Jai Alai IPA - White Oak - Cigar City Brewing

morimech

Minnesota

4.08/5  rDev -2.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Slightly hazy, tangerine color, with a very large head that had good retention. Heavy lacing is left on the glass. Unique aroma in the the IPA world. Plenty of oak, pine, and citrus. A little banana as well as the result of oak combining with the citrus. The flavor is likewise unique. The oak really went to work in flavoring this beer with plenty of vanilla coming through. More citrus and tropical fruit hop flavor. A little sweetness from the malt peeks through. Bitterness is moderate. Medium body with low carbonation. Has a really smooth, soft mouthfeel. A good beer but not one I would want to drink more than one in a sitting.

Serving type: bottle

12-27-2010 20:28:31 | More by morimech

argock

Virginia

4.15/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from 12oz brown bottle into a clear stemmed glass wine goblet. No freshness date. Single purchased at Knightly Spirits (Orlando, FL) for $2.99.

A: Hazy amber with 1-finger of malted milk colored head with decent retention and nice trails of lace.

S: The oak notes are readily apparent, lending a pleasant sharp woody note to the aroma. This seems to enhance the tropical fruit hops notes significantly more, as the resinous character is reduced but the mango, pineapple, passionfruit components are bigger.

T: The flavor is less rounded for the oak aging but still very interesting and enjoyable with plenty of floral, citrus fruit hoppiness to go ahead with a thread of pine running through it all. The maltiness is even and not too sweet, less so than the base brew.

M: Slick and coating with medium carbonation and a woody aftertaste.

D: An interesting experiment, but I still like the original better as the flavors work well and the pine aspect has more muscle with more resinous notes than this brew. White Oak Jai Alai is still a really good beer.

Serving type: bottle

02-05-2011 05:20:45 | More by argock

TheSevenDuffs

Ontario (Canada)

4.28/5  rDev +2.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

Bottle dated SEPT2011 poured in to Founder's Tulip glass.

A - Medium slightly cloudy orange/amber colour, translucent, with small amount of white head.

S - The oak is noticeable up front with massive fresh tropical fruit aromas of mango, peach and passion fruit. A balancing sweet caramel and toffee backbone is also present.

T - The oak hits the tongue first followed by a sweet caramel malt backbone and a subtle hop bitterness shows up in the finish and lingers slightly. Some citrus and tropical fruit notes are evident as well, mostly show up in the finish. Some mango notes really shine.

M - Medium body; light to moderate carbonation. The hop oils stick nicely to the tongue.

O - A little less oak would be nice but still an excellent beer.

Serving type: bottle

11-19-2011 18:19:06 | More by TheSevenDuffs

claspada

New Jersey

4.03/5  rDev -3.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Aromas begin with a nice balance of pine, citrus and grapefruit. Then you get the nice subtle woodiness from the oak, but it much lighter than you would expect from an oaked IPA, maybe white oak is lighter in char and adds a more subtle aroma, either way, it's nice. Subtle sweet maltiness throughout.
The tastes begin nice and balanced but quite complex with sweet maltiness immediately joined by a nice grapefruit and pine and citrus bitterness/flavor profile. The nice sublte woody earthy flavors join the party as well only adding to the enjoyment here. Oaked IPAs are a rare and hard style to make but Cigar City has it on lock-down.
Mouthfeel is medium to full with ample carbonation. The finish is mildly sticky from the ample dry-hopping, really way too drinkable of a beer for how complex the flavor profile is. Overall this is stupendous, just as good as I remember when I was first wowed with this beer on draft last year. Glad it made it to bottles and to luekensliquors.com so I was able to order a boat ton of this gem. Highly recommended.

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2011 00:02:35 | More by claspada

ktrillionaire

Florida

4.95/5  rDev +18.1%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

The beer has been tweaked since my initial review. The oak has been dialed back a bit, and the result is nothing short of phenomenal. I already expect a lot from CCB, but they have exceeded all that with this offering.

The change is in the aroma, taste, and feel, and thereby drinkability. The appearance remains the same.

The nose is so complex; notes of coconut, anise, boozy barrel, vanilla and absolute fabulousness emanate prodigiously. To be clear, this is not barrel-aged, nor touched by any spirit liquor, but many of its characteristics mimic fine BA traits.

