Beer-Cigar pairing. Anyone been to one?

Cafe Society
1

This Wednesday the bar I sometimes visit is having a cigar/beer pairing event. Proceeds are going to a charity I support, as a thank you for something I did, so I’ll be attending.

But I smoke maybe a half dozen cigars a year; I’m obviously not an aficionado. I like an occasional Macanudo or Acid cigar, but it seems to take me forever to smoke one.

I’ve been to plenty of beer tastings, beer/food pairing dinners, and even a beer/donut pairing (now that was a splendid Sunday morning) but never a cigar pairing.

How is it done? Is there an accepted format? They surely don’t offer one beer-cigar pairing then have you snuff the cigar after ten minutes for the next pairing, right?

Any help?

2

I haven’t been to a cigar/beer pairing event but the cigar bar I sometimes visit regularly holds Scotch and Cognac pairing events. The one I went to featured five different cigars paired with a different drink for each one. The admission fee included two cigar/drink pairs and you could pay an additional amount if you wanted to try more pairings.

Everyone smokes and drinks at their own pace, but it would be wasteful to put out the cigar after 10 minutes, (unless you were smoking a cigarillo). I would say we were savoring new pairings every 30-40 minutes or so. Make sure you use a tongue scraper or drink something acidic between cigars to cleanse your palate. The bar I went to offered free lime tonics.

3

Thanks, Saturn Dreams. I emailed the bar GM and he told me I was overthinking things. There will be cigars and suggested beer pairings. A cigar dude will give a talk. There will be some raffles for Goose Island Bourbon Barrel bottles.

I’ve been sending Facebook invites and a bunch of friends, including a handful of women, will be attending!

4

I would think it would have to be some strong ales like Chimay to taste it over a cigar?

5

The last time I had a cigar at the bar I sipped a high alcohol stout with it.

6

Rivertowne’s Scottish Ale with a good Don Lino Africa series cigar. The gorilla knuckles are OK but I still prefer the old Duma.

7

I don’t have any answers for you but I wanted to express my deep envy that you live in a place where you can do this sort of thing.

8

That’s pretty much right. There is a cigar “sommelier” who explains the flavour profile of each cigar and why they work with the suggested drink. Then you pick and choose which pairings you want to try and puff away! They usually sell the featured cigars at a discounted rate so it’s a good opportunity to stock up.

Anyway, have fun and let us know which pairings you liked. As I mentioned, I’ve never tried a cigar and beer pairing and I’d be interested in hearing what the suggestions were.

9

Hey, speaking of Rivertowne (a local brewery). I love pretty much everything they’ve done. Their pineapple beer (Hala Kahiki) is a summer favorite of ours. But have you tried their latest, a strawberry horrible mess? Haven’t spoken to anyone yet who likes it.

10

:confused: :confused:
Wut?

11

I may not have been clear?

I’m jealous of your bar. Nowhere in my small town is there a place that holds cigar/beer pairing events.

12

Oh, OK. I thought you were somewhere that had laws against beer events. Not too long ago, Pennsylvania was like that.

13

Missed that one so far. I tend to avoid some of the more flavored beers but I’m tempted to try theirs. I like the Scottish, the lager and the IPA a lot though. And since they do those three in a combo 12 pack ------- it works in my favor.

14

Well, it was a good time. A tobacco guy all snazzy in a suit and tie gave one-on-one suggestions for cigars and beers. I smoked a very mild very big cigar down to the butt in about an hour, enjoying several Voodoo Brewery single-hop series IPAs.

There were some serious cigar aficionados there who took advantage of deals on whole boxes of cigars.

A good time was had by all!