Jai Alai IPA - Cigar City Brewing

righlander

Florida

5/5  rDev +19%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

they serve this at the bar down the street from my house. it's AMAZING. the first time i had it it was right after i finished a stone IPA and my friend was trying to tell me to try it but i was hesitant because i was really digging the fact that they had stone IPA on tap. ANYHOW...i was convinced to try it because the brewery is around here in tampa. so first of all the appearance was amazing. nice foamy, sticky, clingy lace. nice amber color. the smell captivated me for like 3 minutes before i even took a sip. smells is like picking a fresh hop, cracking it and smelling it, and also very deep toasty malt. smells soo beautiful. it's really hard to explain. maybe oak chips in there somewhere. taste is a very perfectly balanced romance between beautiful toasty sweet malt and very abrasive (but still beautiful) hops. mouth feel is perfect...but maybe a tad more full bodied than your average american IPA. drinkability is great. the only thing that sucks is that i want to have like 6 of these but i have to drive home....7.5%

call a cab...it's SOOOO worth it to drink this beauty of an AIPA
touche cigar city...TOUCHE

Serving type: on-tap

07-24-2010 06:02:16 | More by righlander

saison19

Florida

5/5  rDev +19%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Pours a murky copper with fluffy white head, nice lacing and the head sticks around for the duration. Smell is hoppy with hints of tropical fruit. Taste is perfectly bitter sweet with hops, guava, papaya, grapefruit, pineapple, and molasses...complex. Medium mouthfeel, balanced carbonation, semi-dry finish that begs for the next sip.

I prefer drinking this one as it warms up so the strong malt presence shines through. This is pretty damn close to being a DIPA, and better than many DIPAs.

Wonderful.

Serving type: growler

05-08-2011 04:38:52 | More by saison19

EMPotter

5/5  rDev +19%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Without a doubt one of the best IPA'S in the world. Lots of character to the senses and one of the only IPA's I consistently find myself enjoying and recommending to friends.

A- Hazy, dark amber/orange color with a nice level of carbonation and froth at pouring.
S- Very hoppie with tropical/citrus, grass, and sweet honey undertones.
T- Very complex with a great balance of hops, citrus, grass and pine
M- Crisp bold flavors that stay on the tongue with a nice balance of bitterness and carbonation.
D- Excellent IPA. Jai Alai compliments spicy foods and barbeques.

Update: 7/5/12, thank God I live in Tampa and can spend time in the CCB tasteing room. I have sampled over 25 IPA's since this review and still can't find one that compares. Great IPA!

Serving type: on-tap

03-20-2012 00:01:46 | More by EMPotter

Fitwitchik

Ohio

5/5  rDev +19%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured from a bottle into a pint goblet.

Beautiful cloudy amber orange with creamy head

Smell is delightful. Just the smells says "this is something good". A malty pine says alot.

Taste is incredible! Plenty of hops tasting fresh with slight grapefruit. A sweet malty flavour makes this exceptional for an India/American Pale Ale.

Mouthfeel is divine. Nice carbonation and smooth going down.

Overall this rocked my socks! Seriously the ONLY brew I have ever wanted to just suck down.

Serving type: bottle

09-12-2012 23:28:05 | More by Fitwitchik

jimangie1973

Florida

5/5  rDev +19%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

I don't normally review anything but this beer is phenomenal when served from the bottle (more later on this). It pours a golden color with a very prominent head. It is unfiltered so I pour 3/4ths then agitate sediment and pour remaining. The result is a hazy golden brew with a wonderful head. The smell is dominated by the hops producing an ultra fresh citrus aroma. Upon first taste, the hops is also pronounced but what sets this apart from every other IPA is the wonderful malty taste and full bodied mouthfeel.

I've had this beer on tap and it wasn't the same. It tasted much more like the standard American IPA. The amazing malty balance to the hops wasn't there and the body was lighter. It was also clear so it is likely the keg just wasn't agitated as necessary.

Serving type: bottle

09-13-2012 22:35:38 | More by jimangie1973

gblaustein

New Hampshire

4.99/5  rDev +18.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Just picked up a six pack on Longboat Key. Canned two days ago. Smells like candied tropical fruit, tastes the same, creamy malty tropical citrus, very little bitterness, slight spice. My wife loved it too. Who knew they could brew such a great beer from Florida gator p@@s water. Not a tongue bruiser hut one ofthe best I've ever had.

Serving type: can

04-03-2013 21:36:11 | More by gblaustein

KickbacksSteve

Florida

4.97/5  rDev +18.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

On tap at Kickbacks in Jax. Always drinking this beer from a fresh keg, I'm sure because Cigar City can't keep up with the demand for this beer. Citrussy, grapefruity, almost west coast style of IPA with a twist, tasting like a double IPA. This beer has to be one of the best IPA's on earth. It would be impossible to say that one is better, it can only be said that one might be as good, in a different way. This beer will destroy your palate and keep you coming back for more carnage.

