Half Acre Baume'

Half Acre Brewing Co.   Chicago, IL

Notes:

American Rye Stout

22oz Bottle

6.5% ABV

Appearance:  Pours black…mocha colored head formed about a finger width thick and remains, tight and a touch thinner…the brew settles, losing a bit of life after about 15 minutes…overall though, an inviting brew...(3.85/5)

Smell:  Tons of milk chocolate emanating from my glass…roasted malts, oatmeal and a touch of peppery rye round things out…I do get a little citrus hops coolness , but this is a malt driven vehicle for sure…again, very inviting…(4/5)

Taste:  Burnt, creamy, roasted malts coat my tongue in awesomeness right off the bat…chocolate, oatmeal, coffee bitterness and a noticeable peppery rye bite show themselves in the middle phase and linger throughout…there’s not an overly noticeable hops presence, though that certainly isn’t a knock…this thing is rich and flavorful, very much a classic American stout…as it warms, the coffee and chocolate become more prevalent…(4.25/5)

Mouthfeel:  Medium to full body, with very light carbonation for a stout I’d say…mildly chewy and robust with malts, it’s smooth on the palate and finishes somewhat crisply…a hint of lemony citrus hops shows in the after taste…(3.25/5)

Overall:  This beer is fantastic…I’ve been digging the rye ales and this continues the trend…very much a rich, traditional stout, the rye adds a peppery bite that separates this from others and makes it rather memorable…I can see why Half Acres’ serious followers favorite this one…it is really good…Baume’s mouthfeel leaves a bit to be desired, there really is no carbonation and with all that wonderful flavor, that’s a disappointment…other than that, this is a fantastic brew that is worthy of searching out…stop by their beer store and pick a couple up, one won’t be enough…(4/5)

Score:

(3.90/5)