Most beer and cigar pairing happens at home, but a small, real list of craft breweries have built cigars into how they operate: dedicated lounges, humidors behind the bar, standing cigar nights with a local tobacconist, or an outdoor deck where lighting up is simply part of the culture. Here is where to find that combination in person, organized by city, plus a beer we have already reviewed that fits the vibe of each one if you want to recreate it at home.
Heads up: some of the links below are affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes what we recommend. Hours, ownership, and cigar policies at any bar or brewery can change, so call ahead before making a special trip.
Florida: The Deepest Bench
Florida has more cigar-friendly breweries than anywhere else in the country, which makes sense given Ybor City’s history as the cigar capital of the United States. Four of the most established spots are all within a few hours of each other.
California
Northeast and Mid-Atlantic
Midwest and South
Recreate the Vibe at Home
Not everyone lives near one of these. If the nearest cigar-friendly brewery is a plane ride away, here is a beer to match the feel of each spot, pulled from beers we have already reviewed.
- Cigar City Jai Alai: brewed in Tampa, a few miles from Ybor City, and the obvious pick if you cannot make it to Zydeco’s balcony yourself.
- Founders KBS Espresso: a rich, coffee-forward stout that holds its own next to a fuller cigar, the kind of beer a lounge like The Tank’s or Gulf Coast’s humidor calls for.
- Bell’s Two Hearted Ale: a citrusy, well-balanced IPA for an outdoor deck session, the same easy-drinking role it plays at Twisted Trunk or BNS.
- Petrus Aged Red: a sour red ale with real depth, a good match for a curated cigar night like Area Two’s or Uptown Tap & Cigar’s.
- North Coast Old Rasputin: a dark, high-strength imperial stout for a bring-your-own cigar share, in the spirit of Third Eye’s Sharonville nights.
- New Belgium Fat Tire Amber Ale: an easy amber ale that will not fight a smoked beer or a mellow cigar, in keeping with Spoonwood’s patio pairings.
- Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock: a doppelbock with the weight to stand up to a barrel-aged pairing flight, similar to what 7 Locks pours at its events.
- Chimay Blue: a Belgian strong dark ale with dried fruit and spice, a good fit for a relaxed weekly cigar night like Bravery’s.
What to Know Before You Go
- Call ahead. Cigar policies, humidor stock, and event schedules change, and a brewery that allowed smoking outdoors last year may have adjusted its policy since.
- Most of these are outdoor-only for cigars, patios, decks, balconies, and rooftops rather than the indoor taproom. Indoor cigar lounges like The Tank’s and Gulf Coast’s are the exception, not the rule.
- If a spot does not sell cigars on site, such as Twisted Trunk, bring your own. Nobody will mind, but do not expect a shop counter when you arrive.
- Recurring events like cigar nights and pairing nights are usually seasonal or tied to a local tobacconist’s schedule, so check a brewery’s events page or social media before planning a trip around one.
More Ways to Pair Beer and Cigars
Go back to the full beer and cigar pairing guide, or if you want to host something similar yourself, see our Beer and Cigar Tasting Night guide.
FAQ
Are craft breweries allowed to let people smoke cigars?
It depends on local and state law. Most breweries that allow cigars restrict smoking to outdoor areas, decks, patios, or rooftops, since many states ban smoking in enclosed public spaces that serve food or drink. A handful, like The Tank Brewing Company and Gulf Coast Brewery, have built separate ventilated or outdoor-adjacent lounges specifically to allow it.
Do these breweries sell cigars, or do I need to bring my own?
Some do and some do not. The Tank, Zydeco Brew Werks, and Gulf Coast Brewery all have their own cigar selection or a humidor on site. Others, like Twisted Trunk Brewing, are cigar-friendly but do not sell cigars, so you bring your own.
Why is Ybor City in Tampa associated with cigars?
Ybor City was built around the cigar industry in the late 1800s, when Cuban and Spanish cigar makers relocated their factories there. The neighborhood is still lined with cigar shops and small hand-rolling operations, which is why breweries like Zydeco Brew Werks lean into cigar culture as part of their identity.
What beer style pairs best with cigars if I cannot visit one of these breweries?
It depends on the cigar’s strength. Lighter cigars pair well with pilsners and wheat beers, medium cigars with amber ales and IPAs, and full-bodied cigars with stouts, doppelbocks, and Belgian strong ales. Our full pairing guide breaks this down by beer style.
