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Florida Cracker
Cigar City Brewing
- From:
- Cigar City Brewing
- Florida, United States
- Style:
- Witbier
- ABV:
- 5.5%
- Score:
- 84
- Avg:
- 3.71 | pDev: 11.59%
- Reviews:
- 321
- Ratings:
- Status:
- Retired
- Rated:
- May 05, 2023
- Added:
- May 19, 2011
- Wants:
- 50
- Gots:
- 427
The Cracker Cowboys of Florida were colonial-era settlers, often of Scots-Irish descent, who arrived in Florida when Spain traded their territory of La Florida to the English. The term Cracker in Florida usage relates to the whip these "cow hunters" used to herd cattle in Florida's Palmetto Prairies. Called Quaqueros by the Spanish, these hardy and hard working Cracker Cowboys helped to shape the history of Florida, the nation’s oldest cattle raising state. We brew Florida Cracker White Ale with unmalted wheat, orange peel and coriander and then ferment it with a Belgian yeast strain to give it a spicy and dry finish. Perfect for a warm day on the Palmetto Prairie.
18 IBU
18 IBU
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by Brenden:
Reviewed by Brenden from Ohio
3.82/5 rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
3.82/5 rDev +3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
One of 6 samples at the tasting room 1/29/14
Pale yellow with a heavy cloudiness in a body that ends up being translucent, this beers starts off as advertised. There is a certain golden brightness shining through, particularly in the light but to a degree without it. Carbonation bubbles softly and slowly until the glass is empty, and it helps to keep up a well-formed pure white head that compacts itself to a full finger and develops densely, with lots of rocky cragginess and strength to keep up very well. Lacing is also strong, patching consistent well down the glass.
Along with lots of citrus in the nose, I do get some dry malts but not quite as dry as I expect. Lots of zest in particular, especially that of orange, give way to floral notes and a lightly musty earthiness. The yeast is strong and gets stronger, imparting a sort of "wheatiness" and getting spicier even as the coriander shows up.
The flavor brings it together, and this is a good attempt at a tough, overlooked style. Lemon and orange play off each other rather than vying for dominance, zest and slight pith offsetting a creamier sweetness (the vanilla note advertised, I presume). Wheat, not entirely crackery and dry but a little doughier as well, ease the gentle spices but also give a foundation for them to rest on. It's got a slight acidity, definitely tasted at the end, but the way it comes out with the earth and must makes it all that much easier on the palate.
The acidity does hurt the mouthfeel. The body's too light (appropriate, but not enough to hold up to the cutting feel) and carbonation too brisk and brief. It ends too soon, so that the finish is flat, although it does last to that point. The finish isn't as clean as it could be, either. The feel is where it falls short of great Belgians, though it's a very good beer in its totality.
Feb 10, 2014Pale yellow with a heavy cloudiness in a body that ends up being translucent, this beers starts off as advertised. There is a certain golden brightness shining through, particularly in the light but to a degree without it. Carbonation bubbles softly and slowly until the glass is empty, and it helps to keep up a well-formed pure white head that compacts itself to a full finger and develops densely, with lots of rocky cragginess and strength to keep up very well. Lacing is also strong, patching consistent well down the glass.
Along with lots of citrus in the nose, I do get some dry malts but not quite as dry as I expect. Lots of zest in particular, especially that of orange, give way to floral notes and a lightly musty earthiness. The yeast is strong and gets stronger, imparting a sort of "wheatiness" and getting spicier even as the coriander shows up.
The flavor brings it together, and this is a good attempt at a tough, overlooked style. Lemon and orange play off each other rather than vying for dominance, zest and slight pith offsetting a creamier sweetness (the vanilla note advertised, I presume). Wheat, not entirely crackery and dry but a little doughier as well, ease the gentle spices but also give a foundation for them to rest on. It's got a slight acidity, definitely tasted at the end, but the way it comes out with the earth and must makes it all that much easier on the palate.
The acidity does hurt the mouthfeel. The body's too light (appropriate, but not enough to hold up to the cutting feel) and carbonation too brisk and brief. It ends too soon, so that the finish is flat, although it does last to that point. The finish isn't as clean as it could be, either. The feel is where it falls short of great Belgians, though it's a very good beer in its totality.
More User Ratings:
Reviewed by cyclonece09 from Wisconsin
3.79/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
3.79/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
Poured from a can into a pint glass. Pours cloudy yellow orange with a small white head. Smells of orange and banana with wheat, nice combination. Tastes of wheat with banana and citrus notes. Beer is light bodied and easy drinking, good carbonation. Overall, a good beer.
