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

mindspin315

New Jersey

4.48/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Poured into a Victory HopDevil Nonic. Heavy blanket of slightly off white head. Solid orange body with a little haze. Alcohol lacing and legs are both nice. Head retention is really good as well.

Woah...right up front is a strong cedar smell, which carries all the way through. If you've ever opened up a cedar chest or cigar box then you will pick up this smell right away. The hops are sitting right behind the cedar. Hops have a piney citrus/orange aroma, faint grapefruit. Not sure how fresh this bottle is but I would love to smell how the hops interact with this one fresh. Sweet malty/bready aromas come in at the middle.

Cedar hits right upfront, just like in the aroma. The cedar flavor rises up to the roof of the mouth. A good amount of bitterness from the middle to end and the palate drys out nicely in the finish. Grapefruit and pine come in quickly but also leave rather quick...grapefruit lingers on a little bit longer. The cedar is definitely the star of the show but isn't so overwhelming that this isn't enjoyable. I find this one to be fairly drinkable.

Unlike any IPA I've ever had, but then again adding cedar during fermantation is something probably only Cigar City does. Another stellar/interesting beer by this brewery!

[97/100]

Serving type: bottle

11-26-2011 06:31:48 | More by mindspin315

dborginis

Pennsylvania

3.53/5  rDev -13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 2.5

Jai alai cedar.  Turbid, hazy copper color.  Sweet fruity smell, with a bit of booze as well.  Metallic hop flavor, mild on the metal.  If I really try to, I can taste the cedar. Heavy on the hop bitterness, heavy on the malts, but the malt clearly takes a backseat. Not sure what hops were used but they are very bitter. Wish there was a stronger aroma hop presence. For the amount of flavor here, not as drinkable as it should be...too high abv.

Addendum: I just sipped the dregs, not sure why, but it was painfully hoppy. Was this dry hopped?

Serving type: bottle

09-07-2010 02:07:27 | More by dborginis

MarkIntihar

Michigan

4.08/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Serving style - poured into

A - Pours with a fairly thick head. Color is an opaque amber. Really quite a beautiful beer.

S - Lots of orange peel in the smell of this thing. It definitely dominates the smell of the beer. Slight hints of cedar.

T - Again, very orange-tasting. Almost like I'm eating an orange, peel and all. There are hints of other citrus fruits in there as well, but orange is definitely the dominant taste.

M - Not nearly as carbonated as the amount of head would indicate. This beer is quite balanced and enjoyable on the mouth.

D - Quite drinkable. Not overly bitter like many IPAs, which makes it quite easy to enjoy.

Overall not one of my favorite IPAs I've ever had, but fairly decent. Lacking in complexity and really gets overwhelmed by the orange smell/taste, but other than that a solid beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-02-2010 00:49:27 | More by MarkIntihar

hmf05

Florida

4.78/5  rDev +17.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a hazy orange with a one finger head. Not quite opaque and I do not see any chunks of yeast. I smell cedar first and foremost followed by grapefruit and mango. Incredible aroma. The taste is perfect. The cedar hits first and then morphs into a nice grapefruit and mango combo that leaves a semi-dry finish. The mouthfeel is like silk. The carbonation is light to medium. Drinkability is OK, but I can finish the bottle myself due to how good this beer really is. Overall, the most complex IPA I have had to date. This is definitely not for everyone, but it is definitely a must try for any IPA fan. Very unique and finally an extreme beer that Sam hasn't thought of. A must try!

Serving type: bottle

09-30-2011 18:03:48 | More by hmf05

SDDanC

California

4.18/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Thanks to badboyrsl84 for this one. Poured from bottle into pint glass. Lots of head with this guy, about two fingers even with a very gentle pour. Completely murky, like an unfiltered wheat ale. The nose holds a distinct belgian aroma, like a saison, cedar, calm spices, no hops really. Tongue is amazing. Starts out much like the nose, belgian spice, then shifts quickly into the hops and then finishes with honey and cedar notes. It surely leaves a spicyness, much like a cigar would. Mouthfeel, I think is only mediocre. For being a bottle opened long before my turn, it still was reallly carbonated. But it accented to spicy characteristics of the cedar. Overall, very unique brew and I am quite pleased.

