Jai Alai IPA - Cedar Aged (Humidor Series) - Cigar City Brewing

lacqueredmouse

Australia

4.43/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

I believe this is my first beer from Florida. I hope I've picked a good one—certainly a cedar-aged IPA sounds great. The only other I've had is Kiuchi's Hitachino Nest Japanese Classic Ale, one of my very favourite beers.

This one pours pleasantly hazed and deep orange, with an enormous and frothy head of white-sand coloured foam. Lacing is magnificently anarchic. Body has a little weight behind it, but otherwise looks pretty fluid. Pretty gorgeous looking brew.

Nose is just phenomenal. Beautifully blended sharp, resiny cedar character realised with citric hops giving touches of lemon and underripe peach. The wood is the main event, but the cedar is such a lovely sharp (almost "hoppy") character that it's like just another extremely aromatic and fragrant hop variety itself. On top of this, the sheer strength of it is phenomenal.

Taste is a lot milder—the basis of malt is noticeable here, giving it a smoothness and a slight underlying caramel note. There are still hops, but not a lot of bitterness, just a cleansing vector through the centre. In some senses, it feels a little underhopped on the palate, just because the cedar gives such a powerful punch of resin and bite on the nose that you expect more.

Wow. There's no denying that this is a really, really lovely, refreshing and exceptionally drinkable brew. The characters are extremely intense, but they give such a lovely heady flavour and aroma to the brew.

Oh yes, I picked a good first Floridan beer. This is a sensational brew, and one that gives the JCA (remember, one of my favourite beers) a run for its money.

Serving type: bottle

08-20-2011 02:03:38 | More by lacqueredmouse

glid02

Georgia

4.2/5  rDev +3.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle shared by Brodie - thanks!

Pours a slightly hazy deep copper color with a one-finger cream-colored head. The head recedes into a patchy layer on top leaving solid lacing.

Smells of grainy caramel malts, citrus and pine hops, and cedar. Surprisingly the cedar doesn't overpower everything but instead works nicely with the hop aromas.

Tastes very similar to how it smells. Caramel malt flavors that are a bit sweeter than the nose intimates kick things off. The malts are joined simultaneously by cedar and hops. The hop flavors are very similar to those in the aroma - pine and citrus with hints of earthiness. The cedar flavor fades a bit, allowing the malt and hops to carry through to a mildly bitter ending.

Mouthfeel is good. It's got a nice thickness with moderate carbonation.

Drinkability is very good. I finished my glass quickly and could easily have a few more.

Overall the cedar aromas and flavors were surprisingly robust but never overpowered everything else going on in the beer. Well worth a shot.

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2010 03:17:43 | More by glid02

stakem

Pennsylvania

3.93/5  rDev -3.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3

Review from notes taken on 11/20/10. The label is different from what is listed but I'm assuming this is the same brew. No indication on the bottle that the base brew is Jai Alai but this is the only listing for a cedar aged IPA so it's probably the same.

Poured into a snifter this brew appears a beautiful perfectly clear light orange color with 2 fingers of fluffy yellowish stained, creamy head. It retains well and leaves a leggy pattern of lace around the glass.

The aroma of this brew is sweet floral hops mixed with some light indications of vanilla. Some citrus, pine and spicy character is evident. A light tingle of the alcohol is felt in the nose through the back along with a seemingly candy sugary sweetness.

The taste is herbal hops mixed with a woodsy flavor that unsurprisingly tastes like cedar with some spiciness. Some oily bitterness clings with some resine like orange rind. A light toasted grain sweetness balances out the flavor of the hops and cedar.