Dec 03, 2022Reviewed by swampyhead
4.08/5 rDev +10%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
4.08/5 rDev +10%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
Drank this on tap at Cigar City Brewing in Tampa, Florida and it has since become one of my favorite beers. The coriander smell and taste come through immediately and give the beer a kind of spice that settles into a taste of herbs and vanilla almost. Great mouthfeel that feels like an actual beer and not too thin or heavy. High enough ABV to get the job done without the inaccessibility of stronger, heavier beers. I've recommended it to many and they have all enjoyed it.
Aug 31, 2021Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway
3.48/5 rDev -6.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.48/5 rDev -6.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
355 ml can at Lompa Friluft, Oslo. ABV is 5.0%. Hazy pale golden colour, moderate white head. Strong aroma and flavour of Belgian saison yeast, curacao orange peel and coriander. Fizzy mouthfeel. A good witbier, but no better than the Belgian originals, so it seems rather superfluous to import it to Europe.
May 17, 2021Reviewed by rodbeermunch from Nevada
3.64/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
3.64/5 rDev -1.9%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.75
Pours a hazy yellow color, funny to think back a decade or two to envision that some ipas would end up looking like witbiers, but I guess like so many things, this is "progress" (air quotes).
Anyways, 2/3" white head on top, above average retention. The aroma is nice, it checks all the requisite boxes for a witbier: spice rack (coriander), yeast and wheat. And hey, why not throw in some orange peel bc we know that brewery in Colorado really hit the mark financially with that little accoutrement.
Taste is good, and this isn't really a style I clamor for. Hits the bit wheat note, coriander in the right proportion, mild hit of citric bitterness, I mean, this really does hit what it was going for here. Its relatively light in body but full in flavor.
I really dug the variety 12 pack that was only $18. Every beer in it was worth $1.50 easily. I really should focus on these brands more than the $5+ a can ones. Anyways, would totally recommend this to wit fans.
Apr 20, 2021Anyways, 2/3" white head on top, above average retention. The aroma is nice, it checks all the requisite boxes for a witbier: spice rack (coriander), yeast and wheat. And hey, why not throw in some orange peel bc we know that brewery in Colorado really hit the mark financially with that little accoutrement.
Taste is good, and this isn't really a style I clamor for. Hits the bit wheat note, coriander in the right proportion, mild hit of citric bitterness, I mean, this really does hit what it was going for here. Its relatively light in body but full in flavor.
I really dug the variety 12 pack that was only $18. Every beer in it was worth $1.50 easily. I really should focus on these brands more than the $5+ a can ones. Anyways, would totally recommend this to wit fans.
Reviewed by 1009 from Massachusetts
3.57/5 rDev -3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.57/5 rDev -3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
A refreshing witbier that displays a beautiful slightly hazy straw color with a slight white head that dissipates to a thin layer. Never really liked the smell of wheat beers, honestly kind of gives me a headache, but the taste is a different story. Notes of orange, tropical fruit are initially present, finishing with a biscuit like taste. A crisp and smooth flowing beer that would be excellent to quench your thirst on a warm day.
Apr 12, 2021Reviewed by leaddog from Canada (AB)
4.13/5 rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.13/5 rDev +11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Appearance - Pours a hazy straw with three fingers of frothy white head.
Smell - belgian yeast, orange peel, coriander, fruity esters (banana, clove, pepper), hint of lemon, spicy earthy and floral hops, biscuity malts.
Taste - belgian yeast, orange peel, and coriander upfront. The fruity esters (banana, clove, pepper). and lemon come through next. The spicy earthy and floral hops and biscuity malts finish off the brew.
Mouthfeel - Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Finishes crisp with all ingredients lingering.
Overall - A well crafted witbier that delivers on both flavour and drinkability. A nice patio brew. A nice find here in Cowtown!
Mar 14, 2021Smell - belgian yeast, orange peel, coriander, fruity esters (banana, clove, pepper), hint of lemon, spicy earthy and floral hops, biscuity malts.
Taste - belgian yeast, orange peel, and coriander upfront. The fruity esters (banana, clove, pepper). and lemon come through next. The spicy earthy and floral hops and biscuity malts finish off the brew.
Mouthfeel - Medium bodied with moderate carbonation. Finishes crisp with all ingredients lingering.
Overall - A well crafted witbier that delivers on both flavour and drinkability. A nice patio brew. A nice find here in Cowtown!
Reviewed by thebrood1987 from California
4.09/5 rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
4.09/5 rDev +10.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4
Looks very refreshing and smells like a crisp Belgian wit. Crisp up front with a sweet and smooth taste finishing with the classic belgian yeast. Detecting some orange notes that help balance the yeast taste. My favorite part of this beer though is the sweet malty taste and drinkability. Definitely refreshing!
Mar 11, 2021
Florida Cracker from Cigar City Brewing
Beer rating:
84 out of
100 with
1799 ratings
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