Chub Step - Half Acre Beer Company

MaximalC

Illinois

3.35/5  rDev -16.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Pours seal brown with ruby highlights and a thin khaki head that is soon gone. Aroma smells almost exclusively of fresh roasted coffee. The taste has an acrid flavor that matches the aroma--roasted malt, burnt to a crisp, and little else. The body is smooth, if a little thin, and the carbonation is very mild. The whole affair comes off as something akin to cold, black coffee with some alcohol. Nothing to write home about here.

Serving type: growler

11-22-2012 02:02:02 | More by MaximalC

Treebs

Illinois

3.85/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Enjoyed on tap at Piece, served in an imperial pint glass.

A: Pours a solid black body with browned edges. A thin khaki head forms on the pour and leaves some nice splotchy and sticky lace on the way down.

S: Pretty straightforward. Some coffee notes with a roasted malt body and a little chocolate.

T: Coffee upfront with a nice roasted malt body and some slight oatmeal like flavors as well. Obviously some chocolate in there as well with an every so subtle hoppy finish.

M: Medium bodied, slightly thin, but this just increases the drinkability. Right amout of carbonation with a slighty drying finish that keeps you coming back for more.

O: Overall a very good and highly drinkable porter for the winter months. Not complex by any means, but simplicity is key for this one.

Serving type: on-tap

12-27-2011 17:29:59 | More by Treebs

TMoney2591

Illinois

3.78/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Served in a New Belgium globe at the Schaumburg Whole Foods.

Nice to see some tap-only Half Acre fare making its way to the 'Burbs. This stuff pours a straight onyx topped by about two fingers of tan foam. The nose comprises chocolate powder, roasted malts, and light coffee. It's hard to come across a more straightforward porter smell than this. The taste brings in more of the same, though the coffee and roasted malts come off a tad more bitter, more acidic, but not by too much. There's also a bit of greenery tossed in for good measure. The body is a straight medium, with a light moderate carbonation and a kinda dry finish. Overall, a very nice porter. 'Nuff said.

Serving type: on-tap

12-25-2011 21:57:07 | More by TMoney2591

emerge077

Illinois

3.7/5  rDev -8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Draft served in a tulip glass.

Black with sticky tan foam. Billowing head, slow to deflate. Lasting chunky foam, lacing all around. Looks very nice in the glass, with the halo of intricate lacing.

Aroma is mellow and roasty, some coffee, fairly simple and straightforward.

Flavor is similarly straightforward, light roastiness, some light coffee grounds and unsweetened chocolate. Very smooth feel with a light bitterness. Light bodied, it disappeared pretty quickly. Overall very sessionable, and that's the point. Perfect light porter tailor made for the colder weather.

Serving type: on-tap

12-04-2011 06:16:05 | More by emerge077

vespahulb

Illinois

4/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Picked this up as a post-thanksgiving sipper. It poured midnight black with an outer silhouette of dark brown.

In the nose, a hefty whiff of milk chocolate, earthy dank coffee and roasty dark malts. In the mouth, the nose carried through. Beautiful silky chocolate, bitter coffee and almost a chicory-like flavor. The carbonation was just right. As it warmed, it really started to sing and the chocolate aromas became prevalent.

Another great offering from HA. This one was easy drinking and a delicious dark drinker.

Serving type: growler

11-30-2011 21:50:03 | More by vespahulb

GbVDave

Illinois

4.03/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a 64oz growler into a pint glass.

A: Pours totally black with just the slightest hint of rust at the bottom of the glass. Capping this off is a thick and pillowy, 3 finger layer of khaki colored foam on top. Retention was very good and a nice collection of different lace patterns were left to decorate the inside of the glass.

S: Pretty simple, this one. Loads of roast and burnt/unsweetened chocolate. Picked up a trace of toasted oats, as well.

T: Exactly as above with the lone addition being a hint of dark roast coffee.

M: Thin and bitter. Tons of astrigent roastiness to dry out the mouth. Spicy, peppery, and pretty much right on for the style.

O: Seems like a pretty traditional take on a pretty traditional style. To me the bitterness is coming from the roast, not the hop additions. This is a clean and true example of the style.

Serving type: growler

11-20-2011 17:19:42 | More by GbVDave

MasterSki

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -6.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to Chris (spycow) for picking this up at Half Acre. Served in a Surly Darkness glass.

A - Two fingers of tan foam settles to a thin cap, thicker collar, and spotty lace. Very dark brown opaque body. Quite attractive.

S - Big chocolate flavor, with plenty of dark milled grains, yeasty bread, nuts, brownies, and perhaps molasses? Very potent and enjoyable aroma.

T - Some light chocolate and bread notes, and a surprisingly empty finish. Minimal roast bitterness. Not bad, but just kind of dull and understated compared to the aroma.

M - Medium bodied, with lower carbonation, and a dry gritty texture that reminds me of cocoa powder a bit. No alcohol presence - doesn't seem like a very big beer. Guessing 6-7%?

D - A solid porter with no major flaws, but not much to separate itself from numerous other options. If the taste were able to capture the potency of the aroma this would be a real winner. On the other hand, this is better than many of Half Acre's other dark beers and doesn't have the chalky astringency of Baumé or Sticky Fat. I preferred S.S. Simon Short by a small margin.

Serving type: growler

11-19-2011 18:38:32 | More by MasterSki