“Game on! This West Coast-style IPA offers a full-tilt hoppy hit.”
8-Bit:
Glassware: IPA glass.
Appearance: Bold amber/orange with a faint haze. It forms a finger of head which retains and laces nicely.
Aroma: Strong malt sweetness, boiled candy, pine, stonefruits, honeydew, watermelon and sugar crusted oranges. Develops a bit of a cloying syrupy sweetness which isn’t ideal.
Flavour: Pretty much follows the nose but with an assertive hop bitterness to counteract the rich and syrupy malt sweetness. Orange peel, stonefruits, pine, boiled candy and herbal spice moves in to a dry and bitter finish.
Mouthfeel: Dry, bitter (60 IBU) some sharpness to it (6.5% AbV). Medium body and co2.
Overall: We found it to be a little muddled. Balance is a bit of an issue as well. Can’t say we’re fans of this one.
16-Bit:
Glassware: IPA glass.
Appearance: Deep orange. Fairly murkier than the 8-bit. Thin wispy head which struggles to lace.
Aroma: Oh yeah this smells much better! Grapefruit, orange peel, pine, subtle spice, florals and lime. Nicely structured biscuity/bready malt filling it out.
Flavour: Comes on strong yet it maintains really good balance. Spicy citrus, pine, earthy notes, booze and a dry biscuity/cracker malt profile delivers a bitter and warming finish which goes the distance.
Mouthfeel: Dry, resinous, slightly prickly. 9% AbV and 80 IBU. Medium body. It’s all held together quite well.
Overall: As a whole the beer is more streamlined, balanced and much more enjoyable than the 8-bit. A 6 for the 8-bit and an 8 for the 16-bit. Average it off on a neat 7/10.