Serving type: on-tap

10-08-2009 05:46:22 | More by KickbacksSteve

Qwest_35

Florida

4.96/5  rDev +18.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 5

I've had this beer plenty of times, most of the time with about 3-4 week's of age on it. However I was able to get some 10 day old cans today and I thought I would review. Pours a beautiful hazy orange-gold with a decent amount of fluffy creamy head, great lacing. This is by far one of the most unique smelling IPA's out there, the aroma just says Florida! I'm getting a ton of citrus, pineapple, mango and slight canned peachy goodness! Taste is right there with the nose, this is a perfect beach beer after a long day of surfing. Overall a very well balanced easy drinking offering from Cigar City. A must try for everybody who loves great beer!

Serving type: can

03-30-2013 03:48:09 | More by Qwest_35

jcartamdg

Florida

4.95/5  rDev +17.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

On tap from my kegerator, keg filled days ago, picked up from ccb. Poured into my ccb pint glass, orange amber with a sticky two finger head. Lacing is crazy on this one, beautiful beer. Aroma of citrus, floral hops and tropical fruits, this is a very complex ipa. Taste follows the nose, again this is very complex, it borders on a dipa, very intense. Mouthfeel is moderate, smooth with substance. Overall this is the beer that made me fall in love with craft beer. Match Jai Alai up with any of the super-hyped ipa/dipas and I believe it rises above!

Serving type: on-tap

05-26-2011 23:56:30 | More by jcartamdg

AdamBear

Pennsylvania

4.94/5  rDev +17.6%
look: 4.75 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

A-dark gold, almost reddish. good amount of cream colored head

S-mmm good fresh hops and pineapple! also a little bit of a cigar scent with spice. good strength. smells absolutely delicious.

T-intial hit is pretty bold with pineapple, citrus spices, and some hops. its such a rare an amazing taste.. the ending is a tab bit more hoppy. not very bitter at all, its mostly creamy. the after-taste is citrusy with a cigar spice to it.

M-medium to low carbonation but is very soft to the mouth. extremely creamy

D-honestly, the more you drink it, the better it tastes.this might be my favorite go to beer in the world actually. one thing about this...i always make it my last drink. for some reason when i have it first, it tastes almost mediocre. but if its my last drink of the night, i always find it to be my favorite.

Serving type: on-tap

12-05-2010 17:37:21 | More by AdamBear

ktrillionaire

Florida

4.93/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

The beer I'm drinking is from the first-ever run of Jai-Alai bottles, the first ever 12oz./6-packs from CCB, too.

A - Big, copper-red-amber and effervescent, with a mountain of luxurious tan head, great retention and chiffon lace draped everywhere

S - Everything the style should be, and more. The hop aroma is largely piney, with a strong suggestion of cigar box, and also a dank-resiny-herbal element. The malt is not specifically discernible in the nose.

T - Excellent; the brew is so hoppy and rich. The initial impressions are of a floral and evergreen bitterness melded with a rich and astringent base. The flavors evolve into a very dank and herbal-resiny taste, very earthy, segueing into pine-juniper-evergreen with some grapefruit too. The finish is extremely long and goes from pine to cigar box cedar and grapefruit rind, and it lingers on for quite a duration. This brew is a trip around the hop palette, with so many flavors, delicate and strong, sublimely balanced.

M - Very much on the refreshing side of full-bodied, this brew is near perfect in all aspects, including this.

D - I love it. It is my favorite hop-centric brew. Period. Well, at least excluding Belgians.

Serving type: bottle

03-08-2010 20:18:51 | More by ktrillionaire

Danny1217

Florida

4.88/5  rDev +16.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Pours a hazy orange color. Thick off-white head. Good retention, amazing lacing. Smells like... I don't even know. Hops, but better than I could imagine hops smelling like. Cigar City beers smell so good. Tastes not quite as good as it smells, but almost. Very floral and citrus like. Lots of grapefruit. Has the power of a DIPA, but feels much more subdued. In a good way, of course. Rich mouthfeel with a good amount of carbonation.

My favorite regular IPA. The smell and taste are just too good for the competition.

Serving type: bottle

06-16-2012 07:06:47 | More by Danny1217

rufustiller

Florida

4.86/5  rDev +15.7%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75

I hope it's OK if I freestyle here. Everybody else has summed up the basics. I really like this beer and can't believe something this good is available at my local Publix, in a can no less. A true west coast (of Florida) IPA. Super delicious. My wife is on antibiotics right now and it really pisses her off when I squeal like a little girl after each sip cause she can't have any.