This is a medium bodied brew with a moderate level of carbonation. The alcohol is noticeable with a bit of a perfume-like flavor and warmth. The hops last inside the mouth long after each sip. This would be a well balanced brew except the cedar flavor really stood out and sort of clashed a bit. Nonetheless it was an interesting experience and I would drink it again but maybe with a different take on the hops or with a less aggressive cedar flavor.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2010 19:44:00 | More by stakem

Georgiabeer

Georgia

4.22/5  rDev +3.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A very solid beer all around, with the nice notes of Jai Lai deepened and given some extra dimensions. Pours a nice amber with an excellent head that leaves some decent lacing. Definite cedar note right off the bat in the nose, nice cigar box note. After that some earthy hops that have been somewhat muted, and a creaminess at the end. The taste is where it all comes together. Still lots of cedar, but it melds seamlessly with the spicy hops and fades into a slightly chewy but creamy finish. Quite a bit of wood here, but the cedar doesn't overwhelm the IPA or make it feel like you're chewing on a block of wood. Also, the spicy notes in cedar are a natural for the pairing with an IPA. In this case, the wood enhances the beer, and so often that's not what happens. Nice.

Serving type: bottle

07-29-2011 01:43:24 | More by Georgiabeer

mothman

Saskatchewan (Canada)

4.15/5  rDev +2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to kbutler for bringing this back from Florida.

Poured into CC snifter.

Pours 1/2 finger of off white head. Good retention with some splattered lace. Color is a dark copper hued orange. Very dark and hazed for an ipa.

Aroma: Tons and tons of cedar with mangoes, tangerines, and grapefruit. The hops are floral but not as present as they would be in a regular ipa. Great nose.

Taste: Very unique beer. Tons of cedar flavor. It reminds me of a sauna. Big fruit citrus - mangoes and tangerines. Some floral bitterness. Pretty solid and very unique.

Mouthfeel: Creamy but bitter and oaky. Medium bodied with a good amount of carbonation. Ends relatively clean.

Overall, this IPA is different but good. I like it and it is very interesting. I couldn't drink an entire bottle, but a glass is perfect. A well done beer from CCB.

Serving type: bottle

03-24-2010 18:09:05 | More by mothman

JohnGalt1

Idaho

4.25/5  rDev +4.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Big ole 750 provided by ditmier last night at inflatablechair's house... Thanks to Eric for providing such an interesting assortment of beers and to Sam for hosting.... I had this a few times over the night with nice pours into my small La Trappe goblet.

Color is a very hazy orange... no chunks... just very hazy..

Nose is pretty citrusy and much more like a traditional West Coast IPA than I was expecting.... Sam says Cedar smells like a cigar box... I know what cedar smells like, but am having a hard time picking this out in the brew.

Flavor is again pretty traditional and fairly fresh tasting despite the distance traveled... citric hops and some caramel maltiness that I think goes well with some toasty/earthy elements from the wood aging.. finish is a bit dry and mildy tannic.. good creamy body and bunches of small bubble carbonation add to the overall experience...

Thanks again Eric... This is a brewery that I just don't know if I have the gumption to go after.... glad you're such a trooper.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2009 07:40:29 | More by JohnGalt1

thagr81us

South Carolina

3.53/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served from bottle into a Stone nonic. Poured a hazy yellow-orange with a half finger off-white head that subsided to a minimal amount slowly. Maintained decent lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, citrus, wood, and tobacco. The flavor was of sweet malt, citrus, citrus hop, wood, and tobacco. It had a light feel on the palate with medium carbonation. Overall this was a decent brew. The tobacco aspect in this one really killed it for me unfortunately. I went into this one really wanting to like it, but couldn't bring myself to do so as much as I thought I would. However, the flavors from the Humidor was definitely transferred to the brew. Hope to get a chance to try more Humidor offerings that might fit in better based on style than the IPA.

Serving type: bottle

08-10-2011 19:13:27 | More by thagr81us

Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

4.23/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Bottle shared by afdempse. Thanks Adam!

The beer is transparent and orange colored, sporting a half inch of white head. Lasting retention and ample lacing.

The aroma is unique and wonderful. A bold scent of freshly lit cigars and cigar smoke take center stage, followed by floral hops.

