Jai Alai IPA
Cigar City Brewing

Jai Alai IPAJai Alai IPA
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From:
Cigar City Brewing
 
Florida, United States
Style:
American IPA
Ranked #49
ABV:
7.5%
Score:
95
Ranked #1,619
Avg:
4.27 | pDev: 9.37%
Reviews:
1,854
Ratings:
9,189
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 14, 2024
Added:
Dec 05, 2008
Wants:
  1,072
Gots:
  2,813
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 188 mph! Proving they have a sense of humor the Spanish dubbed this game, with its ball traveling at race car 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.

65 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Jeffo:
Photo of Jeffo
Reviewed by Jeffo from Netherlands

4.25/5  rDev -0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5
Got this at De Bierkoning in Amsterdam.

From a bottle into a snifter.

APPEARANCE: Pours a big, medium looking, off-white head with very good retention. Hazy tenne orange in color with higher levels of carbonation evident. Head is very persistent, but eventually fades to a large foam cap that sticks around forever. Head finally recedes to a good cap and coats the glass with lacing all the way down.

SMELL: Big, wonderful nose on this one. Pale malts, honeydew melon, grapefruit and citrus notes. Floral hops as well, but this one is a big, citrus bomb. Grapefruit, lemon and orange peel everywhere. Very bold and fruity.

TASTE: Pale malts and caramel up front with a citrus forward and bitter hop finish. Grapefruit and lemon with some bitter flower hop notes as well. Bold and persistent aftertaste is plenty bitter with citrus and flowery hops and a touch of melon sweetness to balance it out. Very nice and flavorful, though oddly enough, not quite as impressive as the nose. A little more up front would help, but this is so close to a 4.5.

PALATE: Medium body and medium carbonation. Very creamy on the palate, goes down smooth and finishes slightly dry. Very nice here as well.

OVERALL: This is really, really good. One of the better IPAs out there, and it throws a lot of flavor at you while keeping the ABV to a modest 7.5%. Could have the flavor profile of a double IPA in that regard. Another quality brew for Cigar City, this is definitely one I could drink regularly. Recommended.
Jan 17, 2012
More User Ratings:
 
 
Rated: 3.98 by Daniel_Mott from Sweden

Mar 14, 2024
Photo of SheepWBY
Rated by SheepWBY

3/5  rDev -29.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
industrial
Mar 08, 2024
Photo of moysauce
Rated by moysauce from Illinois

4/5  rDev -6.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Classic
Mar 06, 2024
 
Rated: 3.68 by averageninjaface from Alaska

Mar 03, 2024
 
Rated: 4.11 by skubas86 from Illinois

Mar 02, 2024
 
Rated: 4.44 by blueatari from Florida

Feb 11, 2024
Photo of GrumpyGas
Rated by GrumpyGas from Illinois

4.24/5  rDev -0.7%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Only 2 months old and still fruity, bitter, and refreshing. Too easy drinking for 7.5%.
Feb 10, 2024
 
Rated: 4.06 by Mickeyharris from Alabama

Feb 02, 2024
 
Rated: 4.29 by Plonk from Alabama

Jan 29, 2024
 
Rated: 4.5 by Nyoder

Jan 29, 2024
Photo of Jacob313
Rated by Jacob313 from Michigan

4.58/5  rDev +7.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Leaves large head with good lacing
Smells like oranges & tangerine
Tastes like a tangerine smoothie
Medium to heavy carbonation, feels nice & full
Jan 27, 2024
 
Rated: 5 by Zachboyd3334 from Indiana

Jan 19, 2024
 
Rated: 1.75 by SeanP99 from North Carolina

Jan 11, 2024
 
Rated: 3.51 by Maxxis from Illinois

Jan 09, 2024
 
Rated: 4.99 by cumbaby from Florida

Dec 21, 2023
Photo of Crazy4hazy
Reviewed by Crazy4hazy from Oregon

2.67/5  rDev -37.5%
look: 3 | smell: 2.25 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.75
This golden colored IPA was about all that was available at a pool side bar in Disney Animal Kingdom . I missed the many great IPA,s available in Oregon but this was better than bud and simular beers which are worse than drinking water. As the only ok beer available I would rank it as ok to not bad.
Dec 15, 2023
 
Rated: 4.85 by mtnav from Michigan

Dec 05, 2023
Jai Alai IPA from Cigar City Brewing
Beer rating: 95 out of 100 with 9189 ratings