Serving type: can

01-29-2013 01:58:49 | More by rufustiller

REDBIKE22

Florida

4.85/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Had this on tap at OLDSMAR TAP HOUSE, undoubtedly tampa bay's best pub....overall awesome IPA! Strong hop flavor...close to the Sierra Nevada Torpedo...I was shocked it came from Tampa! Excellent with cheese and crackers...gonna have to check out Cigar City Brewery and see what else they have! Wanting it to come out in bottles locally!

Serving type: on-tap

04-04-2009 21:08:55 | More by REDBIKE22

ahatcher78

Florida

4.85/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

On tap at New World Brewery,Ybor City, Tampa, 6/20/09, in a Cigar City Pint Glass.

Pours a deep orange almost amber color with a massive eggshell head of around two fingers. The head is slow to recede, leaving a tacky lacing in its wake.

Smells of tropical fruits. Apricot,orange,tangerine, and a dash of resinous pine.

Tastes of citrus and pine with a malt backbone to balance things out although still a bit to the hop side.

mouth feel is right on, good carbonation.

drinkability gets a dangerously good from me. reminds me of some Pisgah brews. just goes down too easy to go with the quality. one of the better IPA's I've had.

Put FL on the must have map!

Serving type: on-tap

06-23-2009 00:53:59 | More by ahatcher78

AleWatcher

Illinois

4.85/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Got this from DosBeerigos in a BIF-- huge thanks for an awesome box! This is the first one from you I'm trying!

Poured this little sexy brew into my duvel tulip.
This is a darker orangey golden color with slightly amber hints... Almost like the color of the sky just before sunset. Nearly white head shows hints of the inside of an orange peel color and rose 3 fingers before leaving thick lacing as it settled. The lacing looks like a mountain landscape from the southwest desert area. Really a great looking beer right here.

I am smelling huge tropical fruit and citrus... Mango, pineapple, papaya, maybe even a slight hint of toasted coconut. It reminds me a little of a certain sun tan lotion-- but I can't remember the name of it. There is also a faint hint of pine... and some sweet bready malts too.

This just flat out rocks. Nice malty sweetness hit first and gets balanced out out all the hoppy fruitiness leaving just enough bitterness on the aftertaste to remind of what a great beer-experience you just had. I actually do taste nearly everything from the smell... but no coconut... This tastes fresh and tropical... a little earthiness creeps in there too-- but it reminds me of the smell of Florida after a rainstorm (or how that smell SHOULD taste if it were actually palpable). How the hell did they bottle that? Fantastic.

The body is light and airy with great carbonation. Just fantastic. Really. This thing is extremely easy to drink. If I had another here, I would almost certainly pour it and enjoy it.

Overall-- This is a highly delectable beer. I have had all of the big west coast IPAs (except younger) and I would put this right up with any of them. I would even say this is better than most!! Flat out-- get your ISO post ready and trade up for a little piece of Florida goodness!

Serving type: bottle

05-01-2010 02:32:30 | More by AleWatcher

jtmartino

California

4.85/5  rDev +15.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured from a 12 oz. bottle into my Bruery snifter.

I don't know what to say that hasn't already been said. This beer is unfiltered, which tastes great but doesn't look as nice as a filtered IPA. There's a ton of tropical fruit that's balanced by piney bitterness and a soft malt backbone. Really creamy mouthfeel - much creamier than most west coast IPAs.

As this beer warms up, the tropical fruit takes the forefront.

Damn this is one delicious IPA. Sweet, creamy malt profile, solid bitterness and delicious floral and tropical flavor bursting through the whole beer. Easily one of the best I've had in recent memory. Another home run from Cigar City.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2012 20:32:36 | More by jtmartino

JMScowcroft

Vermont

4.84/5  rDev +15.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Cigar City Brewing - Jai Alai IPA

Look - Pours a slightly hazy copper amber with a fuller fizzy head that starts dissipating quickly. Sticky as hell lacing.

Smell - Sweet malts with spice on top. Hops are present in just the right amount and in a bitter biting citrus form.

Taste - What a smooth ride in. Hops keep you in line but the super smooth blend with malts makes it friendly on the palate. Almost like cinnamon and spice.

Mouthfeel - Rests an amazing spicy almost cinnamon and sweet malt heaven with hops in top. The blending here makes this brew super drinkable and smooth.

Overall - Wow. I have a new found respect for Cigar City Brewing. I had heard good things but had to taste it for myself. This is an utterly amazing brew. Recommend 100%. I will try more from this brewer for sure.

Serving type: can

05-02-2013 13:23:37 | More by JMScowcroft

TheManiacalOne

Rhode Island

4.83/5  rDev +15%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Poured from a 12oz bottle into a US tumbler pint glass.

A: The beer is a deep amber color, with a short off-white head that fades slowly and leaves a thick lace on the glass.

S: The aroma contains a heavy dose of fruity citrus, along with floral hops and caramelized malts.