The taste is not quite as delectable and intriguing as the aroma, but well balanced and enjoyable nonetheless. I can understand why some may dislike this beer, as it is certainly not for everyone. When viewed solely as an IPA or DIPA, this will not hold its own when matched against the upper tier brews of this ilk. That said, Humidor IPA is a complex, unique, and creative brew to be sipped and savored. I applaud Cigar City for this "outside the box" beer. While I was not expecting to enjoy this nearly as much as I did, I would certainly have this again. Recommended.

Serving type: bottle

03-11-2012 21:05:28 | More by Huhzubendah

largadeer

Kentucky

2/5  rDev -50.9%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

Appearance: Murky amber with a sticky white head. Good lacing, good retention, clarity could be much improved.

Smell: Intensely woody with a bit of citrusy hops beneath. Some oxidation as well. A cedar overload.

Taste/mouthfeel: Woody, tannic, borderline astringent cedar overpowers the hops and malts both. I get a bit of citrusy hops mid-palate, and no malt to speak of. Bitter tannic finish, it seems like the astringency comes from the wood more than the hops, and there's a noticeable lingering wet paper flavor. Decent, not great.

Serving type: bottle

09-14-2009 03:25:57 | More by largadeer

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev -4.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Pours a hazy orange-ish/ yellow color with an off white head. In the aroma, mix of pine and citrus hops and a hint of wood. In the taste, starts with pine hops and leads into orange citrus hops at the end, a bit woody and nice malt backing. A small hop bite and medium bodied mouthfeel, with a small dry orange citrus hop in the aftertaste. Nice citrus hop and just a hint of wood.

Serving type: bottle

11-16-2010 15:31:31 | More by OWSLEY069

gford217

Georgia

4.47/5  rDev +9.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750mL bottle courtesy of jdubfl poured into a tulip.

Pours a deep, hazy brownish orange with a big creamy white head that shows fantastic retention and remains a one-inch head for the duration. Lacing is impressive as well with sheets of sticky lace all the way down.

The aroma is not too different from the original Jai Alai with a dominant fruity citrus aroma with hints of pine and a nice caramel sweetness as well. The cedar is definitely present but not overpowering at all.

The taste is where the cedar comes out a bit more. There's lots of juicy citrus up front but it gives way to a healthy caramel malt sweetness and a more prevalent spicy wood presence which lingers through the finish with a healthy dose of resinous hops.

The mouthfeel is pretty full bodied and very sticky with hop juice. There is an interesting spiciness from the cedar as well which makes the mouthfeel more unique than most IPAs.

This is a very impressive beer from Cigar City and I think it's better than the original, as the cedar really smooths things out and lends an earthiness to things. I'm not normally a fan of wood-aged IPAs, but this one really surprised me. Well done and one of the better IPAs I've tasted in recent memory.

Serving type: bottle

07-26-2009 02:06:31 | More by gford217

Slatetank

Pennsylvania

3.58/5  rDev -12%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

This is one of the most unique cask beers I think I have had the chance to try. I had a 10oz half pint at cask temp.

A - The color is a murky hazed (due to lack of cask finings) color of apricot with smallish head of cream

S - The smell is a strange but pleasant blend of piney hops and cedary woodiness w/ a light fruit ester

M - The mouthfeel is intensely hopped upfront with a astringent/resinous cedar bark texture which leaves the palate dry - medium body, a bit on the thin side of 7.5%

T - The taste is good, but not great as the hops are sligthly overpowered by the cedar, there is a nice Ipa flavor with mild fruit and subtle citrus of the hops, but it seems like they just went overboard with the cedar to prove to you that this is Really REALLY a cedar beer and IPA second. I love the experimentation, but when in balance with the total beer in mind

D - I will sum up here with a good, but not great along the lines of the taste portion of the review. I could probably only handle a 1/2 pint to be honest. I like the way cedar smells and Jai Alai is a decent IPA, but the combination seems to detract slightly for me rather enhance the drinking experience -just my .02

Serving type: cask

03-25-2010 16:36:30 | More by Slatetank

jrallen34

Illinois

2.98/5  rDev -26.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2

I drank this from a 22oz bottle into an Orval glass.

