What Cigar City Brewing does

Cigar City Brewing is a craft brewery founded in 2009 in Tampa, Florida, and operated as a subsidiary of Monster Brewing Company (legal entity Monster Brewing, LLC). The company produces a portfolio of ales and lagers organized around trademarked flagship brands—most notably the Jai Alai IPA family (Jai Alai 7.5% ABV, Jai Alai Light 4% ABV, Jai Alai Double 10% ABV) and Florida Man Double IPA—alongside year-round offerings (Guayabera Pale Ale, Maduro Brown Ale, Fancy Papers Hazy IPA, Cosmic Crown Belgian-Style Strong Golden Ale), seasonal SKUs (Theoretical Jam Wheat Ale, Margarita Gose), and a barrel-aged specialty program featuring high-ABV bourbon- and brandy-barrel releases. Brewing techniques emphasize multi-hop blending for citrus and tropical character, with documented use of hop varieties including Citra, Azacca, El Dorado, and Mandarina Bavarian in the Florida Man Double IPA and six-hop blending in Jai Alai.

The company operates three owned taprooms in the Tampa Bay area: the Spruce Street Brewery & Taproom (the original 2009 facility with 20+ taps and full-service kitchen), Taproom Downtown near Amalie Arena, and the Tampa Airport Brewpub with bar locations in Airside C and Airside F. Direct-to-consumer sales through these venues and private event hosting in the La Sétima Lounge (capacity up to 75) complement wholesale distribution of canned and bottled product throughout much of the United States via a distributor network and the Beer Finder online tool. The company also sells branded merchandise through a Shopify-powered e-commerce storefront at store.cigarcitybrewing.com.

Revenue mechanics span on-premise draft and packaged beer sales, off-premise retail distribution, private event fees, and merchandise, with the Jai Fidelity loyalty program and NIVA-backed Raise the Stage initiative supporting consumer engagement. The company is actively operating, headcount is reported at 51-100, and no funding rounds, acquisitions, or leadership changes are disclosed in the available source data.

Name

Cigar City Brewing

Legal name

Monster Brewing, LLC

Website

https://cigarcitybrewing.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Cigar City Brewing is a Tampa, Florida craft brewery and taproom operator founded in 2009, producing flagship IPAs (Jai Alai, Florida Man), seasonal, and barrel-aged beers for sale through three Tampa Bay taprooms, US-wide wholesale distribution, and a Shopify merchandise storefront.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Craft Beer Brewing

NAICS

Breweries (31212), Breweries (312120)

SIC

Malt Beverages (2082), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Regional & National Breweries (THAFALAD)

Keywords

• Craft beer brewing
• Tropical ipa
• Barrel-aged beers
• Taproom services
• Craft beer distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Tampa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Taproom Direct Sales: Direct taproom sales of draft beer, flights, pints, growler fills, and packaged beer to consumers visiting the Spruce Street Brewery & Taproom, Taproom Downtown, and Tampa Airport Brewpub locations.
2. Beer Distribution/Wholesale: Distribution of canned and bottled beer products through retail outlets throughout much of the United States, located via the company's Beer Finder tool.
3. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including apparel and accessories through the online store at store.cigarcitybrewing.com.
4. Private Event Hosting: Hosting of private events including dinners, happy hours, bridal/baby showers, lectures, and beer tastings in the La Sétima Lounge with a 12-tap private bar accommodating up to 75 guests.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Cigar City Brewing hand-crafts and sells a portfolio of craft ales and lagers, led by its flagship Jai Alai IPA and supported by year-round, seasonal, and bourbon barrel-aged specialty beers. The company operates three Tampa Bay taproom locations where consumers can purchase draft and packaged beer, flights, pints, and growler fills alongside Tampa-inspired cuisine, and distributes its packaged beers through wholesale channels across much of the United States.

