The name Cigar City means different things to different people. For the craft beer lovers, it is the namesake of one of the best breweries on the east coast. The rest of the country is taking note, as those who live in other states long for it like most Floridians used to do for New Belgium craft brews.

For the cigar connoisseur, the name Cigar City means just that, a place that was once the Mecca of American cigar production. There was a time when more Cuban cigars were produced in the city of Tampa, Florida, than were exported from Cuba itself.

Today the rich heritage and legacy of the American cigar industry lives on through the JC Newman Cigar Company. They are literally the last man standing in town, and their dedication to the industry shines through in the products they produce today.

So, what better way to celebrate these two great companies than by pairing up a delicious Cigar City brew with one of JC Newman's most critically acclaimed cigars? I have chosen to match CCB's hard to get Good Gourd pumpkin brew with Newman's equally elusive Diamond Crown cigar.

Let's start with the beer. Cigar City's Good Gourd is the best pumpkin beer I have ever had. If you are a fan of these seasonal brews, then you would have to be out of you gourd not to enjoy this one. It's not just another pumpkin flavored beer like many of those that flood the market this time of year, but rather a delicious ale with just the right amount of pumpkin added to give it a very balanced flavor. There is a nice residual sweetness and some nutmeg spice that makes this one much different than the others. I have an aunt who makes the most amazing sweet potato casserole and what make it special is she painstakingly removes all of the strings from the sweet potatoes before baking it. I can't think of a better analogy. Good Gourd is just the essence of pumpkin with no strings attached. I'm not sure it was their intent, but the folks at CCB have made the perfect "harvest beer" for our rather warm, early fall season here in Florida.

As far as the cigar goes, the Diamond Crown is an amazing specimen. I chose to smoke a number 8 torpedo for this pairing. This cigar, which we just received last week in select stores, is an amazing smoke. Back in 1995, the late-great Stanford Newman blended this cigar with Carlos Fuente Sr. in order to celebrate JC Newman's 100th anniversary. It was their intent to create a stick that was not only a great cigar, but one that would epitomize the qualities and values instilled by the company's founder Julius Caesar Newman. I am proud to report that the mission was accomplished. The cigar is mostly of Dominican origin, but it is the double fermented Connecticut wrapper that makes this cigar special. The five year old wrapper leaf is carefully inspected, then only the best are chosen for a second fermentation. This process makes the leaf sweeter, which makes this cigar a perfect match for the Good Gourd pumpkin beer.

The cigar smokes in the mild to medium side, but the creamy smoke will not leave you wanting more flavor. There is a mild nuttiness, but the sweetness of the wrapper keeps this cigar on the easy side of the spice wheel. Don't expect a lot of black pepper and rich and leathery flavors with this one. Other pairing options with this cigar would include lambics and saison style beers. There is no danger of this cigar overpowering any beer that is on the sour or sweet side of the spectrum.

I strongly recommend the Diamond Crown. It is definitely a welcome addition to any humidor. Oh, and don't forget Cigar City’s Good Gourd beer. I promise they will be long gone before your town's pumpkin patch has sold its last pie maker.

Long Ashes,

Chris Gwaltney, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits North Florida Regional Manager. Certified Tobacconist and Cicerone Beer Server. Follow me on Twitter @abccigarchris.