Cigar Geeks

Picked up a case of a nice summer time Belgium beer.

 http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/718/2477/

 I want to pair it with a good mild/medium cigar. One of my favorites is a Hoyo De Monterrey Excalibur but I'm thinking of trying something new also. Any suggestions?

I smoked a Ashton this weekend, paired very nice with some light beer.

Sam Adams summer ale and a CAO Gold work well with each other, IMHO.

Try a Four Kicks by Crowned Heads.  Pairs nicely with crisp summer beers for me.

An Irish Red work's well with a decent medium bodied smoke for me but my preference is a Black IPA and a Ashton Aged Maduro.

I believe Olde English would pair well with any Victor Sinclair!.

Quotelubrix - 7/6/2014  9:14 AM  I believe Olde English would pair well with any Victor Sinclair!.

Hey now, don't ruin a good 8 ball like that!   :dancing:

 

Quote07streetbobryder - 7/5/2014  11:12 PM

Sam Adams summer ale and a CAO Gold work well with each other, IMHO.

This is a good suggestion... The Illusione Epernay I am smoking would be good as well.

Sam Adams Porch Rocker with a Padilla Connecticut. Had that the other day and it was pretty good.

New Holland brewery Dragon's Milk.Its a  Bourbon Barrel Stout. Smoke with a Camacho triple maduro

Another good combination, in my opinion, is Leinenkugels Summer Shandy and a Tatuaje 10th Anny.

I haven't found any where the cigar or beer really enhances the other.   I just went through some of Shiner's White Wing, a Belgian White.   Nice summer beer.  I smoked an UC Corona Viva and a pre-General Cigar CAO MX2 with it.  And it was decent.  I enjoyed it all.

To me, when it comes to pairing with beer, I look for flavors that won't conflict.  Something that won't be redundant.   I think something like a sweet Camerron wrapper (i.e. don Carlos) would just wash out with the sweet, light beer.  

I haven't figured out pairing all that well yet, but what I have found so far that I like is:  a spicy bourbon or rye paied with a smooth maduro can get to a whole new level.  A smooth, mellow rum works nicely with a spicy or twangy cigar like a lot of. Tat, LFD, or DPG.   I guess I'm looking for something that raises the complexity of flavors without overpowering any of them too much.  If I get the right match, it's almost magical.   I've yet to have the magic with beer.  But it's fun to keep trying!   I'll see if I can find some of these suggestions.

I'm with you, Kevin.  Although I don't drink beer very much anymore, when I did, I couldn't find any pairings that really enhanced either the beer or the cigar. :confused:

They make other types of beer?

Quotewlfwalleye - 7/8/2014  1:54 PM

They make other types of beer?

They make other types of cigars?  :biggrin:

And then there is Quesada Oktoberfest Cigars that were made especially to smoke with beer....if that does't sell it nothing will.

QuoteCigary - 7/8/2014  3:01 PM

And then there is Quesada Oktoberfest Cigars that were made especially to smoke with beer....if that does't sell it nothing will.

Yeah, it's not a bad pairing. Ever tried an Epernay with Champagne?

QuoteThe Burn Ward - 7/8/2014  3:15 PM

QuoteCigary - 7/8/2014  3:01 PM

And then there is Quesada Oktoberfest Cigars that were made especially to smoke with beer....if that does't sell it nothing will.

Yeah, it's not a bad pairing. Ever tried an Epernay with Champagne?

Or a Headley Grange with Led Zeppelin?

Quotenwb - 7/8/2014  12:51 PM  I'm with you, Kevin.  Although I don't drink beer very much anymore, when I did, I couldn't find any pairings that really enhanced either the beer or the cigar. :confused:

 

With you on that. I most of the time would rather have water than a beer with my cigars.

QuoteMojo66 - 7/8/2014  3:18 PM

Quotenwb - 7/8/2014  12:51 PM  I'm with you, Kevin.  Although I don't drink beer very much anymore, when I did, I couldn't find any pairings that really enhanced either the beer or the cigar. :confused:

 

With you on that. I most of the time would rather have water than a beer with my cigars.

I can't seem to ever find any water, so I reach for a beer. :biggrin:  :beer:

QuoteThe Burn Ward - 7/8/2014  3:30 PM

QuoteMojo66 - 7/8/2014  3:18 PM

Quotenwb - 7/8/2014  12:51 PM  I'm with you, Kevin.  Although I don't drink beer very much anymore, when I did, I couldn't find any pairings that really enhanced either the beer or the cigar. :confused:

 

With you on that. I most of the time would rather have water than a beer with my cigars.

