Jai Alai IPA - Cigar City Brewing

Seanniek91

New Hampshire

4.29/5  rDev +1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25

Poured from a can into a Gordan Biersch glass.

Appearance- Cloudy/yeasty copper/orange color with thin head and moderate lacing.

Smell- Piney hops, mango, clementine, tropical citrus fruit, white grapes with light tartness. Very fruity.

Taste- Maltier than expected. Fruity hops with light mild earthy hops present. Not very bitter at all.

Mouthfeel- Moderate carbonation. Lighter body. Light heat at the back of my throat. Crisp clean finish.

Overall- Not a bad IPA. Maltier than expected. Can't wait to try the white oak I have as well.

Serving type: bottle

03-27-2013 16:06:43 | More by Seanniek91

TrappistJohnMD

Mississippi

4.13/5  rDev -1.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4

Pours golden-amber color with thick head that lingers well.

Smell is heavy grapefruit, lemon and pine.

Taste is bitter from the beginning. Lots of pine and grapefruit. Sweet malts in the background. Bitterness linger long on the palate

Mouthfeel is medium bodied with average carbonation.

Overall this is excellent.

Serving type: bottle

01-22-2013 00:14:08 | More by TrappistJohnMD

Lawl3ss

Texas

4.18/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Chilled 12 oz. bottle into a pint snifter. No visible bottling date.

Look- Medium amber, slight orange-red hue. Two fingers of dense eggshell foam leaves an ample web of lace.

Smell- Floral, nutty, citrus rind, spruce, passionfruit, mild earthy, light sweetness. Swirling brings out all sorts of tropical fruits- starfruit, mango, meatier papaya, and a bolder sweetness. Light brown sugar. Very nice.

Taste- Bright citrus, tropical fruit, fir needles, nutty, light toffee feel, biscuit, mild bitterness. Floral, nectar, citric hops fade to white tea. Gobs and gobs of hop flavor without becoming too bitter. Toasted biscuit malt and light sweetness balance nicely. Exceptional flavor.

Mouthfeel- Light-medium body, juicy. Clean finish with the barest hint of light syrup. Very easy drinking.

Overall- Delicious, and packs more bright American citrus and fruity hop flavor in than you'd expect was possible without actually mixing it with mango juice. An American IPA all the way, and I regret not being able to purchase it regularly. Consider yourself lucky if this is on tap or on the shelf in your area.

Serving type: bottle

12-18-2012 06:00:54 | More by Lawl3ss

williamjbauer

West Virginia

4.2/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Short review: Bottled served in a pint glass, clear golden amber with 1 finger head with great head retention, sticky. Nose has nice flora and citrus hops notes, very pungent. Taste full of light malts and moderately bitter floral, grapefruit citrus, and a touch of mango. Medium body, moderate carbonation. Really enjoyed it, solid IPA Cigar City has some great things going for it!

Serving type: bottle

12-07-2012 20:45:03 | More by williamjbauer

Coldsnack

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

A: Hazy orange-copper with plenty of small floaters; small off-white head.

S: Citrus and tropical fruits, mostly grapefruit and pineapple. More malt in the nose than the taste.

T: Hoppy bitterness up front with light malts on the back. Dominate flavors are hoppy citrus with some pine.

M: Not a ton of carbonation but a very nice mouthfeel. Some dryness on the back.

O: One of my favorite beers. Not as much balance as some other IPA's, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.

Serving type: bottle

11-10-2012 18:32:23 | More by Coldsnack

jucifer1818

Florida

2.6/5  rDev -38.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2.5

Had this beer at Tallahassee brew-fest

If feel like my memory of this brew betrayed me when I had it
I recalled it being quite good, but I found myself feeling it as a very forgettable experience, and even less than that, I found it hard to drink

Its quite a dissipointment to me, especialy coming from what I see to be the best brewery in Florida

Id call it slightly below average, and you can easily pick somethign better

Serving type: bottle

11-04-2012 20:06:09 | More by jucifer1818

SassieCassie

Florida

4.6/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This is beer is pretty much what I have in mind when I think of an IPA.