The feel is velvety-rich and ultra-luxurious. So nice.

The taste is fantastic; the base IPA has been beautifully transformed resulting in strong vanilla, coconut and anise flavors. I am thinking of Sambuca, buttery Coconut Rum, vanilla Cognac- and Bourbon-like impressions; I am also strangely reminded of Nemesis 2009 and Backwoods Bastard, like this is their flavor-cousin. And yet there is still a very aggressive bitterness that should be expected from an IPA; the total balance of the brew is outstanding.

CCB! You've done it again!!!

Serving type: growler

07-01-2010 19:21:25 | More by ktrillionaire

rye726

Colorado

3.73/5  rDev -11%
look: 5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Always good to see beers aged on wood. They are the best!

Beautiful pour, orangish tan with a perfect beige head. Lace down the glass!

Nose has candy malts, bitter hops and oak.

Taste has nice piney hops up front and through the finish. Well balanced by malts and wood.

Medium body well carbonated. Nice IPA.

Serving type: bottle

11-20-2010 01:40:24 | More by rye726

HuskyinPDX

Washington

4.1/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Taken from notes on 3.30.11

12oz bottle poured in a pint glass.

A - Pours a cloudy dark orange with a thick creamy head. Good lacing left on the glass.

S - The wood is very strong here, boozy, citrus, and slightly floral.

T - A burnt-like citrus, wood flavor.

D - Very smooth and silky.

Serving type: bottle

06-01-2011 23:57:18 | More by HuskyinPDX

harrymel

Washington

3.43/5  rDev -18.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3.5

Bottled 14JUL11

A: pours an apricot ale with a full finger of maple foam which falls slowly to a quilt of the same. Sheets of lace. Slightly hazy.

S: So, I've heard there are coconut/pina colada notes in this beer. Never believed it....Turns out, they were right. Nice woody character with pineapple and a slight follow through of dry coconut shavings. Pretty cool.

T: Sweet and dry. Some citrus and more sharp pineapple with a resiny midsection and a dry biscuity malt profile lends itself well to the dominant bitterness.

M: Medium bodied with hi carbonation and a dry finish. Would like a bit of a slick on the palate to work with here.

O: A good beer, but the more I drink this, the more I think I prefer the O.G. in this unit. I like how the oak has added the unusual suspect of coconut and dry woodiness (which I found less so in the original). The mouthfeel is off on this for me: needs lower carb and something to resonate the finish off.

Serving type: bottle

09-20-2011 15:52:00 | More by harrymel

Sean9689

Illinois

3.78/5  rDev -9.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

12oz bottle, thanks to whoever sent this to me as an extra. Poured into imperial nonic.

A - Pours a mirky/hazy orange color, white head, thin ring, wisps on top, spotty lacing.

S - Oak, citrus, hoppy bitterness, some malty sweetness. Not exactly sure how old this is, but the hops are pretty faint while the oak takes a front seat.

T - Oak, light hoppy bite, tropical notes, citrus peel. The oak, hops, and sweetness are really nice and smooth. Nothing is too over-the-top, although the oak is very easy to pick out.

M - Light, good carbonation, oily semi-dry finish.

O - This is really the first oak-aged IPA I've ever had. I really like the oak characteristic that this beer has. It doesn't hurt the hops or tropical notes, which surprises me. Really nice for something different and I would drink again but not a session IPA by any means.

Serving type: bottle

10-11-2011 23:31:38 | More by Sean9689

armock

New York

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

Thanks to sendsilk for hooking this bottle up in a trade.

A - Poured a copper color with an off white head that leaves lacing behind

S - Has a sweet nose with vanilla and oak the hops are light for an IPA

T - Like the nose starts off sweet and oaky with vanilla finishes with some hop flavor

M - This beer has a fuller body with medium carbonation to it

O - I'm enjoying this one quite a bit I really like the flavors the oak has added to this beer very easy to drink worth getting if you ever have the chance

Serving type: bottle

08-06-2011 00:06:24 | More by armock

cosmicevan

New York

4.3/5  rDev +2.6%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Shared a few bottles with speedwayjim, capra12, billyshears. Thanks to billyshears for sharing!!!