The beer pours a medium orange with a bright white head that rises about a finger, but gone pretty quick. Light lacing.

The aroma is very unique, took a couple minutes to place the smell, but finally realized the front is tobacco leaves and a hint of horesradish. There is a slight amount of smoke, very unique but flavors that probably shouldn't be in a beer.

The taste is also all tobacco, its like drinking an ipa that was filtered through fresh tobacco leaves. Once again, supremely unique but not drinkable at all. The finish has a hint of pine.

Overall, different but just not drinkable. If you're a smoker give it a shot.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2010 01:20:55 | More by jrallen34

beertunes

Washington

3.28/5  rDev -19.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Received in a trade with NYBrews a couple moths ago, this one got lost in the back of the fridge until now. Poured into 16oz nonic. Poured over 4 inches of head on the initial pour, less than 1/8 inch of beer at the bottom. This problem would continue throughout the bottle. When there was finally enough beer to look at, the beer was a slightly hazy, very attractive orange-gold color.

The aroma was good, some malts showing through the citrusy hops. The flavors were also good, those same citrus hops on a nice malt base. Maybe I tasted a bit of cedar, or perhaps it was the power of suggestion.

The body was good, full, sharp and dry, but the finish was a bit harshly bitter. Drinkability was good, but is losing a half-point because I ended up drinking as much head as I did beer. Overall a pretty nice brew, almost a must try. You should give it a shot if you see it, and it's probably worth setting up a trade for.

Serving type: bottle

10-07-2012 22:30:46 | More by beertunes

kylehay2004

Florida

4.1/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: crimson amber, very slightly hazy with a two finger head.

S: musty and pungent aroma with hop and floral notes. Cedar is more evident in the aroma than taste for me.

T: nice grassy and pine flavor which remains only mildly bitter through the flavor. Cedar notes but not to the extent I was hoping.

M: medium body and dry finish. moderate carbonation.

Overall: Easy to drink IPA. I was hoping for more cedar in the taste but its a nice addition to the aroma.

Serving type: on-tap

08-30-2011 00:36:00 | More by kylehay2004

TurdFurgison

Ohio

4.45/5  rDev +9.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

I brought this home from the Cigar City taproom, $9.99 (but I saw it 10 minutes later at Whole Foods in Tampa for $7.99!). This was much much more enjoyable than the standard Jai Alai, a beer that was OK but not as memorable as the cedar aged version.

This was copper colored and hazy, very opaque as compared with standard Jai Alai. Thick spitty head with a little lacing, not much. The aroma is kick-ass, definitely strong cedar although at first I'd have said pepper. I get the hops in the smell but it's definitely masked by the cedar.

The beer tastes spicy and a little citrusy, surprisingly light hops bite given the flavor of the base beer. Peppery and woody, really tasty. The body is maybe a little creamier or less carbonated than normal Jai Alai, but I didn't try them side-by-side. Definitely recommended, delicious beer.

Serving type: bottle

05-22-2010 01:39:37 | More by TurdFurgison

nickfl

Florida

4.28/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

A - One and a half fingers of off-white head on a moderately hazy, copper-brown body. The thick, creamy head settles slowly and the lace is appropriately dense on the walls of the glass.

S - Lots of hop aroma, very fruity with pineapple notes and a hint of orange. Malty background, toast and a bit of caramel. Can't say I am getting any cedar yet, though it could easily hide within this hop character.

T - Pungent hops up front with some spicy, woody character up front. Pine and grapefruit with toasty, toffee like malt. Bitterness begins to kick in the middle and notes of pepper and grapefruit come out. The wood begins to assert itself in the finish, there is a subtle, incense like cedar note and quite a bit of spicy tobacco flavor. A strong, grapefruit-like astringency lingers on the palate.

