Cigar City Brewing was founded in 2009 by Joey Redner in Tampa, Florida, with a clear mission: to craft world-class beer that celebrates the unique culture and history of Tampa. Redner, a former beer writer for the Tampa Bay Times, channeled his deep knowledge of brewing and his love for the city into building a brewery that would put Tampa on the international craft beer map. The name itself pays homage to Tampa's storied past as a major cigar-producing hub. The brewery's portfolio is rooted in bold, flavourful ales and lagers that reflect the character of Florida. Cigar City is best known for its hop-forward and richly malt-driven beers, ranging from IPAs to imperial stouts. Their flagship Jai Alai IPA — named after a sport with deep roots in Tampa — has become their best-selling beer and a benchmark American IPA, showcasing citrusy and tropical hop character balanced by a solid malt backbone. Alongside it, Hunahpu's Imperial Stout has earned the brewery serious acclaim among dark beer enthusiasts. Cigar City Brewing has built a strong reputation for award-winning craft beer and has expanded distribution across the United States. The brewery operates a taproom in Tampa, offering visitors a direct taste of its full lineup. In recent years, ownership passed to Monster Beverage Corp, a transition that has drawn attention from the craft beer community.