Beer is a drink that has charmed palates for centuries, and today its world is more diverse than ever. From silky stouts and bold India Pale Ales to crisp lagers, bitters, and quirky real ales with flavours reminiscent of banana bread, the spectrum is endless. In recent years, the craft beer revolution has swept across the UK, and with it has come a new wave of cigar enthusiasts exploring a delicious question: which beer best complements a fine cigar?
Traditionally, cigars have been paired with Cognac, whisky, or rum—the classic image of a gentleman in a smoking jacket, crystal glass in hand. But beer has stepped confidently into this space, sparking lively debates and experiments within the cigar community. And for good reason: beer and cigars share far more than one might expect.
Why Beer and Cigars Work So Well
Pairing a cigar with your favourite beer is a journey of discovery—personal, flavourful, and surprisingly versatile. One golden rule is to match strength with strength:
- Full-bodied cigars marry beautifully with darker, heavier beers.
- Mild cigars pair better with pale ales or crisp pilsners.
Beyond strength, you can also look for shared flavour notes. A stout rich with chocolate and coffee tones is a natural partner to a cigar with a creamy or nutty profile. A fruity IPA might pair perfectly with a cigar offering notes of cedar and spice.
Carbonation also plays a role. The bubbles in beer refresh your palate between puffs, clearing the way for both the cigar and the brew to express their full character. It’s a refreshing advantage that whisky and Cognac can’t always offer.
A Shared Craft
At their core, beer and cigars are cut from the same cloth. Both require craftsmanship, patience, and a deep understanding of raw ingredients. Just as a master brewer selects the finest hops and malts to create a balanced beer, a cigar blender carefully chooses and ferments tobacco leaves to achieve complexity and harmony. Climate, soil, and tradition shape both worlds, making them natural partners.
Recommended Pairings to Try
Light Beer Pairings
Lighter beers such as pilsners and pale ales complement milder cigars.
- Example: The Cow Down Pale Ale from Stone Daisy Brewery (bright hops, balanced character) paired with a Hoyo de Monterrey Petit Robusto.
- Other matches:
- Pilsner → Montecristo No. 1 or Mitchellero Torcedor
Medium Beer Pairings
IPAs vary widely, but when well-matched, they can be stunning with medium-bodied cigars.
- Example: Stone Daisy’s Park Bottom IPA (subtle malt and fruit notes) with the Juliany Dominican Selection Corona Maduro (medium strength, hints of spice, earth, and sweetness).
- Other matches:
Dark Beer Pairings
Robust cigars need equally bold partners—stouts and brown ales rise to the challenge.
- Stout → Rocky Patel 20th Anniversary Toro Natural Cigar
- Brown Ale → Bolivar Royal Corona or Partagas Petit Coronas Especiales
The Joy of Discovery
The art of pairing cigars and beer is deeply personal. What delights one palate may not work for another, and that’s the beauty of it. The key is to experiment, savour the process, and find the combinations that speak to you. Whether it’s a crisp pilsner with a gentle Montecristo or a rich stout with a bold Partagás, each pairing reveals something new.
A Treat from Stone Daisy
To help you on your journey, our friends at Stone Daisy Brewery are offering Simply Cigars customers a 15% discount on their award-winning craft beers. Visit stonedaisy.co.uk and your discount will be applied at checkout—perfect for stocking up on pairings to explore at home.
So light up, pour a glass, and toast to the perfect partnership of hops and tobacco. Cheers!