Opened this one side-by-side with regular jai alai to see what the white oak did to the brew and hot dog! does that white oak add a LOT! Visually, was the same, but when it comes to the nose I can sniff that beer all night. The white oak adds a huge amount of vanilla and oak. Taste also gets a wallop from the white oak...this one was WAY sweeter than the un-white oaked and obviously the oak flavors are pretty dominant. Aside from the smell, I would rather have the original Jai Alai, but this was a welcome treat and the side-by-side sampling was fun.

Serving type: bottle

01-06-2011 18:28:06 | More by cosmicevan

rudzud

Massachusetts

4.41/5  rDev +5.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5

Received as an extra in a trade and poured into my Duvel tulip.

A - Bottle was, oddly enough, a slow gusher. Thanks to this sediment was stirred up and so the brew, while a nice hazy orange is just full of sediment and yeast on the bottom. Nice half a finger head that just doesnt quit and leaves light side lacing. Quite nice head retention.

S - Wow, very un IPA like. Lots of fruit...was this new oak? Light pear and white grape skins. Light citrus hops, musty (almost like a wild). Pretty unique smelling.

T - Again, fun. Get lots of white grape skin/tanins, light malt sweetness and a lightly bitter hop finish. Lots of lingering oak on the finish along with hints of vanilla. Faint grape and pear juice on the finish as well.

M - Mouthfeel boarders on aggressively carbonated yet somehow smooth finish.

O - So yeah, I really, REALLY like barrel aged IPAs. The fun notes they bring to the table definitely freshens up the pallet. I dig it.

Serving type: bottle

03-21-2013 01:31:12 | More by rudzud

Chaney

District of Columbia

4.63/5  rDev +10.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

I had a sample of this on tap at the brewery, but I'm reviewing the bottled version.

A: Splotchy, cloudy orange, with a nice finger or so head that continued to stick to the glass even as I siphoned down the liquid.

S: Weird how the oak makes this more bitter, fruity, and colorful than the actual based beer. Mango, orange, and vanilla.

T: Citrus Creamcicle! Honestly, that is the absolute best way to describe this one. I would say that overall it is more on the fruit (candy) side than the hop bitter one.

M: I got a mild, yet divine booze warming on the end, but overall, this was creamy and smooth. The sugar was tempered by the oak, and the carbonation was low to moderate.

O: Pretty awesome stuff. Cigar City makes some of the best non-bitter IPAs on the market.

Serving type: bottle

07-15-2011 23:58:23 | More by Chaney

merc7186

New York

3.98/5  rDev -5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

I had this beer poured from a 12oz bottle into a pint glass.

A: Burnt Orange Hue, Passes Some Light, White Head, Great Lacing

S: Oranges, Pineapple, Malty, Mild Resin

T: Pineapple, Malty, Bready, Resin, Mild Vanilla

M: Great Carbonation, Medium Bodied, Dry, Mildly Bitter

Overall, a great version of a great IPA...recommend pairing both the regular and white oak version together.

Serving type: bottle

03-16-2012 19:34:40 | More by merc7186

Florida9

Illinois

4.22/5  rDev +0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A: Very hazy deep orange amber in color. Forms a nice looking, stable, almost light tan colored head that leaves some moderate lacing.

S: Citrus mixed with oak and vanilla. Reminiscent of lemon meringue pie.

T: Lightly sweet pale malt on the front end that moves to a moderate bitterness with flavors of vanilla, oak, and pine. Lots of wood and a surprising amount of vanilla as well.

M: Medium in body with appropriate carbonation. A bit prickly as well.

O: Regular Jai Alai was a deeply uninspiring beer, but this one, like the Humidor variant, is a vast improvement over the original. One wouldn't expect the odd blend of flavors to work so well, but this beer manages to do so.

Serving type: bottle

03-30-2011 01:35:42 | More by Florida9

xnicknj

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into snifter - thanks to sendsilk

Pours a hazed dark burnt orange color with some bright ruby hues. A layer of white head slowly dissipates into a solid layer of filmy retention, leaving plenty of spotty lacing behind.

