Cigar City Brewing (CCB) announced the return of Hunahpu’s Imperial Stout, to be released only at the 11th Annual Hunahpu’s Day on March 13, 2020 at Amelie Arena in downtown Tampa. Tickets are now available, with each ticket granting access to unlimited samples of beer from over 115 breweries as well as bottles of Hunahpu’s Imperial Stout, a monolithic dark beer brewed with cinnamon, vanilla, cacao nibs and three types of chile peppers. Hunahpu’s Imperial Stout is not otherwise sold to the public.
First released in 2010, Hunahpu’s begins life as an 11.2% Imperial Stout boasting strong notes of espresso and dark chocolate. After fermentation, the beer is recirculated over cacao nibs, vanilla beans and cinnamon blended with ancho, pasilla and guajillo chile peppers. Hunahpu’s thus achieves the perfect balance between sweet milk chocolate flavors, spice-derived complexity and a Scoville heat that’s slow-building but never overwhelming. Named for a Mayan deity, Hunahpu’s has appeared on RateBeer, Untappd and BeerAdvocate lists of all-time highest rated beers in the world.
“The Hunahpu’s Day event grew organically around the release of this phenomenal beer,” says Cigar City Brewing’s Brand Manager, Neil Callaghan. “The time, energy and raw materials that go into brewing Hunahpu’s Imperial Stout have necessitated a once-yearly release, despite exceedingly high demand. If we can only release this beer that people really love once a year, let’s throw a party!”
Today, Hunahpu’s Day is a world-class beer festival bringing together thousands of craft beer enthusiasts and dozens of brewers from around the world. Hunahpu’s Day 2019 proved to be one of Cigar City Brewing’s most successful events ever, with over 4,000 attendees enjoying rare beer from Florida, California, Mexico, Denmark, Russia and everywhere in between.
In 2020, two new versions of Hunahpu’s Imperial Stout will be available only to higher level ticket holders. CCB’s Assistant Marketing Manager, Micki Bell says, “We are bringing some additional Mayan deities to the party with two versions of Hunahpu’s Imperial Stout: Alom’s Imperial Stout, which is rested on Spanish cedar, lending sandalwood and cracked black pepper notes to the beer; and Xmuncane’s (sha-MOON-canes) Imperial Stout, a version of Hunahpu’s that utilizes hazelnuts and coffee. Neither have been released ever before, and we couldn’t be more excited to share these beers with Hunahpu’s attendees.”
CCB offers several ticket levels designed to make access to Hunahpu’s Imperial Stout and the Hunahpu’s Day festival accessible to all. Bottles of Hunahpu’s Imperial Stout, entrance to the 11th Anniversary Hunahpu’s Day Festival, unlimited pours of over 300 different beers, access to delicious food, a souvenir tasting glass and other perks are all included with every level of Hunahpu’s Day ticket.
Visit Cigar City Brewing’s website [www.cigarcitybrewing.com] or click here for more information on Hunahpu’s Imperial Stout and Hunahpu’s Day 2020.
Terry Bunch
Raymond
