Cigar City Florida Man 6Pk

Cigar City Florida Man 6PK is a 6-pack of Double IPA brewed by Cigar City Brewing in Tampa, Florida, at 8.5% ABV. What sets Florida Man apart from the crowded imperial IPA field is a proprietary Double IPA yeast strain that produces delicate peach esters, layered over a hop bill featuring Azacca, Citra, El Dorado, and Mandarina Bavaria. The beer holds an 88 score on BeerAdvocate from over 660 ratings.

Quick Facts: ABV: 8.5%  |  Origin: Tampa, Florida  |  Style: Double IPA / Imperial IPA  |  Brewery: Cigar City Brewing

Production & Heritage

Cigar City Brewing was founded in 2009 in Tampa, Florida, and quickly became one of the most recognized craft breweries in the Southeast, anchored by flagship releases like Jai Alai IPA. Florida Man builds on that hop-forward reputation by stepping up to double IPA strength with a four-hop blend — Azacca, Citra, El Dorado, and Mandarina Bavaria — selected for overlapping citrus and tropical fruit characteristics. The grain bill incorporates Canadian honey malt, which provides a subtle sweetness and light body that prevents the beer from becoming overly heavy despite its 8.5% ABV. The defining production choice is the brewery's use of a specialized Double IPA yeast strain engineered to throw stone fruit esters, particularly peach, adding a fermentation-derived layer of complexity that pure hop character alone cannot achieve.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with bright grapefruit peel and mango, then shifts into mildly tropical notes of papaya and guava. A subtle peach ester from the specialty yeast emerges as the beer warms, with faint pine resin underneath.

Taste: The entry is juicy and citrus-driven, dominated by grapefruit and tangerine. At mid-palate, candied tropical fruit takes over — think ripe mango and pineapple — supported by the honey malt's gentle sweetness. Bitterness builds steadily but remains balanced, never veering into harsh territory, with a piney hop bite that anchors the finish of each sip.

Finish: Medium-long, with lingering grapefruit rind bitterness and a dry, resinous quality. A whisper of peach and light grain sweetness rounds out the aftertaste.

How to Drink Florida Man

Pour Florida Man into a tulip glass or IPA glass at around 45–50°F to let the hop aromatics bloom without losing the beer's structure. This Double IPA drinks best fresh, so don't cellar it — consume within a few months of packaging for peak hop expression. For a beer cocktail twist, Florida Man works well in a Hop Shandy blended with fresh lemonade, where its grapefruit character amplifies the citrus base. It also holds up in a Michelada variation, where the hop bitterness stands up to hot sauce and lime. A Beermosa with fresh-squeezed orange juice plays off the tropical fruit notes and tempers the ABV for a brunch serve.

Best For

• Hop-forward IPA enthusiasts looking to step up to imperial strength
• Backyard cookouts and tailgates where a bold, flavorful beer sets the tone
• Gifting to a craft beer collector who appreciates Florida's brewing scene
• Pairing alongside spicy or grilled foods that need a beer with backbone

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Florida Man taste like? Florida Man delivers a bold citrus-forward profile dominated by grapefruit and tropical fruit, with a distinctive peach note from its specialty yeast and balanced bitterness from the four-hop blend.

How does Florida Man compare to Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA? Both are imperial IPAs in the 8.5–9% ABV range, but Florida Man leans more tropical and citrus-driven thanks to its New World hop selection, while Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA uses a continual hopping process that produces a more caramel-forward, resinous character. Florida Man's specialty yeast also contributes fruit esters that 90 Minute's cleaner fermentation profile does not emphasize.

Is Florida Man good for sipping on its own? Yes — the Canadian honey malt and balanced bitterness make it a smooth drinker for a Double IPA, though the 8.5% ABV warrants pacing; a tulip glass pour enhances the aromatic experience.

Where is Florida Man made? Florida Man is brewed by Cigar City Brewing in Tampa, Florida, a brewery founded in 2009 that has become one of the most prominent craft producers in the American South.

What foods pair well with Florida Man? Spicy jerk chicken benefits from the citrus hop oils cutting through the heat. Grilled shrimp tacos with mango salsa echo the beer's tropical notes. A sharp aged cheddar contrasts with the hop bitterness beautifully. Thai green curry plays off the peach esters and citrus hops. Smoked brisket pairs well, as the malt sweetness bridges into the meat's char.

What sizes does Florida Man come in? Florida Man is available in a standard 6-pack format; individual cans may also appear in the brewery's mixed packs depending on seasonal availability.

Is Florida Man worth the price? Florida Man positions as a mid-tier craft Double IPA, delivering hop complexity and a distinctive yeast character that justify its place among similarly priced imperial IPAs from established regional breweries.

Why Florida Man?

The defining edge here is the proprietary Double IPA yeast strain — a production choice most imperial IPAs simply do not make. Where many Double IPAs rely entirely on hop variety and quantity, Florida Man builds a secondary flavor dimension through fermentation-derived peach esters that complement rather than compete with the citrus and tropical hops. The four-hop combination of Azacca, Citra, El Dorado, and Mandarina Bavaria covers a wide aromatic spectrum without muddying the profile, and the Canadian honey malt keeps the body approachable at a strength where many peers turn syrupy. With an 88 on BeerAdvocate and nearly 91,000 check-ins on Untappd, it has earned broad credibility among hop-focused drinkers who have no shortage of Double IPAs to choose from.