Served in a pint glass, it has a nice golden/hazy color. The smell is pine-ish with some fruit mixed in, but not overbearing. There wasn't much of a head though....

The taste was citrus, with hints of grapefruit followed by just the right amount of hops. It is dry and balanced, but not too thick.

I would definitely recommend this one!

Serving type: bottle

11-03-2012 03:26:26 | More by SassieCassie

Powderhornphil

Minnesota

4.21/5  rDev 0%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

The beer pours cloudy bronze. Maybe two fingers of head that recedes to very light lacing.

Smells a little caramel with tropical fruits. Some mango in there.

Taste is ripe mango and a caramel biscuit flavor. Fruit flavors abound, I want to say guava as well. Some nice bitterness but it plays a supporting role. I had to think about the bitterness since it's so well balanced.

The beer really reflects the warm climate from which it comes.

The mouthfeel is really full for the style but works nicely.

Overall a great IPA. Just wish I could get it more.

Serving type: bottle

11-02-2012 22:38:09 | More by Powderhornphil

fmccormi

New York

4.3/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Straight pour from 12oz pry-off bottle to a 25cl Duvel Single tulip; bottling date of October 15, 2012 printed almost illegibly in red ink near the top, towards the back of the label on the yellow ring (“15 OCT 12” ??). Glad Cigar City uses bottling dates (especially with day, month, and year), but they could use something a little sturdier and clearer.

Appearance (3.5): Jai Alai pours a solid two fingers of off-white foam composed of some fine, and some rather coarse bubbles that slowly dies off. The body is a really, really nice, glowing orange-amber color that’s evenly hazy all the way through, perfect-looking body, really. Too bad the head is lacking: just a couple fat splotches of lace, not exceptional retention, and just a thin collar at the surface of the beer.

Smell (4.5): Just oodles and oodles of juicy citrus, bright and light but sweet and very fragrant, specifically sweet red grapefruit juice and some ripe pineapple. There’s a bit of resin on the back end, just enough to come off modestly dank. There’s a bready character underneath that’s easy to miss at first; it smells like toasted white bread (à la Elwood Blues). That sweet grapefruit character is so, so nice, though—great smelling stuff.

Taste (4.5): Starts with a modest bitterness, slightly pithy in nature, and moves into a great, great combination of sweet citrus (more grapefruit, some pineapple) that transitions into a moderately strong citrus-zest bitterness, like they brewed it with lime peels. It comes off a bit vegetal, too, but cleanly—not dirty, like raw onion and bad brussels sprouts, but clean like Centennial hops done right. There’s a little malt character underneath, just lightly bready and VERY lightly sugary, and it’s plain but does what it does well. No sense of alcohol or any yeast notes to speak of, just very dry and clean, respectively.

Mouthfeel (4.0): Modest carbonation, just a light foaming on the way down and little prickling to speak of; the body is a solid medium weight, however, and rather oily, which is great. Finishes pretty dry, and doesn’t feel like 7.5% ABV at all.

Overall (4.0): This is a great beer, and I love it, but it’s not quite a 4.5 overall. The smell is the best part for me, but the taste isn’t far behind. Cigar City used a great blend of hops and a pulled this one off very well—just very well-balanced without sacrificing in any way. My only real complaint is with the head, which could be thicker, chewier, and lacier, but that’s just me. This is a top-tier American IPA in my opinion, and certainly for the price it’s hard to beat. Now I just need to find it in cans!

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2012 00:29:38 | More by fmccormi

LeeryLeprechaun

Colorado

4.3/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Beer pours a cloudy orange color with a nice sticky white head.

Aroma is mostly of citrus and grapefruit. Very clean in the aroma with little pine, resin, or grass. Nice floral balance to the nose which really lets the citrus notes shine through.

Solid malt body with really helps to balance the beer. It is dry in the finish but not overly bitter, yet still hoppy. No lingering bite.

Mouthfeel is full and medium in body.

This is a great IPA, really debuts what the aroma of an IPA can be. Nice floral and citurs notes, very smooth for 7.5%.

