Capitalizing on the growing popularity of craft beer in the United States, Carnival Cruise Lines has entered into an exclusive agreement to offer Tampa, Florida-based Cigar City Brewing’s craft beers on all of its Florida-based ships. The agreement, the first partnership of this magnitude between a craft brewery and a major cruise line, was announced Sunday, July 13, at an event aboard Carnival Legend at the Port of Tampa.
"Carnival continues to seek high-quality brands to enhance our guests’ experience, and Cigar City Brewing has been rated among the top craft breweries in the world,” said Eddie Allen, Carnival’s vice president of beverage operations. “Cigar City Brewing's craft beers are a fantastic addition to our already extensive beverage menus and will provide our guests a chance to enjoy two delicious and refreshing beers that aren’t available on any other cruise line.”
Cigar City’s Florida Cracker Belgian-Style White Ale and Invasion Pale Ale (both packaged in cans) will be available on thirteen Carnival ships sailing from five Florida ports beginning this week.
Florida Cracker is named for the colonial-era “Cracker” cowboys of Florida. Cloudy straw in color, it is brewed with unmalted wheat, orange peel, and coriander and then fermented with a French Saison yeast strain to give it a spicy and dry finish.
Gold in color, Invasion is a hoppy session beer (5 percent ABV) that celebrates Tampa’s alleged history of being a pirate hideout. It is citrusy and tropical with suggestions of peach, mango, papaya, and lime.
Cigar City Brewing could not be happier than to partner with Carnival Cruise Lines, another great Florida institution. Everyone at Cigar City Brewing is thrilled to start this wonderful partnership," said Joe Burns, national sales manager for Cigar City Brewing.