Hey there beer drinker, you say you love your Cigar City Jai Alai India Pale Ale, but do you know what the name really means? I can tell you firsthand, however, about the excitement of jai alai, because as fate would have it, my old home state of Rhode Island was once the only state besides Florida to have a jai alai fronton. Sadly, the sport is no longer practiced in the Ocean State, which is a shame, because I always enjoyed going to Newport to watch this fast paced game of skill. And bet on it, of course.
Anyway, jai alai is certainly not game for the timid, and the same could be said of Cigar City Jai Ali India Pale Ale. It's bursting with fresh juicy hop aroma and flavor, and may overwhelm the plates of some. Mostly, though, hopheads like me will adore it.
Jai Alai India Pale Ale is currently a highly sought after beer, but luckily it is available here in Georgia. My days of traveling far and wide to hunt down rare beers are over, not because I don't love beer as much as I once did, but because there are just so many wonderful brews out there I don't see the need. As Sherlock's in Kennesaw stocks this beer, however, I picked up a six-pack.
Jai Alai India Pale Ale has an alcohol content of 7.5% by volume and 70 IBUs. I can see why this beer has such hype surrounding it, but there are lots of other wonderful IPAs out there at a better price. Still, I will absolutely buy this one again: it's just too good not to. Half star demerit for the price, but still a solid 4.5 with that.
By the way, the can specifically states 'Drink Fresh! Do Not Age!', so the contrarian in me has me doing just that. While this review was of a can only a few months old, I have some stashed to see how it develops over time. Further details to come on that.
Update November 8th, 2015: I'm back! And while I don't have any aged Jai Alai to tell you about, I do have another tale about a fresh sample. This time I'm drinking about as fresh as you can, a draft mug of Jai Alai IPA at Taco Mac. Draft Jai Alai speaks to the growing availability of Cigar City beers here in Georgia, and while I only see about 4 different styles from them, they're a lot easier to find these days. Draft Jai Alai is a thing of beauty, rich with malt and bursting with fresh juicy citrus flavor. It's a great beer to enjoy on a Sunday of football, and priced lower than I expected at $6.50 for a full mug pour.
Update January 4th, 2026: Has it really been over ten years since I have checked back in here with Jai Alai IPA? It has, though I have had more than a few of them in that time. Jai Alai IPA has become truly ubiquitous-a very good thing, that. Since my last update I have enjoyed it on tap at Harrah's Valley River casino, Harrah's Cherokee Casino, Taco Mac, The Daily Draft in Woodstock, Georgia and of course, at home in cans. The latest way was in a 19.2 ounce can I picked up at Total Wine for $3.29, a bargain, that. They also sell it for $10.99 a six-pack and $19.99 for a 12-pack; on tap I paid $7.51 for 23-ounces at Taco Mac for draft. These prices are lower than they were when the beer first came out.
About Cigar CityBrewery
Founded in 2009, Cigar City Brewing was born out of a desire to bring the unique culture, history, and cuisine of Tampa to an international audience. Always looking to expand the palate of flavors, Cigar City Brewing began introducing beers with unique tropical inspiration and culinary lineage.
Cigar City Jai Alai IPA in a Cigar City Brewing Glass
Tasting Notes
Cigar City Jai Alai India Pale Ale pours to a bright orange color with a thick creamy head formation and a vibrant zesty orange peel nose. A thick layer of Brussels Lace forms on the sides of my glass. Taking a sip, the beer has thick chewy caramel malts up front (I like that!), then the zesty, citrusy attack begins. This beer is really like a glass of hoppy orange juice, you really get the bright, zesty, juicy flavors of fresh oranges, bitter orange peels and then some familiar hop bitterness and herbal aroma at the last. Jai Ali IPA really is all about the zesty orange hop character, but the supporting malt backbone is admirable, too.
Value & Verdict
It was overpriced in my opinion at $11.99 for a six-pack of cans when I first reviewed it, and that did limit how often I picked it up. As of January of 2026, Total Wine sells it for $10.99 a six-pack and $19.99 for a 12-pack; on tap I paid $7.51 for 23-ounces at Taco Mac for draft. These prices are lower than they were when the beer first came out.
