SweetWater Brewing expands lineup with 420 Imperial IPA

High-ABV brew features unique blend of grains, hops

SweetWater Brewing Co. LLC, Atlanta, announced the launch of 420 Imperial IPA ― the first line extension off of its flagship 420 brand. A fresh take on ingredients from the original SweetWater 420 Extra Pale Ale, the Imperial IPA combines numerous hops in this new high-ABV brew.

The big, deep, copper-colored Imperial IPA is well-balanced with the right amount of hop bitterness and malty sweetness, combining traditional and modern hops to create flavor and aromas of mango, peach, pineapple, citrus and pine, the company says. IPA lovers will savor the unique blend of two-row, Munic and C70/80 grains as well as Centennial, Cascade, Columbus, Mosaic and Sultana Midnight Wheat Hops as well as Mosaic, Sultana, Lotus, and Cascade Dry Hops in this new brew, it adds.

“Our 420 Extra Pale Ale has been on the Mount Rushmore of craft beer for 24 years,” said Brian Miesieski, chief marketing officer at SweetWater, in a statement. “We are taking things to a whole new level by bringing a new style to one of the most well-known names in beer ― our 420 brand. This heady new brew leverages one of the most coveted innuendos and bar calls in craft, but delivers a new bigger, bolder IPA style that's right in the wheelhouse of our brewers.”

With an ABV of 9.1%, this brew has a higher ABV than the standard Imperial IPA. 420 Imperial IPA delivers adventurous flavors and aroma from a fresh combination of hops for added intensity and complexity without sacrificing quality, great taste, and straight-up beer drinking enjoyment, according to the company.

“We took the original base recipe from our 420 Extra Pale Ale, then dialed it up with more malt and hop varieties to deliver bigger, bolder flavor and flip it to an IPA,” said Brew Master Mark Medlin. “This true-to-style imperial IPA has a malty sweetness balanced with a variety of hops to create flavor and aromas of mango, peach, pineapple, citrus, and pine. While the flavor journey is much more intense, 420 Imperial IPA still finishes clean just like its namesake.”

420 Imperial IPA is inspired by 420 and embraces the SweetWater motto of Don't Float the Mainstream.

This launch comes in tandem with a new limited release from SweetWater's Dank Tank series. The 710 Hazy Double IPA is a 7.5% ABV, hazy, double-dry-hopped IPA. The Dank Tank is where SweetWater's brewers go to play, with no rhyme or reason and the only requirement is that it be tasty, hoppy, and heady.

SweetWater's 420 Imperial IPA will be available year-round on draft, six- and 12-packs of 12-ounce cans, as well as 19.2-ounce cans and can be found across the United States in restaurants, bars and stores.

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