Serving type: bottle

10-24-2012 00:46:12 | More by LeeryLeprechaun

Rutager

British Columbia (Canada)

4.28/5  rDev +1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Thanks Jayhoop!

Appearance. Pours a hazy gold-amber with half a finger of white head.

Smell. Bitter citrus rinds, some pale malts and floral hops.

Taste. Nice bitter citrus rinds and sweet citrus fruits. A little tropical fruit as well, papaya and pineapples with a nice, somewhat mild bitter citrus rind finish.

Mouthfeel. Medium+ body, below medium carboantion.

Overall. Very nice ipa with well balanced hoppy flavours.

Serving type: bottle

10-22-2012 01:00:09 | More by Rutager

ckollias

Maryland

4.48/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Enjoyed this 12oz bottle out of a large snifter glass.

A: Pours a copper-orange hue with a thick, frothy, 3-finger, white head that slowly dissipates leaving a nice trail down the slide of the glass and ends in a wispy lace.

S: Strong malty hoppy aroma with some mild citrus and pine hints.

T: Hoppy bitterness meets a caramel sweetness. Hop flavor is dominant but there is a good malt biscuity mix.

M: Very strong and boozy. Medium body and medium carbonation.

O: Awesome IPA. Amazing hop and malt character.

Serving type: bottle

10-21-2012 23:08:12 | More by ckollias

Etan

Illinois

4/5  rDev -5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz extra sent by Willcarrera. Thanks! As far as I can tell this was bottled 12 days ago.

A: Pours a darkish orange wit a decent white head.

S: Apricot, pineapple, some caramel malt notes.

T: Plenty of orange and mango, a bit raisiny even. Hefty malt character gives a little dough and butter.

M: Light-bodied with moderate carbonation.

O: A very juicy IPA, could benefit from a bit more dryness but I like the fruity notes coming out of this one.

Serving type: bottle

10-17-2012 03:54:59 | More by Etan

jegross2

Illinois

3.5/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Reviewing the Jai Alai IPA from Cigar City Brewing out of Tampa, Florida.
Score: 84

Bottle is from the 238th day of 2012 (08/26/12), won in a fantasy baseball BIF. Served in a Founders tulip glass and enjoyed on 10/15/12.

Appearance: Pours a dark copper color with a light flurry of finely ground floaties at the bottom. Three full fingers of foamy tan head at pour settles to a thick ring around the glass and big clumpy island of head in the middle surrounded by a moat of beer. Good lacing, retention and legs. 3.5/5

Smell: Tons of grapefruit and orange upfront. On the "back end" of the aroma is a slightly syrupy pineapple juice aroma -- you know, the cheap kind you make those store-bought frozen "just add juice" Jamba Juice smoothies with? That smell. Sweet caramel and pine too. The nose is surprisingly "syrupy sweet" for an IPA. 3.5/5

Taste: Tons of bitter caramel and pineapple flavor present here. The pineapple flavor tastes just like it smells and lingers after the swallow. There's a touch of orange too, but it's mostly caramel and pineapple flavor here -- though it's not what I would call a "malty" beer. There is a nice and smooth bittersweet balance that lends this beer a lot of drinkability. 3.5/5

Mouthfeel: Medium-light bodied, low carbonation. Very oily and juicy. Bittersweet. 3.5/5

Overall: Solid, but nothing spectacular. I imagine this one is better fresher. Oh well.

Recommendation: I'd order it on tap, but I would not seek it out again. Would make a good starter IPA for more casual beer drinkers given it's balanced flavors, not in-your-face hoppiness and smooth drinkability.

Pairings: Pretzels and cheese dip.

Cost: $12 for a six pack.

Serving type: bottle

10-16-2012 02:33:21 | More by jegross2

barleywinefiend

Washington

4.08/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Poured a hazy deep orange with a small white cao which fades leaving a small dose of white bubbles and light lacing

S: Tropical fruits, mainly pineapple and some citrus.

T: Initial pineapple/tropical fruit, light grapefruit and ornage peel transitions into a subtle hop bite on a light caramel backbone. The finish lends a slightly dry finish with a bit of grass.

