Half Acre Beer Company

AlyssaW

Illinois

4.49/5  rDev +6.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | $

Recently went on the brewery tour. It's $10 you get to try 3 beers from the tap and get to keep the pint glass. You can get any of their beer in a growler to go. The tour itself wasn't that great. Basically drink, listen to music, and hear 2 guys talk about how great the owner is. It's a great price and I had a good time, but next time ill skip the tour and grab a growler to go.

04-04-2013 21:01:44 | More by AlyssaW

WolfsbaneBloom

Illinois

4.64/5  rDev +10.5%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

This place is pretty easy to find and parking never seems to be a problem. Then again, I tend to frequent Half Acre in the early afternoon on Saturdays and Sundays. Not sure what its like later in the evening.

I love the atmosphere in this place. Really unique and beautifully designed interior. White tile, concrete bar, dark wood booths and seating and an amazing weathered wood wall opposite the bar that a server informed me was salvaged from a 100 year old grain mill in Wisconsin. A really awesome and stylish touch. They spared no expense with this tap room.

The bartenders are all pretty cool guys: friendly, knowledgeable, and not averse to talking beer. Their house brew, a bold and juicy IPA called Space, is amazing. They can't seem to make enough because there's been a couple of times they've tapped out, to my extreme disappointment. They usually have between 8 and 10 different beers on tap. What really makes this place worth visiting, aside from the atmosphere, is the fact that most of the beers aren't available anywhere else. Their Space IPA being one of them, which that alone is reason enough to visit.

They have a store next door to the tap room where you can buy merchandise and fill growlers with both their year-round beers and their specialty brews. Overall, a great little place and probably my favorite place in the city to relax with some friends and grab a few beers.

01-10-2013 18:29:30 | More by WolfsbaneBloom

dexterk1

Illinois

4.16/5  rDev -1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $

Have been past this place to go to bars in the area many times. I decided to stop in to see what specialty beers they had. They had a selection of about 4 specialty beers that were growler only and they were very interesting. The staff was very friendly and helped out with the tasting. Free tasting even without a tour. Simple store front with just there beer and merch. No food or anything else to take away from the beer that they are very serious about. There year round beers are available to buy or you can get one of the special taps in a growler.
Overall a great brewery.

04-07-2012 01:49:27 | More by dexterk1

MelissaJ

Indiana

4.86/5  rDev +15.7%
vibe: 5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

This is a very small brewery with about 8 employees. I went for the tour on New Years Eve Saturday. The $10 tour fee included a free pint glass, and 3 full pints of beer--any of their year round stuff to choose from [daisy cutter, over ale and gossamer] and the day I went they had two of the seasonal brews to sample as well: callow knife and alpenglo. The folks with free reservations from the old system didn't have to wait in line (this way of honoring old reservations seemed absolutely fair to me) but got smaller, plastic cups to drink beer from. They are very strict about the 60 person limit, so if you don't have a reservation get there early.

The atmosphere is awesome for a small, young brewery, the shop is very small, but it seemed like they made it very nice and comfortable for what they were given with the space. Further, the tour I was on had an impromptu live band performing (they wanted to do something special for New Year's Eve). The tour guide showed up in a tux (again a New Years Eve surprise) and was very encouraging of questions and speaking with the tour goers individually. Although the group seemed a bit big, he made sure to project his voice so everyone could hear.

For what you get with the tour, and by the sheer fact that their beer is so good, the price and quality is spot on.

One of the older people in my group got a bit over heated and faint from standing for most of the tour (about 1.5 hours) on top of standing in line for the tour (about 1 hour), and the staff was very gracious about getting her a chair, and some water. The crowd is definitely younger, but it is very reassuring that the staff is welcoming and considerate of all customers. It might be a good idea to bring a bottle of water with you and have a good meal beforehand.

Selection got a 4.5 because they do have a limited selection at any time. However, because of the quality of their beer, and the fact that it is a small brewery and the just don't have the capacity for a larger selection, the limited selection is understandable. They are very good about having seasonal beers come out quite frequently, beyond their year round selection.

The beer is a must try and the tour can be a really fun way to spend a Saturday.

12-31-2011 23:15:24 | More by MelissaJ

beerwolf77

Wisconsin

3.6/5  rDev -14.3%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3 | $$

We stopped here in hopes of making the tour cut. Surprisingly we made it. According to the owner/head brewer this was his smallest tour group ever. So there's hope for people looking to catch the tour.

The tour itself was by far the longest tour I've been on and I've been on 50+. This isn't a complaint at all. With 6 pints to drink (my buddy doesn't drink so I got his tokens) Gabrielle was super thorough with his information.

The tiny store wasn't much but the people working there were super friendly and helpful. I asked about some shirts and the guy dug through looking for my size. He also hooked me up with some labels from there bottles after i inquired about stickers.

Overall every brewery tour is the same. So it usually comes down to how much I get to drink. I drank a lot. Thumbs up!

