Cigar & Beer Pairing One-On-One

NHC Skull Breaker Surrogates & Great Lakes Brewing Co. Eliot Ness 

If you've never had the pleasure of drinking anything from Great Lakes Brewing Co. you’re truly missing out. In my humble opinion, they are making some of the best beer on the market. Today I'm taking a look at an Amber Vienna Lager they make called Eliot Ness. While not all that common of a style, it is a great tasting beer. Being a native Clevelander I feel particularly at home drinking this beer. Whether I'm sitting in the brewery at the massive, carved wooden bar or at home in my overstuffed brown leather chair, drinking a Great Lakes beer is quit the experience.


Famed Cleveland safety director Eliot Ness often visited the bar now known as the Great Lakes Brewery. Deep in the heart of Ohio City, Great Lakes Brewery has found a home with beer enthusiasts near and far, winning a gold medal at the World Beer Championship for the E.N.


I've decided to pair it up with a newer cigar that’s on the market, made by New Hampshire Cigars. The Skull Breaker Surrogate is a bold cigar, full of flavor and a nice kick. I get questions all the time asking what I should pair with which drink. Like most of you, for me it’s all about the taste. If you’re just starting out and looking to pair your favorite cigar with a beer, keep it simple. Don’t overthink things. Your taste buds will tell you all you need to know. For myself, I prefer pairings that have different overtones but similar undertones. Let me explain.

If your beer has a bitter aftertaste, yet starts out smooth and crisp, I would look for a cigar that has a sweet or spicy start and has undertones that are smooth, nutty and has hints of coffee.


Case in point: The Skull Breaker Surrogate and GLB Eliot Ness.


My initial light indicated notes of leather, coffee and pepper. After spending several minutes savoring the notes from the cigar, I began the pairing process. The Eliot Ness has a slightly bitter tone with a finish that is delectably sweet and smooth. The bold flavors of the Skull Breaker pair nicely with the sweet, smooth notes found in the E.N. A further delve into the beer and you will find a hop nose and hints of caramel. I typically prefer dark, rich coffee, and the caramel notes in the beer decidedly pair quite nicely, even for a guy who only drinks black coffee.


Halfway through the cigar you will get spicy peppery overtones with several nutty features. A full-bodied cigar that has a nice kick to it on the back end leaving a rich, peppery aftertaste on your palette. The E.N remains consistent with smooth, crisp, sweet and slightly bitter notes. The color on the beer is reddish and dark amber. To this point it’s a great pairing for my particular palette. The spicy pepper tones and the smooth, sweet tones of the beer gel nicely, leaving a somewhat sticky and tan head.

On the back half of the cigar, expect things to kick up a notch. Rich, dark coffee bean and earthy notes become front and center. The orange peel, herbal malts and earthy features of the beer make this a cigar pairing delight and worthy of the price for a premium cigar and beer. My parting advice for anyone looking to pair a cigar and your favorite beer would be: Sit back, relax and start exploring. The journey is half the fun.