Cigar City Jai Alai IPA

A couple of years ago, i ventured southeast to Tampa Bay, Florida to meet up with an old friend of mine on a quick weekend excursion of football.  While we were there we hit up a local brewery that was walking distance from our hotel (a kind of ghetto HoJo), and in doing so discovered one of the best breweries i've ever been to.  Seriously.  Tampa Bay, Florida is home to one of the best breweries in the country.  We couldn't believe it either.  But it is fact, and i will forever more be a cheerleader for Cigar City Brewing and all of their wonderful beers.  Anyway, i kind of assumed it was going to be awhile before i was able to sample their wares again, but lo and behold, 2018 brings a distribution deal that lands Cigar City right here in Central Texas.  Offerings are scarce for the moment, but i will admit that i did a little dance of joy when i came across the Jai Alai IPA at my local grocery store.  Named for an old sport of Spanish origin, the beer pours a crisp, transparent gold with a frothy white head.  Aromas of citrus, pine, and tropical fruit abound, also making their presence in the flavor of the beer, along with plenty of hop notes and some back end bitterness.  All in all, a very solid 7.5% ABV IPA, and i hope just the first in a long line of brews to make their into Texas.

Visit the brewer.