for sharing this one at Wowcoolman's tasting.

Pours an almost opaque super dark brown with a foamy dark khaki head that settles to an oily film on top of the beer. Small streaks of lace form around the glass on the drink down. Smell is of dark roasted malt, cocoa, and coffee aromas. Taste is much the same with cocoa and coffee flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of roasty bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp and medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a good beer with a nice cocoa and coffee flavor.

Serving type: bottle

04-24-2013 00:42:15 | More by UCLABrewN84

herman77

Minnesota

4.26/5  rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A: Black with a small tan head. A bit of spotty lacing clinging on.

S: Nice dark roast coffee with some vanilla/hazelnut creamer. More roasted malt with bittersweet chocolate and vanilla sweetness.

T: Lots of roast and coffee (but not too much coffee) right at the start, then lots of sweet malts, vanilla, hazelnut and rich toffee take over to balance the roasty bitterness. A really great balance of sweet and roast that battles throughout the palate. Finish is a bit bitter roasted malt with a touch of creamy sweetness.

M: Medium to fuller body. Average carbonation. A bit smooth and creamy.

O: Really easy drinking for a 10% imperial stout. Probably more roasted bitterness than most stouts because of the coffee, but its got a great vanilla and hazelnut sweetness to balance it out. A solid Imperial Stout.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2013 21:46:18 | More by herman77

russwbeck

Virginia

4/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Black pour with a large brown head. The head only sticks around for a few minutes, but laces a decent amount. 4

S: The aroma is of chocolate, light coffee, and some booze. Roasted malt plays a part as well. It's a strange smell, but I do enjoy it. Hard to place, I think it's the chocolate taking over. 4

T: The coffee and chocolate are really the forefront of the taste as well, but there are certainly other tastes as well. The roasted malt comes out in a big way, as well as some caramel and molasses. Some hop bitterness as well. Overall a great taste that is really unique, which is saying something considering how many imperial stouts with coffee I've had. 4

MF: Thick, rich, and full body with the perfect amount of carbonation. The drinkability is great, as I really don't get a lot of alcohol. The bitter finish makes me crave the sweetness of the beginning. 4

O: Really glad I got to try this. It really has a wonderful label, definitely one to save. If you like stouts with coffee, you won't regret getting a Big Hug! 4

Serving type: bottle

03-12-2013 01:35:31 | More by russwbeck

MCain04

Illinois

4.31/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4.25

Served on tap at the brewery into a 13 oz snifter.

A: Dark brown, almost black. 1 finger tan head with good retention and decent lacing.

S: Roasty malts, dark chocolate, a little coffee, some piney hops.

T: Bitter coffee, hazelnuts, toffee, dark chocolate, roasted malt. A little soy sauce when served cold, improved upon warming.

M: Medium carbonation, smooth, dry finish, lingering bitterness.

O: Really liked this, one of my favorite local RIS for sure. A BA version of this would be killer. Maybe a little less bitterness and it'd be world class.

Serving type: on-tap

02-27-2013 02:11:51 | More by MCain04

liamt07

Ontario (Canada)

4.25/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Bottle from MasterSki, 650ml into a tulip.

Dark brown/black with a medium brown head, nice retention and lacing. Nose of roast, milk chocolate, some mild dark fruit notes, brown sugar, a whiff of alcohol and some bruised banana. Tastes of chocolate, roast, vanilla, and again some banana character that I though was peculiar, but interesting. Medium full feel, silky texture and lower carbonation. A very nice imperial stout, focus is on the malts here which I appreciate more in the style than heavily hopped iterations.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2013 20:44:07 | More by liamt07

rlee1390

Indiana

4.09/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

A-Black in the glass, one finger brown head that doesn't last long.

S-Good deal of roasted malt, coffee abundant, tad chocolate and vanilla.

T-Roasted malt, coffee, nuts, chocolate. Lots of coffee.

M-Medium bodied, nicely carbonated.

O-A wonderful coffee forward stout. Not the same level as Breakfast stout, but damn, a solid brew.

Serving type: bottle

02-09-2013 21:53:56 | More by rlee1390