Hearths Ablaze - Half Acre Beer Company

cosmicevan

New York

4.39/5  rDev +14%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

bottle picked up in chicago suburbs when i was there not all that long ago. enjoyed from my half acre snifter.

a - poured a bold, yet watery black. shined like silk. thin to no head leaving small bubble pools and a ring on the surface of the beer.

s - nice cocoa smell...some big coffee roast. bittery bakers chocolate. some nuttiness.

t - big roast. some coffee crossed with chocolate. great stout to warm up with next to a fire. very VERY solid.

m - medium bodied, great feel. bold and roasty.

o - overall, a really nice big robust american stout. great roast, nice chocolate and coffee. i'm surprised the ratings aren't better for this. for an american stout, this puppy kills!

Serving type: bottle

02-16-2013 04:14:34 | More by cosmicevan

rhoadsrage

Illinois

4.2/5  rDev +9.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

(Served in a Nonic)
A- This beer pours a jet black body and a rigorous pour only produces a bubbly mesh of light tan for a short bit. There are a few microbubbles that glide to the surface.

S- The slightly sweet dry roasted malt has a dark chocolate nougat note and a finish with just a touch of soy sauce but it is very pleasant.

T- The roasted black malt is slightly dry and fresh with a black roasted graham flavor in there and a dark roasted cola flavor in the finish. A touch of sweetness compliments the gentle roasted barley flavor that lingers.

M- The medium mouthfeel has a nice tight fizz and no alcohol heat noticed.

O- This is a nice tasty stout with some dry stout character and some milk stout character. It also has many subtle layers of flavor that leave me wanting another sip.

Serving type: bottle

04-23-2013 16:44:09 | More by rhoadsrage

scruffwhor

Illinois

4.04/5  rDev +4.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75

Dark brown in color with some garnet highlights. Good head after the pour with a somewhat strong, mild brown foam.

Great roasty and hints of smoky malt aromas. Great dark coffee and chocolate with dark rye bread crust and some creamy milk notes as well. Smells satisfying and relaxing for a colder day.

Palate feels a little thin, but there's still some creaminess to the flavor and feel after each sip. Add that creamy flavor to some chocolate and you have a satisfying stout come round Winter time.

Serving type: bottle

04-22-2013 00:52:12 | More by scruffwhor

Jd2391

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -9.1%

04-18-2013 18:44:54 | More by Jd2391

CelticAleMan

California

3.5/5  rDev -9.1%

04-08-2013 20:19:46 | More by CelticAleMan

Sparky44

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -2.6%

03-26-2013 02:09:28 | More by Sparky44

kevanb

Illinois

3.9/5  rDev +1.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

650ml bottle poured into a Half Acre holiday snifter.

It pours a nice jet black color, very opaque, touches of cola brown when struck by the light. A finger high, compact, tan head rises from the glass but recedes quickly leaving some trace film and some soapy lacing. Nice roast on the nose, light coffee and toasted grain, a bit of dark chocolate and licorice and some lingering sweetness. The flavors are similar, roasted coffee, licorice with dark chocolate, a bit of molasses and toasted grain, finishes a bit weakly. Despite the finish, the flavors are very well integrated and balanced. The body is okay, a bit thin and carbonated for my liking, but still adequately smooth with a bit of a fizzy finish.

Verdict: A very pleasant American Stout from Half Acre. Amply robust and rich while being quaffable, they hit the mark with a simple stout for the winter months.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2013 02:15:18 | More by kevanb

Mat_Rampson

Illinois

4/5  rDev +3.9%

02-17-2013 05:20:10 | More by Mat_Rampson

Nachos4two

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -2.6%

02-16-2013 00:40:11 | More by Nachos4two

Florida9

Illinois

3.81/5  rDev -1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75

A: Very dark brown in color, but still a little translucent. Forms a small tan colored head on an aggressive pour that doesn't bother sticking around for too long. No lacing.

S: Aroma is full of heavily roasted malts, molasses, chocolate, and a slight bit of smoky char.

T: Taste starts off dry, with heavily roasted malts, molasses, cola, and a touch of char. There is a hint of smoke on the backend, but its rather faint. Long, somewhat earthy, finish.

M: On the heavier side of medium. Moderate bitterness. Medium carbonation.

O: A decent beer. Relatively drinkable, but not overly exciting.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2013 01:38:26 | More by Florida9

MaseFace

Kentucky

3.75/5  rDev -2.6%

02-10-2013 00:45:28 | More by MaseFace

bwarren82

Illinois

4/5  rDev +3.9%

02-09-2013 18:58:33 | More by bwarren82

sidetracked

Illinois

4/5  rDev +3.9%

02-08-2013 23:02:03 | More by sidetracked

homebrew311

Illinois

3.85/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Saw this bottle sitting at the store, intriguing label as all Half Acre brew are. Pours a dark black, not thick like an imperial, but definitely opaque. Short tan head forms and retains nicely. The nose is roasty with mild smoke character and a touch of bitter chocolate. Did not get the campfire quality that the label art promised me. The taste is more smokey than the nose with a bit of malty sweetness. The woody smoke character comes on stronger at the end with a considerable amount of bitterness. Mouthfeel is a bit towards the thin side with high carbonation. This taste good but is somewhat forgettable.

Serving type: bottle

02-08-2013 07:07:09 | More by homebrew311

Gonzoillini

Illinois

4/5  rDev +3.9%

02-08-2013 04:23:03 | More by Gonzoillini

BeerOps

Illinois

3.75/5  rDev -2.6%

02-03-2013 19:22:34 | More by BeerOps

adamant1912

Michigan

4/5  rDev +3.9%

01-29-2013 19:41:12 | More by adamant1912

dlello2

Illinois

4.39/5  rDev +14%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Had this on tap at Half Acre. Liked it enough to pick up a bomber.

A - Pours relatively thick. A nice, nearly black color. Good half finger of head, settles to a thin tan surface layer. 4.25

S - Nice. Nothing too crazy, but decent coffee and dry cocoa powder. 4.25

T - Super roasty. Taste is more akin to a robust porter with tons of roasty flavor. Good amount of chocolate and burnt toast. Really up my alley. 4.5

M - Good carbonation, medium body. Right on for the style. 4.5

O - This is a great beer--underrated in my opinion. Oh well, more for me. 4.25

Serving type: bottle

01-28-2013 01:58:58 | More by dlello2

hansgruber

Indiana

3.5/5  rDev -9.1%

01-25-2013 05:49:45 | More by hansgruber

AlexFields

Tennessee

3.25/5  rDev -15.6%

01-13-2013 18:36:16 | More by AlexFields

tfidler

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +10.4%

01-13-2013 04:42:06 | More by tfidler

DrGonzoDDS

Illinois

4/5  rDev +3.9%

01-13-2013 03:53:00 | More by DrGonzoDDS

spycow

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -9.1%

01-11-2013 21:18:26 | More by spycow

bperry65

Ohio

3.98/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Served very cold from bottle (left in freezer too long before drinking).

Solid tasting beer, but nothing extraordinary. The taste is fairly typical for a stout, with nothing unpleasant, and it is very easy to drink. I'd say its worth getting if you find it on tap at a bar, but not really worth the cost of a bomber.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2013 05:09:16 | More by bperry65

johunnic

Illinois

4.25/5  rDev +10.4%

01-02-2013 17:18:10 | More by johunnic