Between big West Coast vibes and the can design showing a jetty stretching into the water at the blue hour†, this cold IPA really is a sweet escape from anything bland in your life.
While Sweet Escape shares two of the three headlining hops of Sunday Road’s previous cold IPA – Ekuanot and Amarillo have stayed, and Idaho 7 has replaced Sabro – the drinking experience is totally different. Rather than a focus on zingy fruit and florals, Sweet Escape is a fresh pine bomb with an earthy fuse. It’s clean and bright with a dry bitterness that’s there from beginning to end; there’s none of that "hint of bitterness in the back" business going on here.
Despite its use of Cryo hops and a new style, this beer captures so much of a West Coast IPA from 2016. The main difference between this West Coast and a more traditional one is the restrained malt body – the big distinction of the cold IPA style – that makes this beer ridiculously drinkable for a 6.8 percent ABV WCIPA. I won't lie – it's really working for me.
Mick Wust
†If you’ve never heard of the blue hour before, don’t worry - neither had I. My photographer friend told me about it when he saw this beer. The blue hour is a period at twilight when the sun is below the horizon, making the sky a deep blue and covering the whole landscape with bluish light. Despite the name, it only lasts for about 20 minutes… which is probably longer than this beer will last you.
Published November 10, 2021 2021-11-10 00:00:00