Seems pretty malt forward in the nose, with caramel, bread crust, and sweetness. Some oak and earthyness, hints of dark fruit and citrus hops.

Juicy and citrusy up front with bitterness and fruit flavor. A decent hop profile, but plenty of malty base to balance it out with a hint of sweetness. Earthy oak and slight tannins, caramel and bread with some burnt sugar. Grapefruit pith towards the finish, which is lingering and dry.

Medium body, mild carbonation, creamy and silky smooth on the tongue, especially for the style. A nice oak aged IPA which adds something to the original base beer, which I'm a huge fan of.

Serving type: bottle

07-09-2011 03:06:56 | More by xnicknj

AgentMunky

Alabama

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

Poured from a 12 ounce bottle into a brandy snifter.

A: Hazy-clear with some carbonation, short-lived head, and sticky lace.

S: Fruit. Pear? White grapes? Very interesting. Hints of what smells suspiciously like wild yeast. Very soft. No hops (maybe a musky earthiness?).

T: Initially quite sweet. The (white) grape juice still is most evident. Too sweet, with very little hops. Almost certainly not an IPA, unless it's very old (no date stamp). Especially on the aftertaste, the oak aging becomes apparent. Obvious vanilla, subtle tannins, and funky yeast.

M: Very smooth and understated.

O: Weird but good. Really good. Recommended, but probably would not have again over the normal Jai Alai.

Serving type: bottle

02-19-2013 08:37:04 | More by AgentMunky

chinchill

South Carolina

3.44/5  rDev -17.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.25

2012 bottle served in a pint glass.
The aroma is dominated by fruity hops, with notes of tangerine and orange, as well as oak. The oak becomes even more prominent in the flavor. Too much oak IMO. At least the oak aging has the benefit of creating a very smooth feel in this medium-bodied IPA. Moderately bitter but has an overly earthy/woody aftertaste.

O: quite woody IPA. I much prefer the regular Jai Alai.

Serving type: bottle

01-19-2013 02:56:58 | More by chinchill

EgadBananas

Louisiana

3.85/5  rDev -8.1%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Many thanks to donttazemebro for this!

Pours a hazy, dark orange juice color. White slightly fizzy finger of head. Nice lace and dissipation. Aroma is fairly muted for an IPA. There are some slight tinges of tropical fruits, but more oak, wood and vanilla is present. While not atypical, it's pleasant. Good bit of sharp bitterness asserts it's IPA classification. Light notes of citrus and sweet tropical fruits, a big vanilla/wood note. Predominant creaminess to the mouthfeel, medium in body. As a whole, an interesting and undeniably tasty brew. Very glad to try it.

Serving type: bottle

11-11-2011 03:17:25 | More by EgadBananas

jsanford

Georgia

4.1/5  rDev -2.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

12oz bottle poured into a CC snifter.

A - Pours a hazy copper with a luscious white head that recedes to a chunky haze while leaving streaky lacing clinging to the glass.
S - Spicy grapefruit hops, sweet coconut, and fresh-cut oak exist in a very nice balance. Usually I find Cigar City's IPAs to be too sweet, but I feel the oak-aging may tone it down a bit. Here's hoping...
T - Yeah, really nice and balanced, despite the big flavors. Notes of pungent grapefruit, pine resin, coconut, and pineapple mix well with the sweet caramel malt backbone and the subtle vanilla from the oak. Very well done, surprisingly complex.
M - Slightly oily, with a medium-full body and lowish carbonation. This is definitely meant to be a slow sipper, and as it warms more of the coconut and vanilla start to come out.
O - A great take on Jai Alai, one that stands head and shoulders over the base beer. This is a beer that requires a bit of time to understand, really make sure you let it open up a bit.

Serving type: bottle

05-28-2011 04:34:56 | More by jsanford

kbutler1

Minnesota

4.18/5  rDev -0.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle. Pours a slightly hazed copper amber orange color with a very small bubbled tight antique white head. The aroma is very different than most IPA's I have ever smelled with notes of pineapple, coconut, mango, and some citrus. The oak must really have an effect on the aroma. Medium mouthfeel with a nice amojnt of carbonation. The taste is sweet tropical fruit flavor followed by a nice hop bitterness in the end that lingers on for a while. Nice lace left on the glass as I drink this. The oak shows through in the beginning as well. It still amazes me all the things CCB does with a great base beer as the White Oak version is great!

