Jai Alai IPA - White Oak
Cigar City Brewing

12 oz. bottle poured into a pint glass.

Appearance - Giant white head that has finally tapered off as I write this. The top of the beer still has a coat of foam on it. The beer itself is a light amber.

Smell - Not what I expected. With most oaked IPAs, I smell sweetness enhanced by wood. This one has a sharp, fresh oak aroma. A citrusy hop aroma is there, as well.

Taste - Nowhere near as sweet as I expected. It is a very fresh IPA. The oak actually adds to the bitterness instead of softening any flavors. This is far more appealing than other oaked IPAs I've had. The hop flavor takes a backseat to the oak, at least to me. Obviously, there's still a hop flavor, but I'm more interested in the oak.

Mouthfeel - Pretty high in carbonation. Makes the beer feel lighter and fresher. It's not syrupy. Just the right consistency for a standard IPA. I detect no alcohol whatsoever. There is a bite at the end from the woodiness.

Overall - A very interesting oaked IPA. Nothing like any other I've had. Has none of the cloying sweetness of other oaked IPAs, which I really appreciate.

 

*archived review*

12oz can picked up at Ben's Bottle Shop in Vancouver, WA
Poured into an Allagash tulip

p- hazy dark orange w/ a nice foamy white cap; looks good
n- an interesting mix of earthy and spice notes
t- earthy floral notes pair with dry toasted oak; supported by sweet bready malt; finishes with a med bitterness that coats; doesn't quite come together for me
mf- med-full bodied; med carb
o- alright, but didn't meet expectations (although may be due to the age of the can); regardless, I definitely prefer the original iteration to this one

Review date: 08.01.20
Can date: 03.30.20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A masterful twist on a modern classic—this oak-aged Jai Alai pours a hazy burnt orange with a creamy oatmeal head and thick, resinous lacing. Aromas of vanilla, toasted coconut, and musty oak swirl with bold citrus and caramel notes. On the palate, it’s Jai Alai reimagined—white pepper, dill, and rich oak tame the bitterness, letting grapefruit and tangerine peek through. Velvety-smooth, medium-full bodied, with a crisp, drying finish—this is a refined, complex evolution that honors the original while offering something truly unique.

Golden color. Nice, white head. Citrus, pine, malt , and a hint of oak in the aroma. Balanced taste with neither malt nor hops prevailing. Strong, but not sharp hoppy bitterness at the end

 

 

If I didn't know that this was a Jai Alai variant, I never would have guessed the base beer was an IPA of any kind, let alone a brightly citrus-forward one.

The name of the game for this offering is "dry." There is a trace of vanilla hidden way in the back of the flavor profile. But, the oaky dryness is king here.

 

 

 

 

light hoppy ipa nice thirst quencher on a hot day