subject: Beer And Cigar Pairings For Fall And Winter [print this page] So what do I look for in a cigar/beer pairing? Well, remember that there really are no rules. If you pair a cigar you love with a beer you love Id bet that youd enjoy the tastes together, at least most of the time. But for the sake of having a rule, heres what I follow: Try combining cigars and beers that have similar flavors or taste profiles. And always go with your guter, I mean, mouth.
Here is a list of some of my (and I stress my) favorite chilly weather beer-cigar combinations:
Howl (Magic Hat) full-bodied, caramel and coffee flavors. This is a crisp black lager, but not on the heavy side. This is one of my favoritesits fun, delicious, and filled with interesting flavors.
Cigar pair: Partagas Black, Indian Tabac Super Fuerte Toro Maduro, Padilla Signature 1932.
Double Bock (Sam Adams) rich dark red color. Fruity flavors with a mix of spice and caramel. Perfect for a dense meal or a chilly night by the fire. Drinker beware: this guy is potent! At nearly 10% alcohol, you wouldnt want to have too many of these bad boys!
Cigar pair: CAO Italia, Excalibur 1066, Cu-Avana Intenso.
Raison DEtre (Dogfish Head) deep brown ale. Made with Belgian-style yeast and raisins and sugar. I first encountered this at a party for Monday night football (a friend brought some over). Sweet but flexible enough for most palates.
Cigar pair: CAO Brazilia, Rocky Patel Sun Grown, Cohiba Black.
Old Brown Dog Ale (Smuttynose) an interesting mix of bitter and sweet make this medium-bodied beer quite a pleasure. It took a few sips to get used to the heavy malt flavor but other than that this beer is a winner. Its a classic nutty brown ale.
Cigar pair: Oliva Serie O, Carlos Torano 1916, Padilla Series 68.
Tumbler Autumn Brown Ale (Sierra Nevada) lip-smacking-ly spicy and woody, a great beer to appease both brown ale and stout lovers. Quite like the aforementioned Double Bock. Probably the least sweet on the list, but its dense. Mostly listed for its uniqueness.
Cigar pair: H. Upmann Churchill, Rocky Patel Sun Grown, CAO Brazilia.
Octoberfest (Sam Adams) dark red in color with tastes of caramel and cinnamon. A dessert-like flavor is prominent. A very attractive beer in a glass and although popular, it certainly isnt a sell-out when considering taste!
Cigar match: Padilla Miami, Man OWar Ruination, AVO #9.
In the upcoming months, we slowly begin our descent into hibernation madnessmore food, more sleep, less daylight. Add to that dark beers and full-bodied cigars and you have a pretty good schedule for the next few months. So sit back and relax in the den with a beer and a stogie and I guarantee you wont have a care in the worldother than finding that perfect cigar/beer pair!