I can't seem to ever find any water, so I reach for a beer. :biggrin:  :beer:

:bigthumbs:  My brother!

Perdomo Habano in either the Connecticut or Corojo. CAO Criollo. Romeo y Julieta Habana Reserve.

QuoteThe Burn Ward - 7/8/2014  3:17 PM  

QuoteThe Burn Ward - 7/8/2014  3:15 PM  

QuoteCigary - 7/8/2014  3:01 PM  And then there is Quesada Oktoberfest Cigars that were made especially to smoke with beer....if that does't sell it nothing will.

Yeah, it's not a bad pairing. Ever tried an Epernay with Champagne?

Or a Headley Grange with Led Zeppelin?

 There are so many good pairings with cigars....I've actually come down with about 5 different libations with certain cigars as certain types of drinks just bring out the flavor of some of the more complex cigars.  Drambuie goes with any cigar I've ever had...the sweetness of it will take down any strong cigar that would otherwise overpower our sense of taste.  It enhances the smoke until it is much like it was stored in oak casks.....Amarula on the other hand will take a cigars smoke and make it where the finish lasts longer....adds some sweet cocoa taste  which with some cigars makes them so much better.  As far as beer goes with cigars....I'll go with a very malty beer like a Dogfish Head....hoppy beers for me tend to over power the smoke from a cigar.

QuoteCigary - 7/8/2014  7:11 PM

QuoteThe Burn Ward - 7/8/2014  3:17 PM  

QuoteThe Burn Ward - 7/8/2014  3:15 PM  

QuoteCigary - 7/8/2014  3:01 PM  And then there is Quesada Oktoberfest Cigars that were made especially to smoke with beer....if that does't sell it nothing will.

Yeah, it's not a bad pairing. Ever tried an Epernay with Champagne?

Or a Headley Grange with Led Zeppelin?

 There are so many good pairings with cigars....I've actually come down with about 5 different libations with certain cigars as certain types of drinks just bring out the flavor of some of the more complex cigars.  Drambuie goes with any cigar I've ever had...the sweetness of it will take down any strong cigar that would otherwise overpower our sense of taste.  It enhances the smoke until it is much like it was stored in oak casks.....Amarula on the other hand will take a cigars smoke and make it where the finish lasts longer....adds some sweet cocoa taste  which with some cigars makes them so much better.  As far as beer goes with cigars....I'll go with a very malty beer like a Dogfish Head....hoppy beers for me tend to over power the smoke from a cigar.

I'm not a fan of Drambuie. I've found Irish Cream, Kahlua, White Russian and Sambuca do pair well. As for beer; a good stout or Russian Imperial stout along with many Ale variations (Golden Ale, Trappist, Belgian, Dubbel, Flanders, Scotch) all pair nicely. Most Pale Ales and IPA's tend to have higher IBU's and don't mesh well with a fine cigar.

I'll give the Amarula a shot ;-)

QuoteMojo66 - 7/8/2014  3:18 PM

Quotenwb - 7/8/2014  12:51 PM  I'm with you, Kevin.  Although I don't drink beer very much anymore, when I did, I couldn't find any pairings that really enhanced either the beer or the cigar. :confused:

 

With you on that. I most of the time would rather have water than a beer with my cigars.

I've had many libations from the Unibroue organization and most have paired nicely with a cigar. Give it another shot! Maybe a Trois Pistoles with a Camacho Corojo or a La Fin Du Monde with a Tatuaje Black Petite lancero?

Quotenwb - 7/8/2014  9:51 AM

I'm with you, Kevin.  Although I don't drink beer very much anymore, when I did, I couldn't find any pairings that really enhanced either the beer or the cigar. :confused:

wasn't going to post cuz the subject was summer beers/cigars...but I find maltier beers like certain stouts and porters pair very well with many maduros. I just don't think most folks consider those to be "summer" beers.

But I don't drink beer nearly as often as I did when younger.

It definitely has a lot to do with the type of cigars you smoke.  For me, the best combination I found was a stout with a maduro.  However, I just don't smoke too many maduros anymore.

I'm pairing a Joya de Nicaragua Celebracion with Sam Smith's Nut Brown Ale and grately enjoying it. Both are nutty and the Celebracion has some nice creaminess to it as well. Neither one is too heavy for summer time consumption. Try it out and see for yourself.

I have found most Belgium beers, even the summertime variety, lean towards the heavier side when compared to American beers.  But I would recommend a Perdomo Champagne and if that is too light go to the Champagne Noir.
My favorite summertime release has been the Abita Seersucker Summer Pale