Serving type: bottle

08-05-2011 05:38:25 | More by SDDanC

TheSeeker61

Georgia

4.33/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured a half inch head and has an off orange color. The smell is a nice lemony, malty, hoppy aroma. A very nice smell. This is my first oak aged IPA and really like the tongue. It begins with a grapfruit hoppy taste, moves into a bit of malts and finishes as it begins with the same grapefruit hops. The mouthfeel is medium. Overall dig this one and wish I could find it locally. Picked up a bomber while in Tallahassee, Fl. Should have gotten a few. Will do when in the area again. Very nice offering from the Cigar City folks.

Serving type: bottle

10-29-2012 17:43:26 | More by TheSeeker61

infestaxion

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

From my notes

A - Hazy coppery orange with a big fluffy meringue head. Great retention. The lacing is insane.

S - Glorious slick hops. Good dose of malt and hint of cedar. These smells only stronger would get a 5.

T - The same slick hops are there but the malt seems less prevalent than the smell. The cedar adds a very subtle and unique flavor. As it warms the malt opens up more. Nice and bitter in the finish. Very good.

M - Thick & sticky. Good carbonation.

D - Very, very drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

08-31-2009 20:44:02 | More by infestaxion

JAA

Florida

3.8/5  rDev -6.6%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Purchased this bottle along with another(for trading) at Norman's Liquors, just east of I-75 on SR-70 in Bradenton.

Dark amber hue with red highlights. Nice one and a half finger, frothy, off white head. Laces very well. The head is here for the long haul.

Smell and taste have quite a bit of a bitter, lemon peel quality. The flavor is complimented by grapefruit and a light caramel sweetness, way in the back. An underlying earthy/woody taste remains on the tongue long after the swallow.

Mouthfeel is soft and silky. An astringent bitterness does lessen the drinkability a bit, but not a bad wood aged beer. I, however, think that IPAs are not the most suitable beer for wood aging. And i believe that the Jai Alai was better without aging it on Cedar. A fresh Jai Alai cannot be improved upon.

Serving type: bottle

07-25-2009 17:52:46 | More by JAA

Centennial

Pennsylvania

1.58/5  rDev -61.2%
look: 1 | smell: 2 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 1.5 | overall: 1.5

Appearance - really??? is this the bottom of my latest primary fermenter or a finished beer? Murky like grapefruit juice mixed 50/50 with half and half.

Smell - cedar closet, cedar chest, fresh cut cedar.

Taste - ughh, cedar again? Did I just lick my cedar closet? maybe some hops but the cedar kills them quick.

Mouthfeel - unfiltered, medium bodied, but thick. Like the last pour of a 1/2 keg of a rich heffeweizen. Again a big "Ughhhh".

Overall - based on this beer, cedar is the last species of wood I would choose to age my beer in, regardless of style, go lick some cedar and see if you want your beer infused with the flavor.

Just read the review below and wondering if cigar city sent us some bottom of the barrel crap jai alai for beer week? Calling all old Jai alai bottles, you are wanted to join a special cask of recycled "humidor series" I would love to post a picture of this murky mess!

I recall telling the bartender "that was the hardest beer to get through in a long time!" If that is not saying something then i don't know what will.

Serving type: cask

06-07-2011 05:21:08 | More by Centennial

PretzelCity

California

4.5/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours a nice mahogany color with a decent fluffy white head. Smells like cedar. Taste is spicy, peppery, with a little bit of citrus and a lot of cedar. Light to medium body and really drinkable. The Cedar blends with the hops perfectly making for a very balanced yet complex flavor. If you like cigars at all, this beer is worth a try. It looks, smells and tastes like a cigar box and I mean that in the best way possible. Not a huge fan of the Jai Alai IPA by itself but it is totally transformed with cedar aging. Really enjoyed this brew both times I've been able to try it.

Serving type: bottle

10-13-2009 19:06:32 | More by PretzelCity

CMB2012

Illinois

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

750ml bottle, no freshness date. Served in 160z stemless snifter, just above refrigerator temperature, and allowed to warm throughout the session.

A- Pours a dark, hazy, red/orange color. Comes with a one inch creamy head that dissipates pretty quick and leaves a ring. Some lacing.

S- Definitely strong on the cedar, really does remind me of a cigar box. Citrus hops- grapefruit and orange, some sweet malts, maybe caramel but it's hard to decipher, there is an almost wine-like alcohol note, and going back for that last sniff I get a lot of lactose, literally smells like 2% or higher fat milk - I believe this is merely an illusory character, and deeper smells reveal the true complexity of this beer. Slight alcohol burn, but not much and it is pleasing with the wood character.

