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Sarasota News Leader January 4, 2013 Page 67 70 percent of Cigar City���s output and can be considered its flagship beer. The ale ��� which has a hoppy, crisp taste with light bitterness that is balanced with citrus and tropical fruit flavors ��� is rated ���exceptional,��� scoring 91 out of 100 points, by Beeradvocate, an international authority and online social rating system of beer quality and taste. In addition to expanding statewide and nationally, Cigar City is giving fans who happen to live in or near Tampa the gift of an official brewpub: Opened recently in the Carrollwood neighborhood, it will be producing its own new beers and specializing in pairing them with particular dishes. Further into the future, locals and visitors will also have the opportunity to relax in the Florida sun at the In second place is the Maduro Brown Ale, a Biergarten that will be developed outside the more affordable choice that helped put Cigar newly expanded brew house. City on the map, thanks to its nod to Tampa���s Cuban cultural heritage; its smooth mix THE ROOTS OF THE SUCCESS of complex chocolate, espresso, caramel and toffee flavors; and its excellent pairing capa- Those who have tried Cigar City���s beers know bilities with heavy Cuban dishes such as ropa it is no secret why the brewery has gained such an ardent following so quickly. vieja. Finishing out the canned selections are two beers that fall within the same price range as Maduro: the Florida Cracker White Ale, named after the Colonial-era cattle ranchers of Florida who used to herd or hunt cattle using whips instead of lassos; and the Hotter than Helles Lager, named after the Munich Helles style of German beer to which it adheres. ���It���s their creativity,��� said Jacob Gibson ��� a Tampa resident of nine years who brews his own beer at home with his father and takes the Cigar City tour as often as he can. He spoke with The Sarasota News Leader on Dec. 22. ���You can come in here once a week and they���re opening weird kegs of random stuff, like they���re saying, ���Hey look what we���ve done! Those who are already familiar with the brew- We put Jai Alai in a chardonnay barrel, inside ery���s more exclusive selections will likely be of another barrel!������ excited to hear, according to Lorber, that the It is this determination to constantly produce company has tentative plans to can the Toco- something new and unique without fear of failbaga Red Ale, which is rated even more highly ure that has helped make Cigar City famous. than the Jai Alai on Beeradvocate; the White Oak Aged Jai Alai IPA, which, as its name sug- The brewery began developing this reputation gests, is brewed with spirals of white oak that less than six months after its opening by subimpart a unique flavor to the ale; the Mina- mitting its Humidor Series IPA ��� a Jai Alai ret Extra Special Bitter (ESB) ale; and Cuba- aged with spirals of Spanish cedar commonly no-Style Espresso Brown Ale, which is one of used to make cigar boxes ��� to the prestigious Cigar City���s more distinctly Cuban-influenced Great American Beer Festival in Colorado and beers. Lorber made sure to emphasize that walking away with a gold medal. Since then, these plans are still tentative, however, and the brewery has entered the competition every year and has consistently won medals: In people should not get too excited just yet.