The featured beer painting for the day is of Jai Alai India Pale Ale by Cigar City Brewing Company in Tampa, Florida. Jai Alai, a.k.a. the “Merry Game” is a sport that was invented in Spain, and is a very popular quirky game. Players throw and catch hard balls with wicker mitts called xisteras at up to 188 mph, bouncing them off walls. Sounds like quite an exciting sport indeed. I was calling this beer the j•eye uh• lie, however I was quickly told that it is pronounced h•eye uh•lie. The Sunshine State is not known for Jai Alai, but Tampa used to have a court, called a fronton. I’m not sure what happened to the fronton, but Cigar City brewed this beer in memory of the Merry Game. This Florida brewery sure knows how to make a mean IPA. This beer boasts a balance of sweet malt and citrusy hops, with a floral aroma, making this IPA absurdly delicious. I received two of these cans, and I’m always grateful for Cigar City brews since the brewery doesn’t distribute to Alaska. I painted the xistera, the ball and the helmets that are necessary for this sport in the background to show how dangerous and fast the sport actually is. I doubt you could find a better-tasting IPA for consuming right after a heated Jai Alai match!
Cheers to Jai Alai IPA – a fantastic brew from a class act brewery! Keep up the great work, Cigar City! I hope to make it your way for some southern beer tasting in the next few years!
You can purchase this painting, or a limited-edition print at my Etsy shop.
View the complete Year of Beer Paintings gallery.
Year of Beer 11.25. Jai Alai IPA by Cigar City Brewing Company. Oil on panel, 8″x10″.
Real Art Is Better! 