Half Acre Taproom Will be Worth Wait, Reps Say

Those who have been looking forward to Half Acre's new taproom since the addition was announced in May will just have to keep waiting.

The local brewery at 4257 N. Lincoln Ave. was hoping to open the doors to the area, located on the south end of its building, by its fifth anniversary. Now that the Oct. 29 milestone has come and gone, that's no longer possible. But owners assure that the new room will be well worth the wait.

“The taproom already has a great vibe,” sales and cultural manager, Roger McQuinn, said. “ If aliens came to North Center never having had beer before, I think if they wound up in our taproom, they'd just know it was built to serve solid beer.”

He described the room's design as unique, engaging and highly functional. It has skylights, a pine plank ceiling, walls made out of reclaimed panels from a century-old Wisconsin grain elevator, eye-catching fine art and even a pachinko machine.

The delay in opening lies in the design details, McQuinn said, noting that those anticipating it should follow the business via social networking to keep up with the project. Owners are hoping to unveil the area sometime in the next few weeks.

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The taproom will accommodate about 100 people, McQuinn said, adding that he hopes it creates a dialogue within the beer community and further establishes the company's neighborhood roots. Those roots are referenced often. The brewery's president, Gabriel Magliaro, describes the business in a website statement as "a reflection of those that keep it alive, the people that hoist the beer and the places where it’s found.”

Costumers at Half Acre come from far and wide to bond with like-minded beer lovers, representatives said. The brewery takes pride in being able to offer a place to slow down and guzzle a pint after a long journey or a long day. When McQuinn used to work in the shop, he’d often meet people who'd driven in that Saturday morning from Rockford, Peoria and even Cincinnati.

“Beer seekers are making pilgrimages often," he said. "You travel all that way and you're sure as heck are going to want a pint while you take a load off."

An average pint runs about $5. Regulars will likely tell you that at slightly more than 5 percent alcohol per volume, the Daisy Cutter Pale Ale is the brew to drink. The beer makes up more than half of the brewery's production, representatives said, and is the only type that will continue to be made year-round due to a recently expanded beer lineup.

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