Wednesday, May 12, 2021 - Sonder Brewing
Kings Island Blue Ice Cream Ale, uniquely crafted to parallel the famous in park treat, debuts this weekend. The second collaboration between Kings Island and Sonder Brewing, boasts aromas and flavors of blueberry and vanilla. Blue Ice Cream Ale takes you back to those sunny summer days at Kings Island—like nostalgia in a glass. The first collaboration, Giga Coaster Lager, brewed to celebrate the rollercoaster Orion, was a huge success last summer. Blue Ice Cream Ale was originally slated to be produced in 2020 as well but covid complications pushed it to 2021.
Brewing a beer like this was a welcomed challenge for the Sonder production team. The beer uses the same flavors that are used in the park's famous Blue Ice Cream. Chase Legler, Chief Operations Officer, says, “The color was an exciting challenge as we knew we didn't want to add any artificial ingredients or coloring to achieve a blue hue. We did a lot of research and testing to find a natural product to get the color. Both balancing the ice cream flavor without being overly sweet and achieving the fun blue color were definitely the main challenges.” The use of honey malt helped sweeten up the beer without making it overly sweet. When they drink Blue Ice Cream Ale, we hope consumers will feel nostalgia from their days as a child at Kings Island, and enjoy the refreshing flavors of this summer beer at the same time.
Kings Island has been a fantastic partner since Sonder opened in the Fall of 2018, and this is another chapter in a great partnership. Daniel Schmerr, Chief Sales Officer, says, “From label design, to bench-marking kegs for flavor profiles, to wanting to make this beer special, Kings Island was passionate and accommodating through the whole process. For a project that took nearly a year and a half to complete, we couldn’t be more excited to see Blue Ice Cream Ale come to fruition!” Community is one of five company pillars for Sonder, and this partnership with Kings Island is a good example of collaborating with other members of our amazing local community.
Storytelling is an important part of the Sonder Brewing brand, and the story and nostalgia of Kings Island Blue Ice Cream runs deep with many Sonder employees. Justin Neff, CEO and President, says, “This project was rewarding and exciting, both from a personal and a business perspective. As a kid, my family vacationed to Kings Island multiple times a year and Blue Ice Cream was always a treat we enjoyed. After more than a year of planning this beer and now seeing and tasting the finished product, the beer truly captures that nostalgia.” Blue Ice Cream has a special place in the memories of many Sonder employees, and those memories fueled the creativity and execution of Kings Island Blue Ice Cream Ale.
Kings Island Blue Ice Cream Ale will be launching for the season on Saturday, May 15 at eight in park locations. The Sonder taproom will have Blue Ice Cream Ale on draft starting Monday, May 17, along with having a limited amount of 4-packs available at $12.99 with a one 4-pack limit per person.
For more information on Kings Island Amusement Park, visit visitkingsisland.com
For more information on Sonder Brewing, visit sonderbrewing.com