M: Medium bodied, well carbonated, tropical fruits, citrus and lingering light biterness

O: Well done.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2012 06:12:45 | More by barleywinefiend

KajII

North Carolina

3.58/5  rDev -15%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

[Suggested Glassware: Tulip Glass]

The pour was a hazy copper orange with an average (1-2 finger) off white rocky head that had great retention, lasting throughout and producing excellent sheets of lacing.

The aroma was mildly sweet with a grain malt, floral and herbal hops and a sweet yeast with notes of citrus (orange), caramel, pineapple and mango.

The taste was a bit malty sweet with a slight bitter undertone and a hint of caramel and a mild fruit ester early on, but became very hoppy with a bitter citrus peel finish. The flavor lingered for a good long while following consumption, being mostly of a bitter citrus taste.

Mouthfeel was a few steps above light in body and dry in texture with a moderate carbonation.

Overall a well rounded IPA, nice and bitter yet sweet and fruity...

http://www.facebook.com/KAJIIsBeerReviews

Serving type: bottle

09-15-2012 13:40:42 | More by KajII

jimangie1973

Florida

5/5  rDev +18.8%
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

Fitwitchik

Ohio

5/5  rDev +18.8%
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

gustogasmic

Michigan

4.55/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a cloudy copper with a foamy ring; head disappears right away. Medium-heavy even lacing.

Smell is big hop resin, oak, peppery spices, lemon rind, cognac.

The taste and mouthfeel really depend on each other here- it is sticky, sweet, and malty, but the hop bill comes across as a unified and subdued citrus. Great dryness from the hops, a nice toasted marshmallow/ cake batter taste in the leave. Appropriate level of bitterness and a linger that again suggests the toasted marshmallow. The hops contribute to the feel and flavor equally, lending the citrusy/peppery notes and bitterness as well as the dryness. Creamy.

I haven't had anything like it. It is very, very good, a perfect IPA for someone who seeks sweetness in their beer.

Serving type: bottle

09-09-2012 05:27:36 | More by gustogasmic

rfbenavi80

Missouri

4.43/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Obtained through a trade. Thanks miamichael2 for sending them my way.

Bottle kept in fridge. Poured into a nonic pint.

A- Pours a hazy deep gold almost orange in color with 1 finger of off white head that has good retention and leaves some mild lacing.

S- Strong tropical fruits. Overly ripe pineapple, and fresh cut grapefruit. Sweet smelling tangerine citrus.

T- Starts off with a pleasantly sweet tangerine flavor. Then theres a healthy dose of bitterness in the form of pine, and grapefruit flavors from the hops. Finishes with a solid malt backbone that attempts to balance things out. Tasty.

M- Feels kind of creamy on the palate. Goes down good for being 7.5%ABV. Moderate amount of carbonation.

O- My first offering from Cigar City is a hit. Look forward to trying more.

Serving type: bottle

09-02-2012 01:06:04 | More by rfbenavi80

RblWthACoz

Pennsylvania

4.45/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

It's been some time since I first tried this one; but that was from a growler. So I'm interested to see how this one ends up.

Pours beautifully and the fragrance is equally impressive. Flavor is citrusy tang on spicy hops. Robust, but still somewhat mature in it's delivery. Bitterness lingers on the tongue. Carbonation does a slight bit too, but provides no flavor interference. An excellent brew.

Serving type: bottle

08-30-2012 13:51:32 | More by RblWthACoz

Sunhunters

California

4.08/5  rDev -3.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Serving Type: 12 oz bottle poured into .3 L tulip. Bottling date unknown.

Appearance (4.5) - Very handsome. Orange with a tinge of red and a light haziness. One finger of bright white, creamy foam. Head dissipates quickly leaving a fairy substantial icing of super-fine bubbles across the surface of the beer. Tenacious, round lacing on the glass. Effervescent.

Smell (4.0) - Guava and papaya are forward enough stand up in the face of the dominant citrus. Hints of other tropical fruits are detectable as well. The smell is a little faint at 50 degrees but wakes up a bit a touch closer to room temperature.