Product overview

Cigar City Brewing is a craft beer brewery founded in 2009 in Tampa, Florida, operating as a portfolio of beer brands with a physical taproom and retail presence. The core product line centers on the Jai Alai IPA family (Jai Alai, Jai Alai Light, Jai Alai Double), which are flagship IPAs featuring bold citrus hop character from multiple hop varieties. Additional year-round core beers include Florida Man Double IPA, Guayabera Pale Ale, Maduro Brown Ale, Fancy Papers Hazy IPA, and Cosmic Crown Belgian-style Strong Golden Ale. Seasonal offerings include Theoretical Jam Wheat Ale and Margarita Gose. The company also operates taproom and private event services, a beer finder distribution tool, and the Jai Fidelity rewards program. The brewery is owned by Monster Brewing Company (Monster Brewing, LLC).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Jai Alai IPA Flagship American IPA at 7.5% ABV featuring tangerine, candied orange peel, clementine, Valencia orange, and subtle caramel notes balanced by soft bitterness and rich malt character; brewed using six hop varieties for craft beer consumers seeking a citrus-forward Florida-inspired IPA.
• Jai Alai Double IPA Higher-ABV 10% double IPA variant of the Jai Alai flagship, offering vibrant Valencia orange, sweet marmalade, grapefruit, and Meyer lemon aromas with caramel and malt sweetness; for craft beer consumers seeking an intensified version of the Jai Alai IPA profile.
• Jai Alai Light IPA Light IPA at 4% ABV in the Jai Alai series featuring nectarine, orange zest, and lime leaf with bready malt and citrus flavors; targeted at craft beer consumers seeking the Jai Alai hop profile in a more sessionable format.
• Florida Man Double IPA Year-round Double IPA at 9% ABV featuring tropical expression from American hops including Citra, Azacca, El Dorado, and Mandarina Bavarian, balanced by peach esters and Canadian honey malt; for craft beer consumers seeking tropical-hop-forward high-ABV IPAs.
• Guayabera Citra Pale Ale Citra Pale Ale featuring bright berry, lime leaf, and tangerine from exclusive Citra hop use, balanced by assertive bitterness and a simple malt bill; for craft beer consumers seeking a Tampa-heritage pale ale.
• Maduro Brown Ale English-style Brown Ale at 5.5% ABV with aromas of toffee and chocolate macaroons, featuring semi-sweet chocolate, almond, brown sugar flavors, and a dry clean finish with coffee ground notes; for craft beer consumers seeking a malt-forward brown ale.
• Fancy Papers Hazy IPA Hazy IPA at 6.5% ABV with fresh cut grass and tangerine on the nose, complemented by white wine grape and bread-like aromas, featuring guava, melon, lime leaf, and sauvignon blanc flavors; for craft beer consumers seeking a hazy, fruit-forward IPA.
• Cosmic Crown Belgian-Style Strong Golden Ale Belgian-style Strong Golden Ale at 9% ABV with assertive aromas of pineapple, bubblegum, dried flowers, and black pepper, featuring overripe banana, red apple, lime leaf esters, poundcake-like malt, and herbaceous bitterness; for craft beer consumers seeking a Belgian-inspired strong ale.
• Theoretical Jam Wheat Ale Wheat Ale at 6% ABV featuring juicy red berry flavors from Barbe Rouge, El Dorado, and Cashmere hops with distinct berry acidity and lingering red grapefruit zest bitterness; positioned as a seasonal release for craft beer consumers seeking fruit-forward wheat ales.
• Margarita Gose Refreshing tart Gose at 4.2% ABV with aromas of ripe limes, lemon zest, and Valencia orange, complemented by zesty tartness and soft salinity; positioned as a seasonal release for craft beer consumers seeking citrus tart ales.
• Barrel-Aged Beer Program Specialty barrel-aged beer program featuring bourbon barrel and specialty wood-aged imperial stouts and strong ales, including Hun-Batz Imperial Stout, The Whole Cigar Spanish Cedar Imperial Stout, and Pear Brandy Barrel Bolita Double Brown Ale; for bourbon enthusiasts and craft beer consumers seeking complex high-ABV barrel-aged beers.
• Jai Alai Variety Pack Light IPA variety pack featuring Jai Alai Light and related variants from the Jai Alai brand family; for craft beer consumers seeking variety within the Jai Alai portfolio in a multi-pack format.
• Taproom & Brewery Experience In-person brewery and taproom experience at three Tampa Bay locations (Spruce Street, Taproom Downtown, Tampa International Airport Brewpub) offering more than 20 taps, flights, pints, growler fills, packaged beer to-go, exclusive taproom-only beers, and a full-service kitchen with Tampa-inspired cuisine; for craft beer consumers and visitors to the Tampa Bay region.
• Private Event Hosting (La Sétima Lounge) Private event hosting in the La Sétima Lounge featuring a 12-tap private bar (including one side-pull lager tap and two draft cocktail taps), accommodating up to 40 guests for seated dinners or 75 for mix & mingle events; for individuals and organizations hosting celebrations, corporate events, showers, and beer tastings.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• National Independent Venue Association (NIVA)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerJai Alai IPA serves as title sponsor of NIVA marketing grants that help independent venues strengthen community engagement, increase visibility, and support long-term sustainability. The partnership includes the Raise the Stage initiative celebrating independent music venues, local artists, and the communities that bring live music to life. Featured venues include Ardmore Music Hall, Bearsville Theater, 3rd & Lindsley, Songbyrd Music House, and The Social.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Stone Brewing Co. San Diego-based craft brewery with flagship Ruination/IPA heritage, broad US distribution, multiple taproom locations, and prior acquisition by an international brewer (Sapporo). Comparable on flagship-IPA craft identity, multi-taproom strategy, and craft roll-up governance posture.
• Bell's Brewery: Michigan-rooted regional craft brewer that scaled nationally behind IPAs (Two Hearted) and a broad year-round/seasonal lineup, now under a larger craft platform. Comparable to CCB on founding-era independent craft DNA, hop-forward flagship, and roll-up trajectory.
• Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Pioneering independent regional craft brewer with national distribution, year-round IPA portfolio (including flagship hop-forward offerings), and on-site taprooms. Comparable to CCB on category, hop-led brand positioning, and regional-plus-distribution structure, but with substantially larger scale.
• New Belgium Brewing Company: National craft brewer (Vortex IPA, Fat Tire, citrus-forward lineup) with broad US distribution and taproom operations. Comparable to CCB on flagship IPA-led portfolio, citrus/tropical hop positioning, and taproom-plus-distribution model, but at significantly larger scale.