Serving type: bottle

12-06-2010 21:54:23 | More by kbutler1

kingcrowing

Vermont

4.25/5  rDev +1.4%
look: 4 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

On tap poured into a wine glass.

Pours a hazy amber to light amber with a huge creamy off white head that's thick & pillowy. Nose is all tropical fruit, mango and others, it's sweet and fresh.

Taste is super well balanced - hoppy fresh and sweet, there a nice creamy maltiness as well. Really creamy and thick. Delicious.

Serving type: on-tap

12-31-2010 18:37:40 | More by kingcrowing

CuriousMonk

Virginia

3.83/5  rDev -8.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Poured from 12oz bottle into a tulip glass. Goldish orange pour that left a big gushing and sticky white head with very nice lacing throughout. Nose is buttery citrus, most notably tangerine and pineapple and perhaps coconut. The taste is a creamy oak, vanilla, some coconut, hops, and moderate pine. The mouthfeel was much improved when compared to the regular Jai Alai IPA. Softer and not as bitter on the tongue. This beer is obviously intended to be savored slowly to appreciate the subtle differences and over the top oakiness. Medium-bodied with a light oily finish. Finishes clean with a dank budder aftertaste in the mouth. Overall, a nice oaky/vanilla IPA from Cigar City.

Serving type: bottle

05-20-2011 01:36:22 | More by CuriousMonk

MbpBugeye

Ohio

4.15/5  rDev -1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

This was the beer that got me most excited in a birthday box from Mikesgroove. Now I can call myself a real member of this site, having gotten beer from Mikesgroove.

A- Damn, they dont get too much better looking than this. Its a glowing burnt orange with an ever so light haze. The head is absolutely towering. One of the kinds of heads that will stick out above the rim of the glass and taunt you. It makes you wait to finish pouring and then wait some more to drink it. Lacing? There must be a better word for it than lacing.

S- This is a whole new beast. Very, very, very woody. If you thought Palo Santo was the most woodsy, check yo head. Fresh wood pulp, sap, pine bough, juniper berries. Its very intense and woodsy. Like the drippings from a wood chipper.

T- This tastes as much like a national park as it smells. The oak brings deciduous wood flavors and the hops bring the coniferous. There is pine sap, wood pulp, the moisture from green saplings. Hops also carry a citrus profile, mostly of sweet nectarine. This stuff is very, very sweet. There is no bitterness at the end and the finish feels almost empty.

M- The carbonation is quite high. Huh, who would have guessed a beer with meringue for a head had some carbonation? Its very dry with a full body.

D- I liked this stuff very much but Im left questioning some things. I certainly wouldnt be drinking this stuff in succession like other IPAs, but I would like having it on hand.

Serving type: bottle

12-20-2010 03:33:50 | More by MbpBugeye

JoEBoBpr

Missouri

4.13/5  rDev -1.4%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Cigar City Brewing Jai Alai – White Oak
Poured into a Sam Adams perfect pint glass.

A – Pours a gorgeous strong perfect orange color with some nice haze and a slight golden outline. There is a nice .25 inch head that is nice and white and quite dense. It has some medium retention. (4.5)

S – Flowery aromas with some slight woody and grassy notes tomorrow. Nice tropical fruit notes that are a bit balanced with the wood spice. Some mango and some peach notes are present. (4.0)

T & M – Nice woody notes to start with some slight coconut flavors present. Mango notes and some peach as well as some nice grassy and citrus notes. The wood notes add an interesting balance to the traditional hop juicy character. There is a nice dry hoppy and bitter finish but that is also infused with a dry and fresh wood notes. The coconut flavor is really nice on this beer and not to overpowering. There are some nice bready notes in the background to this beer but obviously this is a hop heavy beer. (4.0) (4.0)

O – This beer is quite delicious and interesting. I’m interested to try the base beer. (4.5)

Serving type: bottle

05-27-2011 22:50:15 | More by JoEBoBpr