Invasion Pale Ale

Cigar City Brewing

Tampa, FL

This sessionable beer is named after the Gasparilla Invasion. The event is held during Tampa’s annual Gasparilla Pirate Festival, which celebrates the mythical Spanish pirate José Gaspar.

ABV: 5

ABW: 3.98

COLOR: 10

BITTERNESS: 35

ORIGINAL GRAVITY: 1050

AVAILABLE: FL

A pale gold beer with an immensely complex aroma led by big peppery hop notes, with powerful hints of cinnamon and cloves, all balanced by juicy malt. Bitter, tangy hop resins build in the mouth with lightly toasted malt and bitter orange fruit. The finish is bittersweet with spicy hops balancing sappy malt and tart fruit.
- Roger Protz

The hazy pale honey-colored beer raises up some admirable foam. The hop aroma is unusual—more floral and tropical fruit than the now-standard American citrus/pine duopoly. The palate is snappy—crisp, clean and dry, with fruity malts playing nicely through the center. The hops finish strongly enough to linger, but finely enough to make you glad of it. It’s characterful but balanced, a fine pale ale for the discerning pirate. Shrimp tacos, of course, with plenty of cilantro.
- Garrett Oliver

Roger Protz
Author of 300 Beers to Try Before You Die and 300 More Beers to Try Before You Die. Respected beer authority and editor of the CAMRA Good Beer Guide and www.protzonbeer.co.uk.

Garrett Oliver
Garrett Oliver is the brewmaster of The Brooklyn Brewery, the Editor-in-Chief of The Oxford Companion to Beer, the author of The Brewmaster’s Table, and the veteran host of more than 900 beer dinners in 15 countries.