Cigar City Humidor Series Jai Alai Cedar Aged India Pale Ale

Brewed by Cigar City Brewing
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
Tampa, Florida USA

Serve in Shaker, Tulip

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This is quite well carbonated as a soft pour produces a three-finger thick, lightly tan colored head. The beer is a nice red-amber hue that shows a slight haze and a red-copper hue to it when held up to the light. As I pour this aromas of bright tangelo and ripe-sweet ruby-red grapefruit are noticeable, but a closer inspection yields the spicy, woody, characteristic cedar character. The cedar actually mixes very well with the ample hop character; both are here in an equal amount too. The cedar serves as the balance that ample hop-pine character and it actually accentuates the pine notes in the nose. The cedar, just really works here, it is almost hop like in its herbaceous spiciness.

Served at around 60*F at first, as it first hits my tongue it feels a lot lighter than I was expecting for some reason; quaffable with a light-medium body and a certain viscous heft, but well within the drinkable limits that I like my IPAs to be in. The cedar is definitely noticeable, but, as in the nose, is played masterfully here such that it integrates within the flavor profile of this IPA like some new, exotic hop would. The hop character in this beer contributes flavors of tangerine, bright orange oil, kumquat, herbaceous pine, ample lychee, apricot and a certain "dankness" that is mightily accentuated by the cedar notes. This finishes with a biting bitterness that is accentuated by an almost astringent character from the cedar and green hop character. It is interesting how the essential oils from the cedar mimics some of the more dank and herbaceous notes that can be found in hops.

Wow, this is really nice, I wasn’t really sure what to expect from this beer, but this has definitely been a surprise and in the best way possible. The cedar is more prominent in the aroma than it is in the flavor, which actually is what I want from this beer (even though I didn’t know what to expect coming into this beer). Very nice, extremely tasty and in the end it is the incredible balance between the hops, cedar and supporting malt that makes this beer so good. Well, said another way the use of cedar here is just so well done, so well integrated with the base beer, and the base beer really seems like a very well made IPA in its own right.

Pours slightly orange amber with offf white head. Scent is piney hops, cedar. Taste is hop bitter and a bit of toffee. and....wait for it....cedar. Not big on the cedar...just a bit too oily and offensive. The brewer remarks that the cedar has a subtle efffect.....mmm...no. It’s not subtle, it’s overbearing and awkward.

Bottle. Cedar, dusty black pepper, and hops aroma. Hazy golden yellow with a small white head. Stale black pepper and cedar flavor. Cedar flavor completely overwhelms all else. This was my second experience with a cedar aged brew that fried my taste buds. The cedar turpenes burned my tongue, leaving it feeling raw into the following day.

Bottle. Cedar and orange malt aroma. Hazy golden yellow with small head. Strong cedar and black pepper malt flavor. Maybe it’s something about me and cedar, but I don’t find the effect very subtle. Guess I’m not a fan.

Bottled from Systembolaget Slightly hazy amber. Thick, white head. Spicy flowery, hoppy cedar-aroma. Oily and thick mouthfeel. Sweet malt-base with nice hoppiness. Flowers, perfume and cedar in the flavour along with a peppery spiciness.

750 mL bottle. Pours hazy orange with a large, frothy, beige head. The aroma is citrus, peat, light smoke, and floral hops. The flavor is fairly bitter, and well balanced. The palate is medium to heavy, grainy, sticky and astringent. This is a very nice, bitter and strong IPA, with a well balanced flavor and good aroma.

Sample from tap, CBC 2012, as Humidor Series India Pale Ale. Hazy pale amber colour, with an off-white head. The aroma is light malty and hops, with notes of cookies, grapefruit, pine needles, oranges, exotic fruits, perfume, pepper and wood/cedar. Taste is light sweet, somewhat acidic and light bitter. Medium body, creamy texture. Very long lasting finish with medium bitterness, light burn from the alcohol. One of the most complex IPAs I ever had.

A - pours murky dark amber orange with 1finger fluffy tan head with tiny tiny bubbles that last. S - very fruity aromas up front. Sour Pineapple, grapefruit, apricot and a hint of dark dried fruits. Notes of caramel malts and blood orange. M - nice medium bodied full palate brew. Lingering bitter and malty ending with quiet woody/cedar notes. T - light and fast pineapple and grapefruit up front. Quickly goes to a strong hoppy (centennial) palate. Caramel malts follow. End transitions to an grassy hoppy end with nice notes of cedar throughout. O - very good cedar infused ale. Nice malty imperial ipa. 7+/8-

75 cl Bottle bought at Cervecorama. Pours a hazy deep straw color with a full finger white fluffy head, which dissipates throughout the pint and leaves a thigh lacing around the glass. Aroma is of course cedar with a light hop and light malt note. Flavor is similar, with cedar being quite noticeable and hops are there, but not as prevalent as some of the west coast ipa’s. Malts are light and subdued. Citrus, cedar, light grapefruit, orange notes, woody pine, perhaps. Palate is smooth and mild, with a light lingering flavor. Overall, as always, another smooth and drinkable beer from Cigar City.

27th September 2009
Hazy amber beer. Light frothy off white head. Palate is just a little soft. Remarkably fresh grapefruit underpinned by a little fresh orange. The cedar imparts richness and takes the edge of the hop bitterness. Finishes soft with rich grapefruit. Very nice!

Pours a clear golden color with a decent sized white head that slowly fades to a ring around the top of my glass. Smells like that old chest at the end of your grandmothers bed. Earthy and woody with a hint of patchouli. There’s some citrus in there as well, and maybe some malt, but the cedar is such a powerful aroma its hard to find anything else. It tastes just like it smells. Cedar and citrus with a hint of pepper and malt splashed in for good measure. I’m not sure if I’m imagining this, but after each sip my pallet seems awash with the flavor of cannabis. Medium body with a moderate level of carbonation and a sweet bubbly mouthfeel. The cedar flavor and aroma is quite strong here and the first few sips were rough until my taste buds finally cried uncle. This is not something I would drink often, but I applaud the result.