Flying Dog Brewery & CAO Cigars Release Exclusive Pairing Pack

Frederick, MD – For craft beer enthusiasts who want to drink their beer and smoke it too, Flying Dog and CAO Cigars have partnered to pair four world-class cigars with the brewery’s most iconic beers.

“Cigars are most often paired with brown spirits. Since we’re not fans of being conventional, we’re shaking things up by bringing craft beer into the mix,” CAO cigar blender Rick Rodriguez said. “Flying Dog mirrors our devotion to delivering new, unique flavors, so we’re looking forward to working with them to bring this new trend to life.”

The CAO “Art of Craft” cigar pack will be available alongside each corresponding beer exclusively at 36 Total Wine stores throughout Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Virginia, North Carolina, and California beginning July 1.

“Just as craft beer is defined by a unique blend of malt, hops, and yeast, a cigar’s wrapper, binder and filler determines its flavor profile and aroma,” Flying Dog CEO Jim Caruso said. “The similarities between these two artisanal products quickly became apparent as we were working through this project.”

The pack features the following cigars and suggested beer pairings:

• OSA Sol and Snake Dog IPA: The zesty spice of OSA Sol meets its match with the citrus and resinous hop aromas and flavors of Snake Dog.
• CAO Brazilia and Gonzo Imperial Porter: Both big and bold, the bitter coffee and chocolate flavors in CAO Brazilia are mimicked by the same robust notes in Gonzo.
• CAO Gold and Raging Bitch Belgian-Style IPA: The wildly complex hop bitterness and fruity sweet Belgian yeast notes in Raging Bitch are soothed by CAO Gold’s caramel creaminess.
• CAO Mx2 and Pearl Necklace Oyster Stout: Dark and dry is the name of this pairing’s game with Mx2’s rich notes of earth and Pearl Necklace’s dry, roast, and slightly bitter character.

Rodriguez and Caruso will host the “Art of Craft” launch on Wednesday, June 25 at the brewery. From 6 to 9 pm, guests will learn about both the beer and cigar making process from the experts themselves and experience the pairings on the brewery’s patio. Tickets are $35 and include the cigar pack, beer samples, and appetizers.

For a complete list of Total Wine locations and to purchase tickets to the “Art of Craft” launch, visit FlyingDogBrewery.com/Cigars.

About Flying Dog Brewery:
As one of the fastest-growing regional craft breweries in the mid-Atlantic, Flying Dog has been brewing world-class beer that pushes the confines of traditional styles for almost 25 years. Flying Dog attracts everyone from craft beer connoisseurs to those just catching the wave with up to 20 styles available at any given time and its Gonzo ties to writer Hunter S. Thompson and artist Ralph Steadman. Named the Mid-Size Craft Brewery of the Year at the 2009 Great American Beer Festival (the highest honor for its size in the United States), recent accolades for Flying Dog include its Pale Ale ranked as the #1 American Pale Ale in the U.S. by The New York Times.
www.flyingdogbrewery.com – @flyingdog – facebook

About CAO Cigars
Handcrafted by artisans in Nicaragua, CAO is recognized among cigar lovers worldwide for its innovative blends, superb quality and unexpected packaging. The brand continually receives top ratings from cigar media across the globe, and enjoys a devoted fan base. For more information, please visit www.caocigars.com.