The Beer Garden at Balmoral is top tier.
Following the Sierra Nevada-focused edition, Daisies In Bloom returned with Allagash Brewing Company serving as featured guest and the collaborative Daisy Crown taking center stage.
Built on the same Simcoe and Amarillo backbone as the original Daisy Cutter, Daisy Crown takes a sharp turn into new territory. Maine-grown wheat and expressive additions of Krush and Tangier hops unleash layers of ripe apricot, tangerine and orange blossom, while an explosive aroma erupts from the glass and demands your attention from the first pour.
A packed crowd filled the fairgrounds throughout the afternoon as attendees worked through a focused tap list that showcased the breadth of Half Acre’s portfolio. The Daisy Crown lineup featured multiple variants, including calamansi, blueberry and a version brewed with coriander and orange peel, each offering a different interpretation of the collaboration.
The festival also reflected the changing landscape of beverage culture, with hard seltzers, THC-infused sparkling beverages and a non-alcoholic hoppy pale brew all pouring alongside traditional beer offerings.
Upstairs, shots of Malört and Maplewood whiskey provided an additional option for attendees looking to venture beyond the taps.
While the collaboration beers may have been the headliners, the afternoon ultimately served as another reminder that Half Acre Balmoral is consistently one of Chicago’s premier settings for brewery-hosted events.
—Nkosi
Full Tap List
Daisy Cutter Pale Ale – 5.2%
Daisy Cutter Crown IPA – 6.7%
Calamansi Daisy Cutter Crown with WIT Yeast Fruited IPA – 6.7%
Blueberry Daisy Cutter Crown with WIT Yeast Fruited IPA – 6.7%
Daisy Cutter Crown with WIT Yeast, Coriander, and Orange Peel Citrus IPA – 6.7%
Daisy Cutter Evergreen West Coast DIPA 8%
Pony Pilsner – 5.5%
Bodem IPA 6.7%
Waybird Hazy IPA – 6.5%
Slow Melt Pale Ale – 5.8%
Half Acre Light Light Lager – 4%
Half Acre Light Radler Radler – 4%
Reef Knot Summer Beer – 4.5%
Vallejo West Coast IPA – 6.7%
Hollywood Beach Czech Pale Lager – 4.2%
In the Main Rustic Lager – 6.2%
Bailey’s Marvel Mango Pale Ale – 5.5%
Double Barrel Aged 2×4 Benthic (2026)
Double Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout with Toasted Coconut, Coffee and Vanilla-
16.9%
Orin (2025) Bourbon and Brandy Barrel Aged Beer 13.6%
Before Land Shook. Bourbon Barrel Aged Stout with Marshmallow, Vanilla and Sea Salt – 15%
Triple Barrel Catch Hell (2026) Triple Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout with Cinnamon and Vanilla – 17.1%
Blueberry Pie Diver. Hard Seltzer -5%
Moxie Diver. Hard Seltzer – 10%
Half Acre Sparkling THC Seltzer. Cucumber Watermelon – 5mg THC/10mg)
Half Acre N/A Beer- Hoppy Pale Brew. Golden Light Brew.