Direct peers

• Coppertail Brewing Company: Tampa-based craft brewery producing a flagship IPA, hazy offerings, and seasonal/limited releases with an on-site taproom. Directly comparable to CCB on geography (same Tampa market), category (craft beer), and D2C taproom model.
• 3 Daughters Brewing: Tampa Bay craft brewery with a flagship brewery & beer garden in St. Petersburg, distributing cans across Florida and select regional markets. Comparable to CCB as a Florida craft operator with taproom and packaged wholesale models.
• Tampa Bay Brewing Company: Long-running Tampa craft brewery offering a year-round lineup plus seasonal beers in an on-site taproom setting. Closest same-metro peer to CCB on geography and category, with overlapping flagship IPA/stout positioning.
• Funky Buddha Brewery: Florida craft brewery based in Oakland Park with a large taproom and broad Florida/regional distribution, owned by AB InBev's Craft platform. Comparable to CCB on Florida craft identity and taproom-centric D2C model.
• SweetWater Brewing Company: Atlanta-based regional craft brewery (IPA-led portfolio, taproom + national distribution) now owned by a major craft roll-up entity. Closest analogue to CCB on scale of distribution, IPAs/seasonals mix, and craft-acquired ownership lineage.

Regional players

• Tropical Brewing Company / Florida Avenue Brewing: Tampa craft brewers operating in the same metro as CCB with similar taproom/D2C orientation and Florida-inspired branding. Comparable on geographic overlap, taproom focus, and locally-themed craft positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CigarCityBeer
• Facebookfacebook.com/cigarcitybeer
• Instagraminstagram.com/cigarcitybrewing
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/5934987

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cigar City Brewing