M - Medium-thick body, moderate carbonation, and a slightly sweet, somewhat astringent finish.

D - Pretty drinkable with a huge hop character. The cedar seems to be very subtle, and may have contributed to a slightly medicinal aftertaste, but it does seem to augment the hops. Clearly the base beer is a very nice, robust IPA and while I haven't had a chance to try it yet, it is on my list.

Serving type: bottle

07-19-2009 03:37:04 | More by nickfl

DefenCorps

Oregon

2.8/5  rDev -31.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Thanks to Mike for sending this rare beer as an extra, of all things!

The pour is quite gorgeous, clear amber with a dense off-white head with an off-white head with great retention and nice lacing to boot. Unfortunately, that's about all there is to really like about this beer. Rich and malty, rather simply so, with a lot of caramel, a touch of honey and some burnt caramel as well. Pine hops are apparent, and when cold, the wood character isn't particularly noticeable. However, as it warms up, the harsh cedar character becomes all too apparent. Woody and astringent, with a touch of varnish-like alcohol is present as well. The palate is rather similar, OPENING with woody tannins and a rather astringent character. Once you get used to the highly astringent nature of the brew, you are assaulted by the massive sweetness with sugar, caramel and some pine bitterness. Hop flavor is rather reserved, and frankly, is whelmed by the sweetness. There's no semblance of balance in this beer. While the finish starts off sweet, the tannins really dry out the palate with a harsh astringency. Medium in body with low carbonation, this is pretty much exactly what an IPA should NOT be, and the addition of cedar strikes me as a gimmick. While I drank my 8oz, it was only in the hope of it improving, which it didn't.

Serving type: bottle

11-12-2009 14:33:29 | More by DefenCorps

bark

Sweden

4.43/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

The colour is amber, the liquid is a bit cloudy. The large beige compact head slowly sinks down, leaving lots of lacing.

The smell is woody with distinct notes of cedar pencils. Some citric notes including a touch of lemon acid. Furniture polish in the background.

The taste is at first quite mild and smooth. Then, cedar tree and American bitter hops kicks in. Hints of polish and a fresh citric bitterness and a hint of sweet strong white wine. The aftertaste is elegant and polished with mild woody notes. Citric fruits in the finish.

The carbonation is strong, the small bubbles are fresh. The liquid is semi-smooth.

A very elegant end well crafted cask-matured beer; there are woody notes but it is still an IPA.

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2011 18:09:35 | More by bark

tpd975

Florida

4.43/5  rDev +8.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Copper colored with pillowy cream colored head. Nice retention and lace.

S: Same great hoppiness of the standard Jai Alai. Lots of nice pine with intermingling grass and citrus. Strong notes of spicy cedar can be picked up as well. A real nice fruity aroma as well that reminds me of fruity pebbles.

T: Love how the cedar plays off the hops. If you had not had the regular Jai Alai you would think it is rye or a herbal hop. It's not its the cedar and boy does it work. Of course it is backed up by ample amounts of malt and lots of grass and citrus. The finish is bold and sweet. Nice orange with hints of pineapple. Really top notch, can't wait for the bottle release.

M: Medium in body, nice and smooth.

D: Very tasty, I love what the cedar does to this already tasty IPA.

Serving type: on-tap

05-26-2009 20:01:04 | More by tpd975

LilBeerDoctor

New York

4.3/5  rDev +5.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Bottle. Pours a cloudy copper with a thick, foamy off-white head. Aroma of floral hops, bready malt, citrus, and wood. Flavor is slightly more woody/oaky with some sweet caramel malt and a touch of citrus. Creamy palate, just awesome. Not as cedary as I'd expected given the title, but I like the subtlety. Very nice IPA, definitely not a classic example of the style because it's not very hoppy, but a tasty treat nonetheless.

Serving type: bottle

08-28-2009 20:45:01 | More by LilBeerDoctor

AgentZero

Illinois

2.95/5  rDev -27.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 2

A - Dark amber color, with some brownish tints. Small white head. Some retained sticking on the sides during the drink that slid down back into the beer very quickly.

