This year’s American Craft Beer Week, “the annual springtime salute to small and independent craft breweries,” runs through May 22.

When it comes to pioneering craft breweries, Tampa’s Cigar City brewing certainly should be considered among the best.

The company’s recent Cosmic Crown Belgian-style Strong Golden Ale brewed with Galaxy hops is a good example of mixing old and new styles. And with that in mind, it’s this week’s Beer Pick.

Beer Pick

Cosmic Crown Belgian-style Strong Golden Ale

Cigar City Brewing, Tampa, FL

Available on draft and in 6-pack 12-ounce cans

Profile

Cosmic Crown is a Belgian-style Strong Golden Ale that features Galaxy hops, said to “impart passionfruit and peach qualities to its profile of ripe fruit and light peppery spice.” At 9% ABV, it’s a big but balanced bright gold beer that starts out sweet, then finishes with a quenching flash of bitterness, inviting another sip.

Pair with

Try Cosmic Crown with fried seafood, cured meats, or triple cream cheese. I sipped it with a bowl of peaches, whipped cream and shortbread cookies, and it proved sublime.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Atlanta's Truist Park, site of the 2025 MLB All-Star game on July 15, debuted eight concessions this year at Outfield Market, the stadium's open-air food hall on the right field concourse. (Natrice Miller/AJC)

Credit: Natrice Miller/AJC

Featured

Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, seen here in a file photo from Nov. 14, 2024, is conducting a statewide audit of voter registrations targeting registrations at businesses and P.O. boxes for possible cancelation. (Jason Getz / AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com