Have you ever wanted to have your artwork to show up on a craft beer label? Maybe you fancy yourself the next Randy Mosher or Ralph Steadman. If you were asked to create a label or logo for your favorite beer, what would you do? Well, Cigar City Brewing in Tampa needs your help in designing the label for one of their upcoming beer releases.
In partnership with Hampton Arts Management, Cigar City is holding a design contest for their Tocobaga Red Ale label that is going to be released in bottle form this year. The winner not only gets the honor of having their artwork on the bottles, but they will also receive an award of $500 and a free case of Tocobaga! Not too shabby.
Tocobaga Red Ale is a deep-colored amber ale with hop flavor and aromas dominating and a subtle caramel malt sweetness to balance in the finish. Tocobaga pours a slightly hazy reddish-amber color with an off-white head and great lacing. The aroma is amazing — hoppy and citrusy, with tropical fruit notes like pineapple and hints of sweet caramel malt. For a red ale, there is a surprising and delicious hop bitterness one would associate more with an IPA, almost West Coast style, but it is balanced. The mouthfeel is excellent and very dry. I am not usually a big fan of red ales in general, but this is one is really, really good. To date, this has only been available on draft, and it comes in at 7.2% ABV. It is quickly becoming a favorite not only of regulars of the tasting room, but of the brewery staff as well.