10-16-2011 19:38:19 | More by beerwolf77

KDawg

Illinois

4.24/5  rDev +1%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | $$

Half Acre only offers up tours on saturdays and you need to really plan and make reservations.

Since I haven't taken a tour, I can only comment on what you can buy on a visit. It's not a fancy room and is only for growler fills and tastes. There are t-shirts to buy along with plenty of daisy cutter and gossamer in can in a fridge. The room is small, but they do their best not to have it get over crowded.

They usually have about 4 or 5 taps going depending on what is available. The staff is always laid back and more than willing to give out tastes of what's on tap.

The prices vary on the growlers depending on the release, but it's a rare release that you are paying over $20 on a growler if you are buying a new growler on top of the beer.

I usually only buy the special releases here as I can get their year round stuff easily at a lot of places. They are always nice and ready to answer questions

10-05-2011 20:33:12 | More by KDawg

cratez

Ontario (Canada)

4.14/5  rDev -1.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | $$

First of two breweries that my girl and visited on a recent trip to Chicago.

VIBE: clean, simple, and attractive retail store has lots of Half Acre gear like tees, long-sleeve shirts, and glassware. Beer and merchandise prices are listed on two chalkboards. They also sell coffee and guest beers. Growler station had the three year-round offerings (Daisy Cutter, Gossamer, Over Ale) and one seasonal (Captain Fantasy Saison) when we came. The brewery itself is quite small, basically just a large room with a dozen tanks.

SERVICE: the employee at the front was exceptionally welcoming. He gave us a quick tour of the brewery, explaining the brief history of the company and the reasons behind their limited distribution (city and area only). He asked us about our trip and did a commendable job of engaging my non-beer-drinking girlfriend while I tried a t-shirt on. Great service.

SELECTION: I enjoyed samples of the Over Ale and Captain Fantasy and bought a half case each of the Daisy Cutter and Gossamer. Dogfish Head Midas Touch, Southern Tier Inequity, and Sierra Nevada Kellerweiss were serving as the guest brews. A tiny beer lineup, no doubt, but the quality is undeniable and I would definitely frequent the store on a regular basis if I lived in the neighbourhood. Prices for the 4-packs ($8.99) and growler re-fills ($12) are reasonable in my books.

OVERALL: we had a pleasant time here helped along by the gracious store employee. Half Acre is well worth a visit if you happen to be in the area or going to Bad Apple (like we were). Nice brewery with cool people running the place. Check it out.

09-12-2011 21:44:14 | More by cratez

brew3crew

Ohio

4.14/5  rDev -1.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | $

A-Decent atmosphere. Really just a place to buy half acre stuff. So if you really like HA, you will prolly like it here!

Q-They don't mess around. you know everything is going to be good. Well except if the cap is coming loose...

S-Good service. Always a smiling face to answer any questions

S-Just half acre stuff. In bottles and a few select beers on tap for growler fills Didn't really know how to rate this...

V-A little cheaper than in the stores and their growler fills are always reasonably priced

08-23-2011 03:52:56 | More by brew3crew

htomsirveaux

Texas

3.76/5  rDev -10.5%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.5 | $$

Went here for the first time for the release of Double Daisy Cutter on 19 Aug 2011.

I arrived at about 1430 and found easy parking on a side street about a block away. Waited in line outside for about 30 min, it wasn't too hot but full sun and no shade, then another 15 min inside wait. They were passing out thimble sized shots of the Double Daisy Cutter for people to try; even the most hard core tickers would be hard pressed to judge a sample that size. Apologies to Phil for failing to pick him up a bottle, mea culpa.

Fairly small footprint inside. Medium sized fridge with bombers and four packs, a small counter with schwag, four or five taps for growler fills and a small island with one register. The process was pretty smooth but bottlenecked by the single register.

Not a bad experience in the least but I would not likely go back unless it was for a brewery only release.

08-23-2011 02:37:09 | More by htomsirveaux

dirtylou

Washington

4.16/5  rDev -1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 3.5 | $$

this must be some sort of a beerfly loophole...

I love Half Acre - the place, the cans, the people, the creativity, the Ween-ness, everything. I could survive on cans of Daisy Cutter for years on end.

I love stopping at Half Acre, but be aware of what you are walking in to...This place is not a brewpub or a bar - they wont sell you a pint but rather will offer very small samples of whats on tap. The taps are pretty consistent with usually one specialty flowing at a time. They will fill growlers, which arent particularly cheap, but are handy.

The store component is minimal - almost always cans of daisy cutter and gossamer, specialty bottles, and guest bottles.

That said, I can't think of one visit to Chicago in the past 2 years that I havent been to Half Acre (large sample size there...). Bad Apple is right across the street and Fountainhead aint much further. Parking is free and easy and who doesnt need fresh daisy cutter cans?

the people are great - always a fun stop.

07-27-2011 00:40:07 | More by dirtylou