8-Bit Pale Ale - "The Official Beer of Retro Gamers"

I think the best place to start - and one of the most interesting mixtures of both of my main hobbies - is with this surprisingly tasty 8-Bit Pale Ale from Tallgrass Brewing Company, based in Manhattan, Kansas.

This pale ale is relatively easy to drink (good for marathon game sessions) and has a rather floral, citrus aroma and general flavor profile. Don't let that description fool you, though. While not as bitter as some pale ales and, of course, IPAs, this one has a nice hoppiness that hits you up front but doesn't linger (I like that).

I remember seeing this beer on the shelf at one of the local liquor stores. I passed it time and time again, considering the purchase but constantly unsure of the need to buy a whole pack (these are sold in a pack of four). Eventually, I broke down and bought a pack of them and was really glad I did.

That very day, a friend of mine told me it was one of his favorite pale ales, and I never looked back.

It's 5.2% ABV isn't too heavy, but will saturate you nicely if you consume an entire four-pack. Better have some friends over and share the love - both the beer and the video games.

According to their site, the 8-Bit Pale Ale has been named the official beer of retro gamers. Whether this is true or not is up in the air, but the can art and packaging are something that screams at those of us who have been gaming for a long time, which is why it caught my eye so many times sitting on the store shelf.

The Conflux of Beer and Video Games

Today is a special day. Why, you ask? Because I have decided to go down the dark road of keeping my my very own blog based on a very specific conflux of hobbies that permeate my life.

I've been playing video games for the vast majority of my life. Just recently (and by "recent", I mean in the few years) that hobby has crossed paths with my desire to experience as many different craft brews as possible.

Often times I'm found sitting in front of my TV or PC with a beer in one hand and a controller in the other. While some of my best childhood gaming memories are me with a bag of Doritos and a Mt. Dew nearby, some of my best recent gaming memories have been paired with great craft beer (or not so great, occasionally).

This is a blog to document my journey with both. I may have posts detailing video games only, I may have posts talking only about craft beer, I may have posts discussing both or lamenting how an awesome gaming session was marred by a not so great new brew that I've experienced (or vice versa).

So, if you're interested in either craft brews, video games or, best case scenario, both even, you've come to the right place.