Half Acre Beer Company
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Brewing |
| Founded | 2006 |
| Founder | Gabriel Magliaro |
| Headquarters | Chicago , United States |
Area served | United States |
Key people | Gabriel Magliaro (founder) |
| Products | Beer |
| Website | halfacrebeer |
Half Acre Beer Company is a brewery located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Established in 2006 by entrepreneur Gabriel Magliaro, the brewery initially crafted its beers at Sand Creek Brewery in Wisconsin. Its debut offering, Half Acre Lager, was introduced in August 2007.
History
In March 2009, Half Acre launched production at its own facility on Lincoln Avenue within Chicago's North Center neighborhood, signaling a move toward localized brewing. The business model evolved further in 2012 with the opening of a neighboring tap room, aimed at boosting customer interaction and strengthening brand visibility. This tap room earned a spot among Chicago's top bars in a 2013 survey by Chicago magazine. By January 2016, the addition of a kitchen completed the transformation into a full-service brewpub.
Further expansion occurred in 2015 with the debut of a second, larger brewhouse and pub on Balmoral Avenue in the Bowmanville area, situated roughly 1.5 miles from the original site. By 2021, operations were centralized at the Balmoral location, leading to the closure of the Lincoln Avenue brewery to optimize overall efficiency.
In 2017, Half Acre produced close to 43,000 barrels, underscoring its significant role within the craft beer marketplace. The company also supports community initiatives by sponsoring Half Acre Cycling, a local bicycle club.
Demonstrating commitment to sustainability, Half Acre partnered with engineering students from Northwestern University to devise strategies for minimizing and repurposing brewing waste, reflecting leadership in environmental stewardship.
Beer
Half Acre offers six beers available year-round, three seasonal varieties, along with monthly specialty releases and limited batches exclusive to its taproom and beer garden.
Founder Magliaro credits the citrus notes in Half Acre Lager to the specific combination of water, yeast, and generous amounts of German malt paired with Saaz hops.
In October 2014, Half Acre's Heyoka received a silver medal at the Great American Beer Festival in the American-style IPA category. Following concerns raised by the American Indian Movement regarding the name "Heyoka," it was changed to Senita in January 2015. Subsequently, due to trademark issues with another brewery, it was renamed Gone Away in June 2015.
| Name | Style | ABV % | IBU | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daisy Cutter | West Coast pale ale | 5.2 | Year-round | |
| Akari Shogun | Wheat ale | 5.5 | Seasonal | |
| Lead Feather | Black Ale (Porter) | 6.0 | Seasonal | |
| Pony Pilsner | Pilsner | 5.8 | Year-round | |
| Gone Away | India Pale Ale | 7.0 | Seasonal | |
| Alpenglow | Winter dark ale | 5.0 | Seasonal | |
| Baumé | Rye stout | 7.0 | 60 | Seasonal |
| Beer Hates Astronauts | India Pale Ale | Seasonal | ||
| Big Hugs | Imperial stout | 10.0 | Seasonal | |
| Bodem | India Pale Ale | 5.7 | Year-round | |
| Callow Knife | Pale ale | 5.0 | Seasonal | |
| Canyon of Heroes | India Pale Ale | 6.1 | Seasonal | |
| Chocolate Camaro | Stout | 6.0 | Seasonal | |
| Chub Step | Porter | 6.0 | Seasonal | |
| Smoking Gull | Hazy pale ale | 5.2 | Seasonal | |
| Crystal Norde | Baltic porter | 7.0 | Seasonal | |
| Double Daisy Cutter | Pale ale |
Seasonal | ||
| Ginger Twin | India-style red ale |
Seasonal | ||
| The Grotto | Extra pale ale | 4.5 |
Seasonal | |
| Half Acre Lager (Fader) | Lager |
Year-round | ||
| The Hammer, the Bullet, & the Vise | English brown ale | 5.0 |
Seasonal | |
| Lager Town | Oktoberfest | 6.0 |
Fall seasonal | |
| Mr. Ouroboros | German pale ale | 6.0 |
Seasonal | |
| Navaja | Double India Pale Ale | 9.5 |
Seasonal | |
| Over Ale | Brown ale | 6.0 |
Seasonal | |
| Quakerbridge | Barley wine | 10.0 |
Seasonal | |
| Space | India Pale Ale | 6.7 |
Seasonal | |
| Sticky Fat | American dark ale | 6.3 |
Seasonal | |
| Thunder & Son | Brown ale | 10.0 |
Seasonal | |
| Tome | Hazy Pale ale |
Year-round | ||
| Tend | Unfiltered American Ale | 5.8 |
Winter seasonal | |
| Vallejo | India Pale Ale | 6.7 |
Spring seasonal |