Taste (4.0) - Full flavored IPA. Grapefruit, orange, a whisper of kiwi and green banana. Big, bold tarry resin bitterness is on the heels of these bright fruits and dominates all but the first bit of the flavor. The bitter aftertaste is palpable and enduring, but is briefly overcome by tropical sweetness with each subsequent swig. Tasty, but the bitterness speaks bit too loudly and masks too much of the delicate fruit.

Mouthfeel (4.5) - Big, round, and dry. The strong cohumulone acids rasp at the tongue and cheeks. A rich, full-bodied ale with balancing creamy carbonation.

Overall (4.0) - Overall a very drinkable, enjoyable IPA with a complex fruit character. Sadly that fruit character is overshadowed by potent bitterness, yet the resinous bitterness is also well done and pleasant so the end result is still a very good, enjoyable beer. Tasty and strong, this is a great one to try.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2012 23:52:24 | More by Sunhunters

gatorguy

Virginia

4.2/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A - Typical IPA look. Hazy golden orange with a good white head. Leaves fair lacing.

S - Citrus strong nose, some earthy hops. I can pickup some tropical fruits like mango and pineapple as well.

T - Starts with a nice citrus profile, mainly orange and grapefruit. Hops come in next, and are mostly floral and pine hops. Hop presence is more robust than the nose suggests, almost DIPA like in strength. Malts are portioned well and balance nicely. Tropical fruits come in toward the end, and match the nose. These give the beer a nice contrast to the dime-a-dozen IPAs that are ubiquitous now. Finish is slightly bitter.

M - Light for an IPA, especially one this stout. Carbonation is spot on, and the 7.5% abv is hidden well.

O - Nice IPA, better than most you'll come across and surprisingly easy to throw down.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2012 17:53:25 | More by gatorguy

JamesMN

Minnesota

4.15/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Appearance: Hazy to the point of being opaque. Light amber/orange color with a pillowy off-white head that leaves great lacing.

Aroma: Lots of citrus and tropical hops in the nose. Also getting a decent amount of malt in the background. Smells like it'll be robust.

Taste: Lots of great tropical fruit flavors but with a maltyness that you don't usual get in West Coast IPAs. A swirl of pineapple, grapefruit, and lemon flavors sits on top of that caramel malt backbone. There is a good level of flavorful bitterness that is present throughout and then stays on your palate for a little while after each sip. The 7.5% abv is hidden very well.

Mouthfeel: Although I'd call it medium bodied, the malt flavor makes it feel slightly heavier. That's not a bad thing in this case, as it still retains above average drinkability. Also pretty smooth.

Final Thoughts: I liked this one a lot. A nice East Coast/West Coast hybrid. It's got big hop and malt flavor profiles going for it but keeps the palate from becoming overly complex. A very enjoyable IPA.

Serving type: bottle

08-24-2012 03:44:13 | More by JamesMN

driftlessbrewin

Minnesota

2.58/5  rDev -38.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 2.5

Thanks Chardlogic for the extra.
THE BOTTLE DATE IS 28 JUNE 2012. IT IS INFECTED WITH BRETT.

A- BOOM!!! the cap exploded off like a cannon blast, No gushing though. Pours a dirty hazy copper color with massive carbonation and lace. Huge head retention, that lasts and lasts and lasts.

S- Brett! out of that gates it is musty band-aid with a finish of old muddled citrus rinds that got moldy. it is actually quite interesting, I feel it may have been better a few weeks ago before the brett had a chance to rip through the dextrine. I feel in a few months this will have that rotten garbage smell.

T- Brett has also invaded the flavors and not in a good way, a bitter citrus used band aid is how I would describe the flavor.

M- This is where the beer is OK, nice smooth carbonation for all that lacing. allows the terrible flavors to be well received.

O- I dont think this is a brett IPA, intentionally. The infection really takes away from what this could have been. Interesting to try something like this though.

Serving type: bottle

08-13-2012 20:07:03 | More by driftlessbrewin