Half Acre
Half Acre Beer Co. is a Chicago craft brewery founded in 2007 operating a production brewery, taproom, beer garden, and retail shop, selling flagship, seasonal, IPA, and barrel-aged beers direct-to-consumer and through regional wholesale distribution, and currently merging with Maplewood Brewery & Distillery.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersChicago, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Half Acre does
Half Acre Beer Co. is a Chicago-based craft brewery founded in 2007 by Gabriel Magliaro, operating a production brewery, taproom, beer garden, and retail shop at 2050 W Balmoral Ave in the Bowmanville neighborhood. The company brews a diverse portfolio spanning year-round flagships (Daisy Cutter Pale Ale, Bodem IPA, Pony Pilsner, WayBird Hazy IPA), seasonal lagers (Far Star, Reef Knot, LagerTown), an IPA series (Vallejo, Sunrise Vallejo, Sunset Vallejo), and an extensive barrel-aging program (Orin, Benthic, Generational, Catch Hell, Blue Morning) that has earned industry recognition including a Best in Show at the Festival of Wood & Barrel-Aged Beer. Core brewing technology centers on traditional craft methods with specialized barrel aging using bourbon, brandy, rum, and specialty barrels, with aging cycles extending to 27+ months.
Half Acre generates revenue through a dual-channel model: direct-to-consumer sales at the taproom and beer garden (draft pours, packaged beer, food service, branded merchandise, and ticketed events) and wholesale distribution through beverage distributors to retail and on-premise accounts across the Chicago metropolitan area. The company serves craft beer enthusiasts and experience-seeking consumers, supplemented by B2B accounts including local bars, restaurants, and bottle shops. The brewery operates an extensive event program — trivia nights, mahjong workshops, comedy shows, night markets, and brewery collaborations — that drives taproom foot traffic and community engagement.
In March 2026, Half Acre announced a merger with Maplewood Brewery & Distillery to form a unified beverage company, positioning the combined entity to navigate craft beer industry headwinds by adding spirits and THC seltzer capabilities while leveraging Half Acre's Balmoral production capacity for both brands. Kevin McGillen, Half Acre's President and COO, was named CEO of the combined entity, with both brands retaining independent taproom operations.
Half Acre firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Half Acre
- Legal name
- Half Acre Beer Co.
- Website
- https://halfacrebeer.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Half Acre Beer Co. is a Chicago craft brewery founded in 2007 operating a production brewery, taproom, beer garden, and retail shop, selling flagship, seasonal, IPA, and barrel-aged beers direct-to-consumer and through regional wholesale distribution, and currently merging with Maplewood Brewery & Distillery.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Half Acre industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Craft Beer Brewing
- NAICS
- Breweries (312120), Beer and Ale Merchant Wholesalers (424810)
- SIC
- Malt Beverages (2082), Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Microbreweries & Craft Breweries (THAFALAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Packaging & Production Breweries (Limited/No On-site Service) (THAFALAB), Brewpubs & Taprooms (On-site Beer Service) (THAFALAA)
Keywords
Where Half Acre is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Chicago
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Half Acre business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Beer Sales: Direct sales of craft beer through on-premise taproom draft service and packaged beer (cans, bottles) for takeout. Revenue from draft pours, 4-packs, 6-packs, 12-packs, and specialty releases.
- Food Service: Kitchen and food menu at taproom generating revenue from food and beverage pairings during visits.
- Merchandise and Retail: Sale of branded merchandise including glassware, apparel, enamel pins, and other brewery swag through the on-site shop.
- Wholesale Distribution: Distribution of packaged beer to retail accounts (bottle shops, grocery stores) and on-premise accounts (bars, restaurants) through distributors.
- Event Venue Rental: Revenue from hosting private events, large party reservations, and event programming including ticketed workshops.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | $5 Year-Round Draft Pours |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Workshop Ticket Pricing |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Comedy Show Tickets |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Beer Freshness Guidelines |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Curated Matchmaking Events |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Half Acre product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Half Acre is a Chicago craft brewery that produces and sells a wide range of beer styles including pale ales, IPAs, lagers, pilsners, and an extensive barrel-aged imperial stout and ale program. It operates a production brewery alongside a taproom, beer garden, and on-site retail shop at its Balmoral Avenue facility, and distributes packaged beer through beverage distributors to retail and on-premise accounts across the Chicago metropolitan area.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Daisy Cutter: Flagship pale ale, one of the first beers brewed at the Lincoln Ave brewery in 2009. Became a call brand that carved out a place within the Chicago brewing landscape with lush and dank characteristics.
