Cigar City Florida Cracker
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Tasting Notes
Florida Cracker pours with the hazy, pale straw appearance typical of the style, carrying an aroma of fresh orange peel, coriander, and a soft wheaty grain note. On the palate it's light-bodied with a gentle tartness from the wheat, citrus zest up front, and the coriander adding a subtle spice mid-sip. The finish is dry and slightly tangy, with the bitterness kept low so the fruit and spice linger. It drinks true to the Belgian witbier template without veering into any eccentric local adjunct territory.
About the Brewery
Cigar City Brewing is based in Tampa, Florida, founded in 2009 by Joey Redner. The brewery built its reputation largely on Jai Alai IPA, which became one of the Southeast's most recognizable craft beers and helped put Tampa on the national craft map. Their lineup spans styles broadly — from Belgian-influenced wheat beers to barrel-aged stouts — and they've maintained a strong regional identity even after a majority stake was acquired by Oskar Blues parent company CANarchy in 2016.
Food Pairings
Florida Cracker pairs naturally with steamed mussels or clams because the citrus and coriander notes mirror the classic white-wine-and-herb broth those shellfish are often cooked in. A plate of ceviche works well here too, since the beer's light tartness plays off the lime-cured fish without overwhelming it. The wheaty grain body holds up to a mild goat cheese salad, where the creaminess of the cheese softens the beer's spice. Fish tacos with a light slaw are a practical match — the dry finish cuts through any richness in the avocado or crema.
Style Guide
Witbier is a Belgian wheat beer style brewed with a significant proportion of unmalted wheat alongside barley malt, which gives it a characteristically hazy appearance and a light, slightly tart body. The style is traditionally spiced with dried orange peel and coriander — a combination codified by Pierre Celis when he revived the style in Belgium in the 1960s after it had nearly gone extinct. ABVs generally fall in the 4.5–5.5% range, keeping it lighter than a hefeweizen and without the banana-and-clove yeast character that defines that German cousin. What sets witbier apart is that restrained, citrus-and-spice seasoning sitting on top of a soft, grainy wheat base.