Jai Alai IPA - Cigar City Brewing

sjccmd

Minnesota

4.22/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to Lerxst!

Pours slightly hazy amber. 2 finger head that recedes pretty quickly. Leaves sticky lacing around the glass.

The aroma is mostly citrus and pine with sweet honey and malt. Slight spiciness to the hops. Quite sweet smelling. Big whiffs reveal a slight alcohol warmth. As it warms, the hop aroma fades slightly, and there's bit more sweetness and alcohol. Not overwhelming though.

The taste initially is a boat load of grapefruit peel, pine, and more citrus. This is balanced quite nicely with honey and caramel malts. Finishes with bitter hops and a sticky (but not cloying) sweetness.

Medium carbonation, maybe it could be a little more carbonated to bring out more hops in the finish. The mouthfeel is quite full though, and it coats the mouth nicely with hop resin and caramel malts with a slight alcohol spiciness.

Overall, I find this to be a unique example of an IPA being that it has a significant malt presence rather than just a punch in the face with hops. Not to say it isn't hoppy because it certainly is.

Serving type: bottle

04-07-2011 21:19:03 | More by sjccmd

DarthGator

Tennessee

4/5  rDev -5%

05-24-2013 22:37:26 | More by DarthGator

kspongeworthy

Texas

4.25/5  rDev +1%

05-24-2013 14:38:54 | More by kspongeworthy

Lewie8619

Indiana

4.5/5  rDev +6.9%

05-24-2013 13:17:46 | More by Lewie8619

markgugs

New Jersey

4.75/5  rDev +12.8%

05-24-2013 01:29:03 | More by markgugs

ChrisMetcalfe

South Carolina

3.5/5  rDev -16.9%

05-23-2013 18:43:52 | More by ChrisMetcalfe

Kevinhcraig

Florida

4.75/5  rDev +12.8%

05-23-2013 14:18:09 | More by Kevinhcraig

Crysstorm

Florida

5/5  rDev +18.8%

05-23-2013 12:43:49 | More by Crysstorm

Eastside151

Ohio

4.25/5  rDev +1%

05-23-2013 02:28:57 | More by Eastside151

mikeincharleston

South Carolina

3.75/5  rDev -10.9%

05-23-2013 01:35:53 | More by mikeincharleston

CAMRAhardliner

Ontario (Canada)

4.4/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Love the 6 pack holder that covers the entire top of each can. Take that liquor store can lickers! Im on to you! I digress.

Pours bright orange with a bit of haziness and a swirl of sediment at the bottom of the can. The head recedes to a ring quickly, but positively coats the glass in lace. The aroma is sweet and fruity with a strong citrusy and floral hop character. Luscious, juicy orange, tangerine and grapefruit hop flavors burst forth on the first sip. The vast hop profile is met almost immediately with an equally hefty crystal malt flavor, grape bran and cookie dough with a nice crystal malt coarseness. The mouthfeel is quite full bodied with an active, smooth carbonation. The finish is moderately high in bitterness with a nice tropical, orangey flavor that lingers a while. Alcohol is incredibly well hidden throughout.

This is a very interesting IPA. Very fruity hop profile with lots of fresh, pungent hop presence, and a massive malt profile to balance without putting off hopheads. Very good stuff, I highly recommend and will seek out again.

Serving type: can

05-23-2013 01:32:42 | More by CAMRAhardliner

YogiBeer

Illinois

4/5  rDev -5%

05-22-2013 23:58:20 | More by YogiBeer

assman79

Wisconsin

4.5/5  rDev +6.9%

05-22-2013 21:32:35 | More by assman79

sblank

Florida

4.25/5  rDev +1%

05-22-2013 15:52:28 | More by sblank

stooge

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +6.9%

05-22-2013 05:39:20 | More by stooge

velcrogrip

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +6.9%

05-22-2013 03:57:26 | More by velcrogrip

Hopsiam14

Minnesota

4.25/5  rDev +1%

05-22-2013 03:20:56 | More by Hopsiam14

griffiam03

Indiana

4.75/5  rDev +12.8%

05-22-2013 02:03:22 | More by griffiam03

DanGeo

Michigan

4.5/5  rDev +6.9%

05-22-2013 00:35:00 | More by DanGeo

Claytonbrewsby

Virginia

4.25/5  rDev +1%

05-21-2013 23:47:38 | More by Claytonbrewsby

In_Control_Mike

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +6.9%

05-21-2013 21:35:51 | More by In_Control_Mike

Andreias21

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +6.9%

05-21-2013 16:59:18 | More by Andreias21

Pecan

California

4.25/5  rDev +1%

05-21-2013 03:26:44 | More by Pecan

tehzachatak

Massachusetts

4.25/5  rDev +1%

05-21-2013 02:03:20 | More by tehzachatak

ironchefmiyagi13

New York

4.4/5  rDev +4.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Just got a shipment in from lets pour.com and they sent some freebees with my order. Canned on May 14th...doesn't get much fresher than that for someone way out in the boonies of Long Island.

This beer is definitely worth the hype. Great IPA nose with the classic hops resin, citrusy grapefruit and lime with a little pineapple coming through. What I like in my IPAs are a faint malt backbone. Not a huge fan of malty, sweet beers and this one is right in the middle. The sweetness comes in the form of fruit juice instead of malt. Very nice touch.

I still have 3 more cans to hoard and will definitely savor each and every one of them.

Serving type: can

05-20-2013 23:00:17 | More by ironchefmiyagi13