- Bodem
- Reef Knot
- Pony
- WayBird
- Far Star
Products and services
- Daisy Cutter Pale Ale Flagship pale ale and Chicago craft icon brewed since 2009; year-round offering with dank, citrus, and dry hop-forward profile.
- Half Acre Light Lager Year-round light lager offering from Half Acre's beer catalog.
- Bodem India Pale Ale Year-round IPA brewed with Idaho 7, Mosaic Cryo, and Cashmere hops over a silk-rich grist, representing the brewery's go-to IPA perspective.
- Pony American Pilsner Year-round American pilsner with a clean bready malt backbone and subtle noble hop notes.
- WayBird Hazy IPA Year-round hazy IPA rooted in El Dorado and HBC 586 hops, featuring heavy citrus and stone fruit notes.
- Slow Melt Pale Ale Year-round pale ale in Half Acre's core lineup.
- Far Star Cold Weather Lager Seasonal cold weather lager (autumn/winter) at 5.2% ABV, luminous pale lager offering with full flavor in a lighter body.
- LagerTown Oktoberfest Seasonal Oktoberfest-style lager.
- Reef Knot Summer Lager Seasonal summer lager with floral lemon and hay aromas, earthy spice from Noble hops balanced by lightly toasted honey malt.
- Vallejo IPA Series Rotating IPA series including Vallejo IPA, Sunrise Vallejo West Coast IPA, and Sunset Vallejo IPA variants.
- Orin Bourbon and Brandy Barrel Aged Ale 13.2% ABV bourbon and brandy barrel aged ale; Best in Show winner at the Festival of Wood & Barrel-Aged Beer (FoBAB), representing the brewery's expertise in extended barrel blending.
- Benthic Barrel Aged Imperial Stout Barrel aged imperial stout in Half Acre's barrel-aged lineup.
- Generational Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout Bourbon barrel aged stout with vanilla, coffee, and coconut; produced as part of the multi-year Generational series collaboration with Side Project Brewing.
- Blue Morning Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout Bourbon barrel aged imperial stout brewed with blueberries, maple syrup, and vanilla in collaboration with The Bruery.
- Daisy Cutter Crown IPA IPA brewed with Maine-grown wheat, a collaboration with Allagash Brewing featured at the annual Daisy Cutter In Bloom celebration.
- Taproom & Beer Garden On-premise taproom, beer garden, and retail shop at Half Acre's 2050 W Balmoral Avenue Chicago facility offering draft pours, food service, packaged beer to-go, and merchandise.
- Brewery Shop / Merchandise On-site and online retail shop selling branded Half Acre merchandise including glassware, apparel, enamel pins, and other brewery swag.
- Brewery Events & Workshops Ticketed and free community programming at the brewery including trivia nights, mahjong workshops, bookbinding, houseplant workshops, bonsai classes, comedy shows, curated matchmaking/speed dating, and night markets.
Quantifiable outcome
- Orin Bourbon and Brandy Barrel Aged Ale won Best in Show at FoBAB (Festival of Wood & Barrel-Aged Beer)
Companies that use Half Acre
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Half Acre technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Half Acre partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core, minor and regular.
- Allagash BrewingflagshipCollaboration on Daisy Cutter Crown IPA brewed with Maine-grown wheat. Featured at annual Daisy Cutter In Bloom celebration event. Both breweries highly respected in craft beer community.
- Maplewood Brewery & DistillerycoreStrategic merger announced March 2026 to form a unified beverage company. Half Acre's Balmoral facility will produce Maplewood's contracted beer while Maplewood brings spirits and THC seltzer expertise. Both brands maintain independent taprooms. Kevin McGillen (Half Acre President/COO) becomes CEO of combined entity.
- Side Project BrewingflagshipMulti-year collaboration producing Generational barrel-aged stout series. Cory and team at Side Project send beer to Half Acre and vice versa. Six+ years of collaborative barrel beers.
- The BrueryminorCollaboration on Blue Morning Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout with blueberries, maple syrup, and vanilla. Joint recipe development.
- Troon BrewingminorCollaboration on Onyx Of High Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout featuring candy cap mushrooms and Brazilian vanilla.
- Vienna BeefflagshipAnnual 'Only Gold' partnership event celebrating Chicago Style Hot Dogs and ice cold beer. Free hot dogs for guests, live music, and special beer release. Multiple years running.
- The Mahjong SocietyregularPartnership for mahjong classes and tournaments at the brewery. Mahjong 101, 102, and NMJL Card Review events held regularly.