T- Hops up front, citrus and sweet fruit. Then caramel malts, blending into a nice smooth hop bitterness. From here the cedar steals the show- semi-rough in character, the cedar is light and airy, toasty, somewhat smokey, slightly grassy, and tobacco also comes to mind. The finish is cedar, then caramel malt sweetness, and a slightly bitter, dry ending.

M- Medium body with tiny bubbles makes for a great mouth feel in this experimental beer. Enough carbonation to let the aroma open up, but not too much so that no flavor is lost.

O- This is my third experience with Cigar City and I have yet to be let down (Unfortunately I live over 1100 miles from the brewery and they don't distribute to Illinois). Is it normal or expected to age an IPA in cedar? No. Does it work? Well that is a matter of opinion, but for me it does. A lot of other reviews weren't so pleased, but the cedar really won me over in both taste and aroma. This beer is extremely complex and is definitely a sipper. I hope you at least get to try this intriguing brew, even if you don't like it, it's worth the experience.

Serving type: bottle

04-10-2011 00:11:28 | More by CMB2012

calcio360jrd

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

This beauty of a beer is the cigar city jai alai ipa aged on cedar spirals. Taking the tour a couple months back was very informative on how they age the beers on different woods and the amount of time that they do it for. Pours a nice murky orange tinged color. Great nose of cedar wood on this one, everybody does oak so the subtle smell of the cedar has been such a breath of fresh air. Has that usual jai alai finish that i like, very hoppy especially for a regular IPA, most DIPA don't have this much aroma. Stockpile this if you can, seems harder and harder to get

Serving type: bottle

06-28-2011 17:05:25 | More by calcio360jrd

vapodge

Florida

4.5/5  rDev +10.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 5

bomber poured into a Sam Adams glass

A - cloudy, sizable head; great lacing; bubbly for the duration

S - what a cedar closet stuffed with hops must smell like

T - more subdued than regular Jai Alai as far as the hops are concerned; cedar really comes through but is not overpowering

M - quite dry and quite carbonated for an IPA

D - oh, yeah -- really like this as an alternative to normal IPAs -- not a whole lot of alcohol bite and the wood mellows out the biting hops -- sure the age does it too

Serving type: bottle

02-13-2011 02:13:25 | More by vapodge

headbucket

Ohio

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

A:dark orange with some red mixed in. not really see thru but the light is brighter around the edges of the glass when looking through it. Nice head and lacing.

S: citrus, wood/cedar, a little sweet maltiness I think at the back end.

T: bright citrus hop flavors at first, a bit fruity,followed by the cedar flavors of wood and some spice, maybe a bit of malt at the end with the cedar flavor persisting in the aftertaste. Unusual at first but becomes very pleasing.

M: once it warms up the feel improves greatly. Medium thickness and a bit creamy.

D: pretty nice. I could see the cedar flavor becoming too much at certain times if your not in the mood for it but it is going down very easily and just asking to be drank right now.

A very unique and interesting beer. I had mixed feelings about this beer during the first half of the bomber but am enjoying the second half a whole lot more as it warms and I become accustomed to the cedar flavor. It is hoppy but very different than most other ipas. Would recommend to hop heads and barrel/wood aged beer fans. A big thumbs up.

Serving type: bottle

11-29-2010 01:36:18 | More by headbucket

Thingus

California

4/5  rDev -1.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Live tasting into a Delirium Tulip, courtesy of a good friend... Thank you Peacehammer!

Appearance; pours a gorgeous bright, lively orange, minimal white head that quickly dissipates leaving no lacing.

Smell; cedar, pepper, tobacco, minimal citrus

Taste; leads with some slight honey sweetness that gives way to a hoppy, citrus, peppery tobacco flavor, the bitterness of the hops quickly fades, leaving a lingering peppery tobacco flavor...

Mouthfeel; lively on the tongue, just dances on the palate, great carbonation...

Overall; a fantastic IPA, with a bit of a twist, definitely worth checking out!!

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2012 05:36:04 | More by Thingus

mnphish

Minnesota

4.01/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Looks like a Jai Alai. It's the same stuff but slightly less tropical and less bitter. It starts with tropical flavors of peach, citrus, guava, and orange which are balanced nicely by some smooth caramel malts. The finish is where the bold wood character almost overwhelms the base beer.