S - Wow, super huge wood smell right off the bat, smells almost like gin. Something quite spicy in there, maybe spicey soy sauce or horse radish. Also a lot of cigar smell in there, like it sat in tobacco or something. Very unique.

T - Really hard to describe what is going on here. Huge woody taste, some very hot spice going on here, and it really does taste like it was filtered through tobacco. There is some hops present but all the wood and tobacco taste kills in.

M - Lighter side of medium, decently carbonated.

D - Taste really kills this one for me, maybe my pallate is not sophisticated enough for this, but I just can't do it.

Serving type: bottle

04-18-2010 01:33:35 | More by AgentZero

champ103

Texas

2.88/5  rDev -29.2%
look: 2.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

A big thanks to jenray for the generous surprise. This is an IPA aged on Spanish Cedar.

A: Pours an incredibly cloudy copper/orange color. Way to much suspended sediment that detracts for me. A large white head forms, but gently fades to a ring. Not much lace to speak of.
S: The cedar is very prominent. Musky wood, almost moldy wood even. Some citrus tries to break through, but with no avail.
T: A little better. The cedar takes an up front and center seat here. Though more IPA does come through. Bitter grapefruit is dominate in the finish.
M/D: A medium body and carbonation. Not nearly dry enough for me though. This is a bit of a chore to finish. Not something I will come back to.

Overall, an interesting idea. Though poor execution IMO. Way to much wood takes over, and not much else. I am glad I tried it, but not something I would recommend.

Serving type: bottle

03-31-2011 01:45:32 | More by champ103

woosterbill

Connecticut

4.28/5  rDev +5.2%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

750ml bottle into a Duvel tulip.

A: Clear deep amber body with 3 fingers of creamy tan head. Fantastic retention and solid rings of lace. I couldn't be more pleased with how this looks - it's clear yet rich, imposing yet delicate. Fantastic looking IPA.

S: Sweet malt, vegetal hops, and rich, sweet wood. Plenty of vanilla, and yet also some cedar dryness. I'd like some more pop from the hops, but this is still excellent.

T: Starts out hoppy, then turns malty and woody. The cedar is completely distinctive, and yet doesn't threaten to overpower. Cleanly bitter finish. Excellent.

M: Medium bodied; starts a little sharp carbonation-wise, but smooths out nicely.

D: The alcohol starts to peek through a little bit, and the woodiness gets a bit heavy. Still, not too bad.

Notes: I've been looking forward to trying this beer for a long time, and it didn't disappoint. It's my first cedar-aged beer, and I love the hint of humidor. I was afraid the cedar would get oppressive, but it kept itself perfectly in check throughout. Far better than regular Jai-Alai, and a real treat.

Cheers!

Serving type: bottle

10-10-2010 03:08:30 | More by woosterbill

ffejherb

Pennsylvania

4.1/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

750ml bottle into half pint glass on 9/14/09. Thanks to FooFaa for sharing.

A - Poured a hazy amber/orange colored body, reminiscent of a sunset, with a one-finger rocky, frothy head that deposited lots of sticky foam around the glass.

S - Initial aroma is extremely spicy and woody with fragrant wafts of pine needles, cedar and white pepper. Malt character is sweet and syrupy.

T - Spicy and woody flavor with a dominant cedar character and hints of pine needles. A syrupy sweet malt backbone balances all of the spicy notes. However, plenty of sticky, piney hops emerge in the backend and work quite well with the cedar and woody characteristics.

M - Medium bodied with moderate carbonation and a syrupy texture with a bit of oily residue. Finishes with assertive bitterness on the palate.

D - Unique and innovative, this cedar-aged ale is extremely aromatic and flavorful. The cedar character is undeniably palpable. I have a feeling this brewery is going to become one of my favorites very quickly.

Serving type: bottle

09-22-2009 21:57:05 | More by ffejherb