- Puzzled PathwaysregularWeekly trivia night partner hosting themed trivia events every Thursday. Includes various themed nights (Disney, Star Wars, TV through decades).
- Barrovian BooksregularBook binding workshops 'Brews & Binding' held regularly at the brewery. Ryan from Barrovian Books teaches traditional book binding.
- Meet IRLregularCurated matchmaking and speed dating events at the brewery targeting various age groups.
- Uncommon Plant GuyregularHouseplant workshops teaching kokedama (Japanese moss ball plant art). Multiple events per year.
- The DigsminorCreative workshops including sculpt your own pipe classes held at the brewery.
- Bonsai and Brew StudiominorBonsai tree care introductory classes held at the brewery.
- SAUCED Night MarketregularBi-annual night market featuring local artists, makers, food vendors, and live music. Multiple vendors participate in large-scale events.
- Friendship Center ChicagominorCharitable partnership for food drives and community giving. Proceeds from beer sales support the organization's food pantry and vital resources for Chicagoans in need.
- Transformative Justice Law Project of IllinoisminorTips from 'Home for the Holidays' events donated to support TJLP's legal services.
- Center on HalstedminorClothing drive partner for gender-affirming closet supporting LGBTQ+ community members.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Half Acre competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Revolution Brewing: Largest independent craft brewer in Chicago with multiple taprooms and broad distribution across the Midwest. Most direct competitor given overlapping geography (Chicago), channel mix (taproom + wholesale), and size (both ranked among Chicago's largest craft breweries).
- Pipeworks Brewing Co. Independent Chicago craft brewery known for hop-forward IPAs and barrel-aged stouts with strong taproom presence. Competes for similar craft enthusiast customers and on-premise accounts within the Chicago market.
- Begyle Brewing: Chicago craft brewery operating a taproom in the city and distributing locally. Comparable in size, channel mix, and craft positioning though with a smaller production footprint.
- Maplewood Brewery & Distillery: Chicago craft brewery and distillery operator that announced a merger with Half Acre in March 2026. Operating in the same city with overlapping wholesale and taproom channels, plus adjacent spirits and THC seltzer categories that complement Half Acre's beer focus.
- Goose Island Beer Co. Chicago's most iconic craft brewery (now AB InBev-owned) with broad portfolio across year-round, seasonal, and bourbon county brands. Direct peer in the same metro with deeper distribution reach and comparable flagship brand equity.
Broad incumbents
- Bell's Brewery: Established Midwest craft brewer with broad year-round portfolio (Two Hearted, Oberon) and substantial distribution. Comparable as a larger, more diversified craft player but with regional/national reach beyond Chicago.
- Lagunitas Brewing Company: Large-scale craft brewer (now part of Heineken) with broad portfolio and national distribution. Sits above Half Acre in scale and reach, competing for similar craft consumer occasions and on-premise handles outside the Chicago core.
Regional players
- Three Floyds Brewing: Indiana-based craft brewery with cult-favorite IPAs and barrel-aged offerings. Comparable on portfolio breadth and brand equity but distributed in adjacent Midwest geography rather than directly competing in Chicago on-premise.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Half Acre social profiles
Digital presenceHalf Acre financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Half Acre leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Half Acre funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Half Acre M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Half Acre
What does Half Acre do?
Half Acre is a Chicago craft brewery that produces and sells a wide range of beer styles including pale ales, IPAs, lagers, pilsners, and an extensive barrel-aged imperial stout and ale program. It operates a production brewery alongside a taproom, beer garden, and on-site retail shop at its Balmoral Avenue facility, and distributes packaged beer through beverage distributors to retail and on-premise accounts across the Chicago metropolitan area.
Is Half Acre a public or private company?
Half Acre is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Half Acre founded?
Half Acre was founded in 2007. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Half Acre based?
Half Acre is headquartered in Chicago, United States, in the North America region.
How does Half Acre make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Beer Sales are the primary driver. The others are food Service, merchandise and Retail, wholesale Distribution and event Venue Rental.
Who are Half Acre's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Revolution Brewing, Pipeworks Brewing Co., Begyle Brewing, Maplewood Brewery & Distillery and Goose Island Beer Co.. Broad incumbents are Bell's Brewery and Lagunitas Brewing Company. Three Floyds Brewing is listed as a regional player.
Does Half Acre have an API?
No public API is recorded for Half Acre.
What industry is Half Acre in?
Half Acre's product category is Craft Beer Brewing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFALAC, Microbreweries & Craft Breweries, with a secondary code of THAFALAB, Packaging & Production Breweries (Limited/No On-site Service). Its NAICS code is 312120 and its SIC code is 2082.