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Jai Alai Light

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Bold nectarine meets fresh orange zest and aromatic lime leaf in this Light IPA, which Cigar City describes as a modern, balanced take on the style. At 4% ABV it keeps the strength low, and it stands as a year-round beer from the Tampa brewery founded in 2009, sharing its name with the Jai Alai IPA.

ABV
4%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
golden8
PaceSession
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
citrusyorangefruity
citrusy
orange
fruity
peach
hoppy
clean
Aroma
Fresh citrus opens the nose—bright orange zest and lime leaf lead, with subtle peach and nectarine notes weaving through.
also:tropical
not found:juicy,caramel,sour,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Jai Alai Light

◎ Appearance

Pale golden hue with excellent clarity and a bright, persistent white head that clings to the glass. Fine carbonation creates a lively, inviting visual presence typical of the style. The light body is evident from the color intensity, suggesting restraint in the Malz bill.

pale goldenclearpersistent headfine carbonation

◌ Aroma

Fresh citrus opens the nose—bright orange zest and lime leaf lead, with subtle peach and nectarine notes weaving through. Noble hops contribute a crisp, herbal undertone without overwhelming the fruit aromatics. Malz presence remains understated, allowing the hop character to define the profile.

orange zestlime leafstone fruitnoble hops

◐ Taste

Citrus and stone fruit dominate entry and mid-palate, with nectarine and orange providing clean, refreshing sweetness. Moderate bitterness emerges mid-palate, balanced rather than assertive at 60 IBU, creating tension without harshness. The 4% ABV keeps the body light and crisp, finishing with a dry, slightly mineral quality.

citrus-forwardstone fruit sweetnessmoderate bitternesscrisp finish

◑ Finish

Short to medium finish with lingering hop bitterness and citrus zest. Clean and dry, with no residual sweetness or heavy sensation.

drycitrus fadeclean aftertaste
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
82
Taste
76
Appearance
80
Finish
75
Serve at 8–11°C

Serve well-chilled. Session IPAs are at their best cold — the lower ABV means less warmth to balance the hops.

Tulip glass

The curved shape concentrates hop aromas and supports a thick head. Essential for aromatic ales and IPAs where the nose is half the experience.

Drink fresh. Session IPAs are brewed to be consumed young — the hops are at their best now.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Jai Alai Light

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About IPA

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a IPA?

IPAs are hop-forward ales with 5.5–7.5% ABV and IBU 40–70+. Bold hop aroma — citrus, tropical, resinous — with firm bitterness and a dry, clean finish.

Finding a similar IPA

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same citrusy, light, orange character as Jai Alai Light will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Compare with another beer →Explore all IPA beers in hopIQ →New to IPA? Read our guide →Browse United States beers →