Cigar Event: The Ashton and Odell's Brewery Cigar Pairing Pt. 1

So over the weekend, I got the invited to partake in a fantastic cigar and beer pairing event, Ashton cigars and Odell Brewery beer. This event, hosted by Edwards Pipe & Cigar, included four cigars from Ashton, four beers from Odell Brewery, and four meals prepared by d'Vine Bistro. In today's post, I will be discussing the first pairing of cigar, beer, and food. I arrived at d'Vine's patio with the beautiful Tiffany, the newest edition to The Cigar Bar family, and I'm instantly greeted by Armando, the owner of Edwards Pipe & Cigar. I'm immediately handed the first cigar, a San Cristobal Elegancia Imperial, the 6X52 size, which is a Nicaraguan handmade my the Garda family.

I begin smoking this blond beauty, as I have started a little behind everyone else, and begin to appreciate this golden Connecticut-seed wrapped Nicaraguan. I notice it is a medium-bodied cigar with strong cedar flavors with a little bit of pepper. As I'm smoking away, finely dressed waiters and waitresses are moving about serving Odell's Easy Street Wheat, an American style wheat beer, while the chef introduces us to his green chili, potato, and cheddar soup cooked with Odell's famous 90 Shilling Ale. Nico, of Odell Brewery, tells us next a little history behind Easy Street Wheat and how the subtle sweetness and hints of toasted flavor works well against both the San Cristobal and the green chili soup.



Taking a few puffs off the San Cristobal Elegancia provides a slightly peppered, woody taste that, when followed by a sip of the Easy Street, is accented by the toasted hops flavor in the beer. Taking a bite of the green chili soup brings an amazing peppered chili flavor that plays well against the cheddar and when followed by another sip of the Easy Street soothes the pepper of the soup, but ties it so well with the cigars peppery flavor! And all of this carried by the Easy Street's creaminess and the cheddar and potato of the soup! The only thing that could make this evening better was to have great company, which was found by the regulars of Edwards all laughing, trading stories, or notes on what flavors they were getting. The first pairing was phenomenal, however, the best was yet to come! Find out what pairing was my absolute favorite of the evening tomorrow in part two of this four part blog!