T: The taste starts out with a nice strong bite of piney hops bitterness. Then some sweetness from flavors of citrus and caramel comes in but the sweetness is not as over-powering as the smell would indicate. The malt character is hearty but not too heavy and creates a very good balance. The after-taste is slightly hoppy and slightly sweet.

M: Very crisp and very smooth, medium body, medium carbonation, finish is slightly sticky.

D: Very tasty, goes down quite easily, not too filling, good kick, excellent representation of style, this beer has everything you would want in an IPA. This is a beer that I could drink for a whole evening without looking for anything else.

Serving type: bottle

08-07-2010 22:23:36 | More by TheManiacalOne

rhoadsrage

Illinois

4.83/5  rDev +15%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

(Served in a tulip glass) thanks to cak999 for this fresh gem A- The hazy glowing orange body has a creamy off-white head that last and last. There are a few strands of microbubbles trailing up the side of the glass.
S- The full juicy citrus hops meld into a spicy green woody hop aroma and a slight fresh cigar tobacco spice blends with a dry yeasty ester hint. There is a faint circus peanut note that comes through in the finish as the beer opens up.
T- The pungent green grapefruit hops take on a faint minty note as the beer opens. They wash into a bigger spicy hop finish. There is a softer fresh pale malt flavor with some spicy fresh tobacco notes that linger in the hops. There is a slight creamy flavor in the hops at the finish.
M- This beer has a medium-full mouthfeel with a tight little fizz that boost the hops in the finish. There is no alcohol heat noticed.
D- This beer has big hops but they keep changing throughout each sip. There is a great nose to this beer and it has the flavor to match. The hops are delicious and juicy but there is not a big bitterness to them, making this beer very drinkable. There are hops that support hops and malt that helps tie it together. I think a lot of the great depth of this beer is lost in the cedar aged version.

Serving type: bottle

09-05-2010 13:15:37 | More by rhoadsrage

DaftCaskBC

British Columbia (Canada)

4.81/5  rDev +14.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Generously shared by Rutager.

A: Cloudy amber liquid with 1/2" cream coloured head.

S: Melon, peach, lime and tangerine.

T: Melon, peach, tangerine, grapes and passionfruit.

M: Medium viscosity and carbonation.

O: A beautiful IPA that is not only very easy drinking but also one of the best hopped with Citra that I have ever had.

Serving type: can

04-08-2013 01:09:58 | More by DaftCaskBC

kaips1

Kentucky

4.8/5  rDev +14.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

An extra from CaptianRedBeard thanks man, 12oz into an av snifter
A-dark murky orange with a lively one finger frothy head, my gf says it looks good so that's a plus, on closer inspection it still has a good amount of bubbles forming
S-lots of citrus, possibly some grapefruit, smells delicious
T-lots of hops upfront,amazing, very citrusy a lot like the smell, it's delicious
M-lots of bitter and tingle all over the place except the end of the drink, the wet finish was a bit of a surprise
O/d- it's a great lite session type of ipa, maybe not an all dayer for most but I'd like to spend a whole day drinking this.

Serving type: bottle

04-13-2011 23:09:16 | More by kaips1

mattsdenney

Tennessee

4.78/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Purchased in DeLand, FL (home of Abbey) while visiting in-laws for Thanksgiving. Poured into pint glass.

A: Pours w/ a thick foamy head, hazy amber color.

S: Hops, not overly strong but crisp and fresh.

T: Not sure what type of hops are used but tastes amazing. Slight fruitiness with a mild lingering bitterness. Extremely tasty.

M: Creamy, medium body.

D: Higher than normal ABV and extremely drinkable.

If you make your way to FL be sure to pick up this beer. Wish we had in TN!

Serving type: bottle

11-24-2010 18:16:01 | More by mattsdenney

Beer21

Florida

4.78/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

I avoided this beer for a while since I'm from Florida and figured no Florida Brewing company could actually brew great beer. I was wrong? This American IPA is one of the best I've ever had. From popping the cap to the last drop, it is one excellent IPA. It will become a regular in my beer refrigerator.

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2011 21:49:21 | More by Beer21

da_beers

Vermont

4.78/5  rDev +13.8%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

I have been waiting for this one for a while, my good friend @Jmscowcroft hooked me up with this one. I'm moving from VT to FL in a while, and this is what I'm looking forward to most!

A - Darkish hazy orange, almost a burnt orange. Has a beautiful creamy white head.

S - Fruitiness at first, then comes a great hop blast. Piney notes and earth notes come through as well.

T - Hops give an initial kick, but balances out well with the malts. Grapefruits definitely come through at end, as well as a piney resin.

M - So incredibly drinkable, could session this IPA all day. Medium body that doesn't fill you up too much.

O - Fantastic, this is what the hype is all about. Really intrigued to now find the White-Oak aged Jai Alai and try that one!

Serving type: can

05-08-2013 01:55:43 | More by da_beers