Texas Brew Review: More Cowbell refuses to downsize

Sometimes, 12 ounces just isn’t enough.

This seemingly arbitrary serving size that the majority of American beers are packaged in does seem to be the perfect serving size. Or does it?

Beer drinkers everywhere are familiar with the “tall boy.” Sixteen ounces of canned beer give a less-than-polite hand gesture toward the 12-ounce container and say “four more ounces, please.” It doesn’t seem like much, but those extra four ounces can make a difference.

The six pack of tall boys (96 ounces) is equal to eight 12-ounce cans. A four pack of tall boys is almost as much as sixer of 12-ouncers.

The practice of packaging in tall boys is well known to beers from big breweries. Just look in any convenience store and just about every beer with Light or Lite on its label is available in 16 ounces.

However, its wave has crested a bit with craft breweries in the last year.

Because of a crunch on the availability of 16-ounce vessels from manufacturers like Crown Packaging, some breweries have had to change plans and downsize some of their beers into the 12-ounce size. Others have shifted plans toward 12-ounce cans for sales and marketing reasons.

Martin House Brewing in Fort Worth has started packaging its core four beers in 12-ounce cans because of customer demand. Austin’s South Austin Brewing produced its Kol’Beer and others in six packs of tall boys, but those beers are now in 12 ouncers.

Houston’s Buffalo Bayou Brewing was fortunate enough to have Crown honor its 16-ounce can need for its double IPA, More Cowbell. And it has no intentions of abandoning the format.

And More Cowbell is some kind of a missile of beer. Ringing in at 9 percent alcohol, it’s dangerously drinkable. With big floral notes and moderate bitterness to match, it wears its hops like a badge of honor.

Still, it’s balanced and certainly worthy of being consumed 16 ounces at a time. Just watch yourself if the Cowbell tolls for a second time. You might find yourself tipped a little further than you might have expected. buffbrew.com

Quick sips

TAP turns one: Dallas brewery Texas Ale Project will host its anniversary party from 2-9 p.m. April 30 at the brewery. Tickets are $20 for regular admission (three beers) and $43 for early admittance, which includes a T-shirt.

This story was originally published April 20, 2016 at 2:37 PM with the headline "Texas Brew Review: More Cowbell refuses to downsize."