I’ve long been a big fan of 8-Bit Pale Ale from Tallgrass Brewing. The colorful can contained a beer with hoppy, tangy flavors that tickled the taste buds while remaining eminently quaffable.
So when I heard that the renowned Kansas brewery was releasing a 16-Bit Double Pale Ale, it immediately was added to my “must have” list.
A four-pack of 16oz cans goes for $9.99. Like 8-Bit the 16-Bit can design and colors are an homage to video games with sharper graphics this time around.
STYLE: American Pale Ale
ALCOHOL BY VOLUME: 6.2%
COLOR (0-2): Golden brown and mostly clear. 2
HEAD (0-2): Clear white color with good volume and lacing. 2
AROMA (0-2): Pine and grapefruit with a little sweet mango. 2
TASTE (0-5): Hop heavy at the front with pine and citrus flavors. More malty at the back with some astringency and subtle sweetness. Smooth mouthfeel with a crisp finish. 4
AFTERTASTE (0-2): Follows through and lingers nicely. 2
OVERALL (0-6): 16-Bit is not just a hopped up version of 8-Bit (as delicious as that sounds). While definitely related, they are distinct beers with different flavor profiles. 16-Bit is a little hoppier and a littler heavier, but still strikes a good balance. If you like 8-Bit you almost certainly will also enjoy this beer. 4
TOTAL SCORE (0-19): 16
