Ok… wow. These guys are on a freaking roll with some spectacular collaboration projects. This latest one with Kings Island wasn’t even supposed to happen in 2021, it was supposed to have happened last year – but, you know… Covid. No fear, though – even if it was pushed back a little bit, this is one of those projects that has to happen.

Blue. Ice. Cream. Ale.

Last year’s collaboration between Kings Island and Sonder was great. I loved ‘Giga Coaster’ and it fit into an afternoon walking around the park wonderfully. It showcased the new ride at the park, and brought that into not just the taproom, but to peoples fridges across town. It was a really great collaboration idea.

This? This steps it up to a whole new level.

About The Blue Ice Cream

I’m going to make an assumption about you. I’m going to assume that you’ve been to Kings Island before. I’m going to take it a step further and assume that while on one of those trips as a kid (or as an adult…) you have happily eaten more than your fair share of blue ice cream.

The blueberry flavored soft serve ice cream made it’s debut in the park back in 1982, and no matter what you call it ‘Blue Ice Cream’ – ‘Smurf Cones’ (the ice cream has had many names throughout it’s history…) it’s a part of the park experience that is unique to Kings Island, and one that developed organically from the people who visited the park with their families.

Today? It’s part of the entire experience. It’s part of the story of Kings Island. Hell, I’ll go as far as to tell you that it’s part of the story of Cincinnati at this point. Who better to bring that story into a beer than Sonder?

The Collaboration

Debuting this weekend (5/15 in the park – 5/17 at Sonder), this beer is going to be popular. I predict that this will hit in the same realm for people that the first Graeter’s collab did, or that the Fiona beer did. It resonates deep within a lot of people – not just beer people. That’s a heavy burden to carry when you’re crafting a beer that has to meet those expectations.

To meet those expectations of people who have a deep relationship already with the ice cream they knew that this beer had to taste true to how it does in the park. It has to look like it too – you’ve gotta make a blue beer. And you have to do both of those things while not using artificial colors and flavors.

It has to be sweet, but not too sweet. It has to be blue, but not too blue. It can’t be cheesy, it can’t be too serious. There are so many factors that can make a product like this fail – there are also just as many that can make something like this be a smash success, and one that you’re going to have to buy.

So. Here’s the deal. This beer is debuting at 8 different locations around the park on Saturday. Head to their website to plan your trip, and when you get to the park hit up their social media and ask the amazing Don Helbig where you need to go to grab some. (Make sure you find your way over to Hanna Barbara Land, ummm… Planet Snoopy and grab an ice cream cone, too.)

Then, on Monday May 17th, the beer will debut at Sonder. You’ll be able to grab a draft beer there, and take home a four pack of 16oz cans – but like I said… I predict that this will be a hot one. It’s gonna go fast. They have a limited amount of four packs and they’re going to limit them to one per person for $12.99.