Cigars and Doom's Bell
If you're new to the world of cigars, you may be wondering where to start. Cigars come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and flavors, making it difficult to know which ones to choose. But fear not, because we've got you covered. In this article, we'll explore three beginner-friendly cigars that pair perfectly with Doom's Bell, our house White IPA. Whether you're a seasoned beer drinker or new to the craft beer scene, Doom's Bell is a great choice for anyone looking to explore the world of beer and cigar pairings. So sit back, grab a cold Doom's Bell, and let's dive into the world of beginner-friendly cigars.
4/16/20232 min read
To kick us off, here are some general principles we use when we pair cigars with beer:
- Matching intensity. The tastes shouldn't be in competition with each and fight for your attention, they should rather be teammates that help each other out. When one of the components in your pairing is stronger and more overpowering, there is less room for the other. It is very easy to drown out the flavor of the beer with a too-powerful stogie, and vice versa of course. Tip: The wrapper of the cigar is, generally speaking, not a hint at how intense it is, the intensity usually comes from the blend inside. So even if the cigar might be a shade of dark, it can still be very mild. For White IPAs we are looking for light to medium cigars mainly.
- Complement and Contrast. Building new and interesting combinations of flavors with what's available in your cigar and beer is, in my mind, the whole point of doing pairings - What you don't have in the flavor department in your cigar, but can find in your beer is a good starting point to consider. That way you can add complementing notes that enhance your evening, your drink, and your smoke. Contrasting is more challenging to do well, but when you get it right it's the most beautiful thing ever! For the white IPA with its floral, citrus, and hop-forward taste components we look for a cigar with floral, creamy, and earthy tones. If we want to contrast, we might reach for a cigar that has a little bit of (white) pepper flavor to it to enhance the citrus fruit character of the beer.
Here are 3 of our favorite beginner-friendly smokes to go with our white IPA, Doom's Bell.
New World Connecticut -
Let's paint the flavor picture of the cigar here: Mild honey, cream, and light grass. A medium pepper tone that fades over the course of the cigar's length. A hint of citrus from the wrapper bridges very well with the beer's own citrus and marmalade-forward taste. The two match in texture, where the sessionable beer goes hand in hand with the cream-like smoke without one overtaking the other.
Romeo y Julieta Romeo No 3 -
A classic stick that's on the milder scale, available basically everywhere, and has a decent price point. Cream, cedar wood, and some floral notes. Medium intensity, unpretentious, and very approachable. The bitterness of the cigar matches Doom's Bell very well.
Ashton Classic -
With a creamy, slightly sweet, and tangy flavor, the cigar lifts the malt flavor of the beer. The earthy and almond nut-like backdrop of the cigar gives the hops in the white IPA some time to shine at the frontline too. Ashton complements Doom's Bell very well and the pair flows.