This is the flagship beer for Cigar City Brewing Company in Tampa Florida. Jai Alai IPA (pronounced "high-lie") pushes the boundaries of an American IPA with almost enough hops to push it into the Double ( or Imperial) IPA category. However when you try it you'll notice that even though this is a hop monster its also beautifully balanced with a caramel sweetness that makes this one of the best IPA's I've had the opportunity to try. The hop profile is professionally choreographed with flavors of citrus and piney bitterness that has fruity highlights of peaches and apricots. This is proof that the brew geeks over at CCB know how to make some pretty decent suds. If you haven't tried this, or any CCB beer for that matter, don't delay any longer. Get out there and try some of the best craft beer America has to offer. Cheers! Read More »
Author Archives: Scott
Old Thumper ESA
This is a special beer as it isn't originally an American one. The story of this beer starts in Ringwood England at the Ringwood Brewery where it stands as their flagship beer. Lucky for us colonials Shipyard Brewery's brewmaster Alan Pugsley worked at the Ringwood Brewery and tutored under their brewmaster who allowed him to take this recipe to America and be brewed solely under the Shipyard name. So what we are tasting isn't just another great Shipyard beer but a great European beer that no other brewery can offer. But what makes this beer so special isn't it's history but the special Ringwood yeast strain that is used. This yeast comes from the town of the same name that imbues a unique buttery (diacetyl) flavor which gives beer a rich, buttery smooth palate. So if you like ringwood beers then you must go out and try this one. It's a rich, sweet, medium bodied, buttery yet bitter beer that is balanced extremely well. I highly recommend. Cheers! Read More »
Episode 04 – St Patty’s Day Special
This is the fourth episode of The Beer Critic TV. On this special episode we pay tribute to some American craft Irish style beer. We have Rogue Irish Style Lager, Hooker Irish Red and Harpoon Irish Red. We hope you have as much fun watching this as we had making it. Sláinte and Happy Saint Patrick's Day! Read More »
Anchor Bock Beer
This was quite an interesting review as site and smell aspects of this review were some of the best I've done, yet the flavor didn't match up. Anchor is no slouch when it comes to making some incredibly flavorful beer, however I think more of a balance could be struck with this Bock style beer. Read More »
Episode 03 – Helles Bocks
On this episode we review Krampus Ale by Southern Tier and Sierra Nevada's 30th Anniversary. Both are Helles Lagers and are at the very top of their game. We hope you enjoy the video. Cheers! Read More »