November Perfect Pairings

The warm days of summer have passed, the weather is cooler, and the leaves are now turning brown, making it the ideal time for Football, Hoodies, Crockpots, and Roasted Chestnuts. Fall is also the time when beers make their shift from light and fruity summer ales to rich and robust fall-themed blends.

After hours of experimentation, the team at Cigars.com put together a comprehensive list of their five favorite fall beer and cigar pairings that we coined “Harvest Season Pairings”. Read up on our choices and have fun finding the Perfect Pairings 

Troegs Brewing Company Hopback Amber Ale & NightShade by Drew Estate

Troegs Brewing Company Hopback Amber Ale comes from a very popular brewery based out of Pennsylvania. Their Amber Ale has a  bright hop nose that’s counterbalanced with malt tones of toffee and caramel.

For this great representation of a classic Amber Ale, we went with NightShade by Drew Estate Robusto. This is a beautifully balanced medium to full-bodied smoke,  offering  rich, smooth flavors of chocolate, black pepper, espresso, and hints of dried fruit.

This is a great pairing after some pumpkin picking and a nice gathering around the firepit. 

Dogfish Head Punkin Ale & Avo XO Intermezzo

We quickly realized that this was a pairing made in heaven. First, we have Dogfish Head Punkin Ale, A full-flavored, yet creamy smooth brown ale with smooth hints of pumpkin and brown sugar.

The company brews their  Punkin Ale with pumpkin meat, brown sugar, and spices. We went with a cigar that enhances yet never overpowers this unique beer style. Avo XO Intermezzo combines Dominican long-fillers and a flawless Ecuadorian wrapper that perfectly creates a savory, medium-bodied experience. Avo XO Intermezzo has a rich, highly complex flavor profile of salted cashews, leather, and spice, backed by hints of sweet molasses.

Take a Fall foliage drive to your favorite hangout and enjoy this exquisite pairing with your cigar and beer-drinking compadres.

Alaskan Brewing Co. Smoked Porter & Nub Nuance Triple Roast 

From the frigid Northwest corner of the United States comes  Alaskan Brewing Co. Smoked Porter which incorporates five varieties of malts, two varieties of hops, and the pristine water of Juneau, Alaska.

The dark, robust body and pronounced flavors of chocolate, baked bread,  and hazelnut make it a savory taste experience that we feel pairs best with the Nub Nuance Triple Roast cigar. Premium cigar smokers with love for gourmet coffee will enjoy this tantalizing medley of perfectly aged Dominican tobaccos infused with the dark roasted goodness of freshly brewed espresso.

This is a great after-dinner pairing while enjoying a rich, decadent dessert.  Take a Fall foliage drive to your favorite hangout and enjoy this exquisite pairing with your cigar and beer-drinking compadres. 

Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest & Oliva Serie V Double Robusto Box-Pressed

If you are looking for the perfect example of a stout German style beer, then look no further than Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest. Rife  with biscuity malt, and balanced by a punchy blend of German and American hops, you’ll be greeted with  flavors of peppery spice, bittersweet chocolate, and creamy caramel.  

Answering the call for Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest, is the award winning Oliva Serie V Double Robusto Box-Pressed cigar. Dressed in a gorgeous Sun-Grown Habano wrapper filled with aged Nicaraguan fillers, this box pressed masterpiece from Oliva  issues flavors  of pepper, earth, coffee, leather, and cream, all delivered in a smooth, medium-to-full bodied fashion.

These similar  flavors make it a great partner for Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest. 

Firestone Walker Brewing Company Oaktoberfest & Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Nicaragua Robusto (

Inspired by the classic German fest bier, Firestone Walker Oaktoberfest is a beer built for celebration. the beer is laagered in French oak barrels inherited from one of Napa Valley’s top cult wineries. Oaktoberfest’s light amber color foretells its toasty, biscuity flavor.

The oak-barrel laagering allows for an even smoother texture, all while remaining true to the beer’s crisp malt profile and hints of noble hops, oak, and chocolate. For this pairing, you will want to light up the  Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Nicaragua Robusto cigar whose flavors  of wood, cedar, coffee, cinnamon, and anise,  provide an unparalleled medium-to-full-bodied experience. Grab your stein, dust off your lederhosen,  and get ready to enjoy the ultimate Fall pairing.