Jai Alai IPA
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Cigar City Jai Alai IPA
Jai Alai IPA
Brewed by:
Cigar City Brewing
Tampa, Florida, USA
American IPA
7.50% ABV
Commercial Description:
Jai Alai, a game native to the Basque region of Spain, is
played on a court called a fronton. Jai Alai players attempt to catch a ball
using a curved mitt whilst the ball travels at speeds up to 188mph! Proving
they have a sense of humor the Spanish dubbed this game, with its ball
traveling at racecar speeds, “the merry game.” Tampa
was once home to a bustling Jai Alai fronton but sadly all that remains of Jai
Alai in the Tampa
Bay area is this India
Pale Ale that we brew in tribute to the merry game. The India Pale Ale style of
beer has its roots in the ales sent from England
to thirsty British troops in India
during the 18th century. Pair Jai Alai India Pale Ale with Beef Empanadas,
Deviled Crabs and other spicy dishes.
(RateBeer.com.com)
General Pricing:
12oz bottle, ~$10.00
6 pack
Posting Note:
This review was
done on 4-18-2012 put not posted until 5-22-2012.
Background:
My friend Gonzalo was in Florida visiting relatives over the Christmas
Holidays and brought me back a few local beers. It’s taken me a while to get to
them. At this point I am just about done.
Review:
The beer pours a golden copper with orange hues and a white
to off white head.
The nose is nice with sweet pale malt aromas along with an
interesting complex floral and citrus hop aromas.
The experience starts out with a touch of pale malt
sweetness up front on the tip of the tongue. That is immediately followed by a
tingling effervescence over the tongue. There is a building hop robustness that
builds towards the back-end. There is a sizable hesitation at the top of the
swallow. The finish is pretty intense with some pale malt flavors but mostly
all hops. The hops are complex with citrus, pine and grapefruit notes. The
final aftertaste is also all hops.
Well for an American IPA this is about as good as it gets.
Although for me this is pretty one sided having no malt balance.
As I continue to drink this beer it seems to be getting
better or I’m just getting use to the hops. At any rate I am enjoying this more
now that it’s warmed and opened up a little.
I’m picking up more malt flavors and noticing the complexity
of the hops. At first it was just in your face hops on the finish. It has
mellowed some with temperature.
I guess I have to go for a higher grade than what I enjoyed
it at. This is part of my dilemma when reviewing a beer that is good in style
but not quite the style that I enjoy.
B+ | Cigar
City is a very good
American IPA that any hop head will certainly enjoy with it’s over abundance
and complex hop bitterness on the finish. This one is pretty much all hops so
don’t expect balanced ale.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment