Cigar City Hunahpu's Imperial Stout
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Tasting Notes
Hunahpu's leads with a complex aroma of dark chocolate, dried chili pepper, vanilla, and cinnamon — the adjuncts are prominent but layered rather than one-note. On the palate, roasted malt and bittersweet cocoa anchor flavors of ancho and pasilla chiles, with warming bourbon-like vanilla softening the heat midway through. The body is thick and full without being syrupy, carrying its 11% ABV with enough structure to keep things grounded. The finish lingers with a pleasant dryness, the chile warmth outlasting the sweetness.
About the Brewery
Cigar City Brewing is based in Tampa, Florida, founded in 2009 by Joey Redner. The brewery helped put Florida on the craft beer map and built a national reputation on beers like Jai Alai IPA and Hunahpu's, the latter spawning an annual release event that became one of the more notable beer festivals in the Southeast. The brewery was acquired by Canarchy Craft Brewery Collective in 2016, though its core and specialty lineup has remained consistent.
Food Pairings
Dark chocolate desserts make an intuitive match, as the beer's cocoa-forward bitterness reinforces rather than clashes with a dense brownie or chocolate torte. Braised short ribs work well because the beer's roasted depth mirrors the Maillard character of slow-cooked beef. Aged cheeses like Manchego or a sharp cheddar offer enough fat and salt to balance the sweetness and chile heat. Mole negro is a natural pairing given that both share the same flavor vocabulary of chile, chocolate, and warm spice. For something unconventional, vanilla ice cream turns the beer's adjuncts into a float that plays up the dessert-like character without losing the roasted backbone.
Style Guide
American Double or Imperial Stout is a high-gravity amplification of the standard stout, typically ranging from 8% to 12% ABV, built around aggressive roasted malt character with pronounced flavors of dark chocolate, coffee, and dark fruit. The style originated as American craft brewers pushed the boundaries of British stout traditions, seeking more intensity in both alcohol and flavor. What separates it from its English antecedents is a willingness to lean into bitterness and adjunct experimentation — chiles, vanilla, bourbon barrels, and various spices appear frequently. Body is typically heavy, carbonation moderate, and the finish can swing from bone-dry to notably sweet depending on the brewer's intent.