It's a very good beer, but I don't know if the cedar necessarily benefits it. Still got to give it to CCB.

Serving type: bottle

04-06-2013 07:09:02 | More by mnphish

jcnd9803

Illinois

4.33/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Thanks to trappistlover for sending this!

I've had this a couple other times, but now finally getting around to reviewing.

A - Very cloudy amber to gold with a foamy off-white head that sticks stays pretty much the entire time.

S - As advertised, wonderful cedar with heavy citrus and floral hops. Also catching some vanilla and actually pepper.

T - Lemon and bitter orange. Just some really nice hops. Finish follows the smell of cedar and that vanilla and pepper.

M - Medium bodied and oily.

I continue to forget how much I like this beer. It just has so many things going on that keeps it interesting, yet stays oh so drinkable.

Serving type: bottle

04-04-2011 03:06:07 | More by jcnd9803

Mounty4Life

Pennsylvania

4.48/5  rDev +10.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

750ml bottle at ginos in Tampa
poured a nice orange color with a lot of foam. Nice pacing and small head stuck around.
Smell was similar to jai alai but more subtle. Citrusy but didn't have the pop of regular ipa. Taste of pine citrus and just a bit mellow for what I was anticipating, the cedar must mute some of the hops. Not a bad thing just after jai alai was expecting major hop pop on tongue. Medium mouthfeel for ipa with nice aftertaste. Overall great job again by cigar city! I was just expecting more reading they just aged jai alai in Spanish cedar and after paying 15$ for 22oz. Glad I did, but know that your better off saving some ding and sticking with the reggie jai alai!

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2013 21:29:06 | More by Mounty4Life

kbm

Arizona

3.55/5  rDev -12.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Received a bottle in a trade with Keifdog.

Preface: I decided to drink this in a cigar store (which boasts one of the largest walk in humidor's in the state, so lots of cedar smells already) with a cigar (Rocky Patel Sungrown).

Appearance: Poured slightly cloudy copper with a huge head (maybe four fingers) with great retention and lacing.

Smell: Citrusy/piney hop metallic and the more I drink the more I smell the cedar.

Taste: Malty and citrusy with cedar prominent in the after taste. Moderate hopiness. The cedar is not a bad flavor, just different but I don't think the cedar adds to the beer. I've had the regular Jai Alai IPA and given the choice, I would order the regular Jai Alai every time. However, the cedar did add an interesting complexity in the cigar shop which was already cedar smelly in its own right.

Mouthfeel: Moderate to heavy carbonation. Pretty refreshing on a warm day.

Drinkability: Somewhere between a gulper and a sipper. Medium body.

Serving type: bottle

08-16-2009 07:15:29 | More by kbm

miketd

Ohio

4.33/5  rDev +6.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Big props to mcbackus. Thanks man! Pour is bronze with a nice, fluffy white head. Aroma of pine, grapefruit and fresh grass. Flavor is bitter upfront with a lot of cedar and almost smokey. The body is thick and almost seems to contain pulp or something. Very clean and dry. This was my favorite beer from Cigar City so far. Hook a brutha up!!!

Serving type: bottle

08-19-2009 12:49:39 | More by miketd

TotallyHosed

Illinois

3.48/5  rDev -14.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Thanks goes to Heatwave33.

The appearance has all the markings of a good brew: thick off-white head, translucent dark amber color, lacing from top to bottom and bubbly.

The smell of this brew is lacking. I certainly smell the cedar wood, but at no time could I smell anything else.

The taste is a little better than the smell. When the brew was cold, I was only able to taste cedar and a little bit of sweetness. As it warmed up I did pick up some hoppy bitterness.

The feel is nice. There's adequate carbonation and light body. The bottle says the brew is unfiltered, but the appearance nor the feel reflected this. I would expect to see some cloudiness and a light-to-medium body. In my opinion, this is simply an observation, not a negative critique.

I do enjoy IPA's that are aged with wood. That extra layer, or layers, of complexity is a welcome change from the usual profile. My only disappointment is that I expected more hops in the nose. Maybe a bottle that is more fresh would deliver this. This is an interesting beer that I recommend you try once. I don't smoke cigars, but I imagine this brew would make a good pair.

