Stogies, Steins and Good Times

Spoil yourself Old School. Hops & Habanas steps up as the go-to place for Pints and Cigars in Madison

Sometimes consumers are looking for more than the ordinary, something beyond the basics. With that idea in mind, the owners of Hops and Habanas opened their doors in February 2009 in the Wal-Mart shopping center in Madison, dedicated to bringing a full selection of cigars and beers of interest to the area.

“The focus of our store is to be a source for the imports, the upstart microbrews, and the craft beers. We wanted to bring our customers a selection deeper, wider and richer than they find at a supermarket or convenience store,” said co-owner Trayce Miles. “The expected brands are on our shelves, of course, but the focus of our store is to be a source for the imports, the upstart microbrews and the craft beers that the true hops fans are looking for.”

Trayce and her husband, Rick, founded the store and they keep the products freshly stocked with help from Trayce’s mom, Renee. And together they all provide the friendly, warm atmosphere that inhabits the store.

“Our store is a place to forget your cares,” Renee said. “So when you come in you find a smile and a great selection greeting you. ” In addition to the usual cans and bottles, Hops and Habanas is the area’s local supplier of keg beer. They pride themselves in not charging the customer keg or tap rental fees.

“Our customers appreciate not being charged $100 or more up front and are very good about returning the kegs and taps,” she said. After all, kegs can run from $40 to $200 depending on brand and size.”

To keep their customers satisfied, the Hops and Habanas team stocks everything from the 12-pack big brands to the microbrews to the European ales, lagers and Pilsners whose recipes are older than the United States.

“Beer lovers don’t just watch football and do keg stands,” Rick said. “Many of our customers pair beer expertly with food. And many of them brew their own, so they know the ingredients and they know how they work in the brew to make it tasty.”

To support the spirit of this community, Hops and Habanas was a major sponsor of the “Tops of the Hops” Beer Festival at the Jackson Convention Complex last July 31. The event drew over 2,800 people during its four hours of frothy fun. An event that successful is bound to be repeated.
“There are many active beer enthusiasts in the Jackson area who are thirsty for a broader selection of beer in the marketplace, especially the craft and microbrew selections,” Trayce said. “These fans are seeking out our store. We help sponsor Raise Your Pints Mississippi and advocated Governor Barber’s proclamation of July 23-31st as Mississippi’s Craft Brew Week, which leads up to the Top of the Hops Beer Festival.

 

Cigars Round Out the Selection

But of course, the store isn’t just about the brews. It’s also about the pleasure of a good cigar. Hops and Habanas has a 15’ x 15’ Spanish Cedar Walk-In Humidor. They are proud of their growing inventory that already features more than 600 selections of cigar products.

“Our customers are always asking for a recommendation, or asking me what I’m smoking lately,” Rick said. “It’s just natural for me try a variety of styles on a regular basis. It helps keep the conversation going with our loyal customers.”

Hops and Habanas carries top-of-the line cigars like the Ashton ESG, Davidoffs Winston Churchill, Zino Platinum Scepter and Classic series, Quorum, and Brioso. They also bring in special orders for customers. Cigar accessories such as ashtrays, lighters, cutters, desktop humidors and other supplies are also available.

Hops and Habanas is located in the Wal-Mart Shopping Center in Madison, Mississippi and is open Monday – Thursday 10a – 8p, Fri & Sat 10a – 9p and Sunday 12p – 5p. They can be contacted at (601) 853-7449 or found on Facebook and Twitter @hopsandhabanas.