Over the past decade or so, I’ve spent more time than I can count in the many bars, bottleshops, and taprooms where I’ve tasted literally thousands of different offerings from hundreds of breweries around the world devoted to pumping out every style imaginable.
I’m very guilty of falling victim to (and chasing) the hype that’s made it somewhat difficult for the brewing masterminds tasked with perfecting various combinations of malt, yeast, and hops to stand out in an impressively crowded pack if they’re not constantly dreaming up new beers while trying to cater to the ever-evolving tastes and preferences of consumers like myself who’ve reaped the benefits of the massive craft beer revolution that’s spawned some truly incredible liquid.
The scene has come a long way since I took the plunge over 10 years ago, and the rise in quality combined with the overwhelming number of options I’m typically presented with when browsing means it’s fairly rare for me to revisit many of the beers and breweries that served as my gateway into this magical world.
However, there are a few notable exceptions—none of which stick out more than Cigar City Jai Alai.
I was still in college when I picked up my first six-pack of Jai Alai, which I grabbed on a whim during a supply run after arriving in Florida for spring break. It turned out to be love at first sip, and that serendipitous purchase marked the start of a beautiful long-term relationship that’s still going strong to this day.
The perfectly balanced nature of the juicy IPA has kept me coming back again and again. Now, Cigar City has given me a few more reasons to keep doing exactly that thanks to the Jai Alai Mix Pack, which is home to the O.G. and the three unique spinoffs that all prove you can, in fact, mess with a great thing and get some equally impressive results.
I recently got the chance to make my way through the four different IPAs that are given equal representation in the 12-pack that has something for casual beer fans, diehard hopheads, and everyone in between.
Here’s what you can expect from every single one.
Jai Alai IPA
There’s not much more to say about Jai Alai that hasn’t already been said by the beer experts who’ve been singing its praises since Cigar City dropped the first batch in 2009 as well as the many beer drinkers who helped it become one the most popular IPAs in the country largely through word of mouth.
The 7.5% ABV brew is not only the embodiment of “deceptively smooth” but the encapsulation of the Sunshine State that Cigar City calls home, as the masterminds in Tampa Bay came up with a formula that’s bursting with citrus and tropical notes that just keep you coming back again and again.
Jai Alai Hazy DDH IPA
Much like Jai Alai strikes the perfect balance in the flavor department, Cigar City has largely resisted the urge to chase trends at the expense of its flagship offerings while still devoting plenty of time to dreaming up new and innovative options.
If you visit one of its taprooms in Tampa, you’ll have the chance to sample from a rotation of experimental and small-batch options they’re routinely pumping out—but you thankfully won’t need to make the trek down to Florida to snag this one.
The ubiquity of the hazy and hoppy double, triple, and even quadruple IPAs that became all the rage after taking the New England beer scene by storm has resulted in some drinkers pushing back against the style over the past few years. However, there’s a reason they became (and remain) as popular as they are: they tend to be absolutely delicious.
This beer is no exception, as all of the things you know and love about Jai Alai are amplified in its hazy relative; everything is kicked up a couple of notches thanks to the double-dry hopped technique that results in a wildly aromatic (and equally tasty) beer your palate will undoubtedly thank you for treating it to.
Jai Alai Spanish Cedar IPA
If you’re familiar with Cigar City, there’s a good chance you’re aware of the stellar reputation surrounding the White Oak variant of Jail Alai. Serving as a nod to the historical origins of India Pale Ale, it harnessed a unique brewing process that incorporated pieces of white oak, the wood most cooperages used for the barrels that stored the liquid cargo British merchants started exporting to India in the 18th century.
That approach—which involved placing spirals of the wood in what was essentially a beer whirlpool—inspired another beer that pays tribute to some slightly more local history, as there’s no better way to put the “Cigar” in “Cigar City” than using the Spanish cedar that is second-to-none when it comes to constructing humidors.
The addition of that particular wood imparts just a hint of spicy black pepper as well as a whiff of sandalwood on the nose, both of which serve as a fantastic complement to the signature Jai Alai taste.
Jai Low
The three beers we’ve talked about so far all clock in a 7.5% ABV, but as I alluded to while discussing the first one, you do need to exercise a bit of caution if you’re having more than one thanks to its extremely crushable nature.
That’s less of a concern with Jai Low, which is the perfect option if you’re looking to dial back the alcohol without taking a beating in the flavor department. The comparatively low 4% ABV is the unofficial benchmark for “Sessionable” beers and comes in very handy when you’re getting your drink on over an extended period of time.
The science of brewing means beers like Jai Low have an inherently lower ceiling when it comes to the intensity of the flavors its various ingredients can impart. As a result, you’re going to get a bit more maltiness than you’ll find in a regular Jai Alai, but the hops still do plenty of heavy lifting in a beer where an assortment of orange fruits (primarily tangerine, nectarine, and—yes—orange) come out in full force.
Based on Cigar City’s track record, it comes as no surprise that there’s not a bad beer in this entire bunch, so if you’re looking to bring some variety into your life or need to pick up an incredibly well-rounder crowd-pleaser for a party, it’s very, very hard to go wrong with the Jai Alai Mix Pack.