Serving type: bottle

01-12-2012 00:43:29 | More by TotallyHosed

jonB

New York

4.4/5  rDev +8.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 5 | overall: 4

The smell of this one is intriguing. It smells slightly sweet, but with noticeable hoppiness. The hops wind up tasting very smooth and their citrus flavor evens out the wood perfectly. I was expecting more of a sharp taste or smell of cedar, but the balance of floral hops and subtle woodiness is very nice. This beer leaves a nice foam on the side of the glass and is well carbonated. The combination of which is a perfect full body mouth feel. Great beer.

Serving type: bottle

12-28-2010 23:59:08 | More by jonB

nhudson

Alabama

4.18/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Finally Cigar City is being distributed to Alabama and I would assume that this review would be the 1st review of said Cigar City beer sold in Alabama.

a: Golden/Yellow in color, very clear though still minimal hop haze (good thing) with a rocky white head that has pillows that wont go away.

s: The smell is amazingly complex. Cedar hits you up front with some Citrus and Earthy tones. Some vanilla is present, but only as the beer warms up. Not overly hoppy as I expected, you can still smell a good malt base.

t: A very well balanced IPA lies beneath this beer which serves as a great base. Taste up front is wood earthy notes, cedar. The back end is mostly citrus. I am very surprised how well the cedar goes with the hope here.

m: medium body seems really dry, which I like. The cedar just coats your mouth as you keep drinking.

d: Very great beer. One of the best wood aged IPA's out there IMHO. I could drink this again and soon.

Thanks again Cigar City for coming to our great state!

Serving type: bottle

12-15-2010 22:59:36 | More by nhudson

IrishHockey

Indiana

4.6/5  rDev +13%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Recieved this awesome beer in a trade from Immortale25.

Poured into a Founders tulip glass

Pours a cloudy orange color with a 1 finger off white head.

The smell on this beer is amazing! It's like smelling a glass of fresh squeezed orange juice.

The taste on this incredible. Lots of citrus taste. I can taste the orange, grapefruit, and maybe some peach. Not a bitter hop forward brew, but a very tasty easy drinking IPA. I love it. A little less carbonation would have made this a perfect beer.

Overall I would buy this again and again. Very well done!

Serving type: bottle

11-25-2012 02:30:27 | More by IrishHockey

gwguest

Kansas

4.35/5  rDev +6.9%
look: 3 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 3

via trade with BastionShaw

Poured from a 750ml into Boulevard Smokestack Goblet. Unsure of freshness as I did not see a freshness date. I didn't expect too much from this as it had pegged my 'over-hype' meter into the danger zone.

The aroma from across the room -- as I did not pour this myself -- was unreal. A nice combination of hops and 'weird' wood (cedar) in the nose. Not a typical crazy west coast hop aroma, which was a welcome surprise.

Visually, it is a nice looking beer, but nothing too special. The pour was good, but the head didn't make a lasting impression. Amber color with a delicate off white foam.

Wow, there is a lot going on when this beer hits the tongue. The combination of the cedar -- which I dislike in some other beers -- with whatever else is happening here gives a very tannic, tobacco-like sensation. It almost feels like a gimmick coming from a brewery named 'Cigar City', but it's so different from any other beer I have tasted, that I can't help but want more. A tempered, but sturdy, hop flavor balances the cedar perfectly. The malt is just enough to provide some structure, but I could use a smidge more. Flavor wise, this is one of the more interesting beers, I've tasted. I really enjoy this beer.

Mouthfeel is spot on for what I need out of a wood aged IPA. Enough carbonation to scrub with enough body to keep it from becoming a hot cedar mess. It's perfect for what this beer needs.

Drinkability: Well, as much as I love this beer, it's not the most drinkable bottle in the bunch. I split the 750 with one person, and it was almost too much. After every taste, I let go of my glass while the 'tannic' woody flavors took hold. I really wanted more, but I needed a quick break after every pull. Alcohol is completely hidden, but the cedar / tobacco balance really dries the mouth. Split 3 ways, I would be clamoring for more, but 2 ways was almost more than I wanted.

Overall, I would love to have another bottle of this. Actually, I'd love 2. One to cellar away (yes, the heresy!!!) to see how the hops and cedar play over the years, and another to drink soon.

This is a great beer. The hype may be overblown, but not by much. You should try it at least once. I'd like to have more.

Serving type: bottle

10-30-2010 02:20:26 | More by gwguest