Three Epic Beer Releases This Week: Core Strategy, Cotton Candy & Oktoberfest
We're closing out July with a triple release you won't want to miss. The official beers of Gen Con and the Indiana State Fair, plus the return of Oktoberfest are here this week.
We’re wrapping up July and diving into August with three brand-new beer releases (OK two that are brand new and one that’s a seasonal), each one crafted to mark a special occasion like gearing up for the con, hitting the fairgrounds or just dreaming of fall.
Core Strategy – The Official Beer of Gen Con 2025
Available Now! | Apple Cyzer
With more than 2,500 fan votes, Core Strategy has been named the official beer of Gen Con 2025. It’s ready to fuel your most legendary adventures.
Forged for heroes and brewed for legends, this crisp and sessionable Apple Cyzer is ideal for your longest campaigns and mightiest quests.
Join us at the Gen Con Block Party.
Keep an eye out for limited-edition collector cans. There are four designs to catch!
State Fair Cotton Candy Ale – The Official Beer of the Indiana State Fair
Available Friday, August 1 | Ale with Cotton Candy Flavor
A taste of the fair midway in a can! Our Cotton Candy Ale is brewed to celebrate the Indiana State Fair and all its tasty traditions.
From Lobster Mac & Cheese to Cheesy Hot Honey Chicken Fries and Cinnamon Toast Cookie Butter Pretzel Bites (yes, those are all real and all amazing), Sun King Cotton Candy is sweet, nostalgic and pairs perfectly with your favorite fair food.
Just in time for the Fair’s opening day Friday, August 1!
Oktoberfest – Our Seasonal Classic Returns
Available Friday, August 1 | German-Style Märzen Lager
Yes, we know it’s still July (technically), but trust us, Oktoberfest season starts now.
Crafted with choice malts and Noble hops, this traditional Märzen-style lager features a toasty malt complexity and a crisp, dry finish that’ll have you dreaming of cooler weather and stein clinks.
Prost to early fall vibes. It’s officially Oktoberfest time at Sun King.
Where to Find These Beers
Availability may vary by location, so check with your local Sun King Taproom for release day tapping details and packaged beer.
Rolling the Dice on Flavor: Celebrating Over a Decade of Sun King x Gen Con Beers
Sun King’s epic collaboration with Gen Con continues in 2025 with Core Strategy — a sessionable Apple Cyzer forged for heroes and brewed for legends. Learn more about our partnership, fan-favorite brews, and how gaming and beer have made the perfect team.
Let the games begin! It’s Gen Con week, the biggest tabletop gaming convention in North America. Sun King is proud to once again raise a glass (or flagon) as the Official Beer of Gen Con. What is this year’s legendary release? It’s a sessionable Apple Cyzer named Core Strategy. Chosen by a landslide vote, this apple ale is forged for heroes and brewed for legends.
Since 2012, Sun King has partnered with Gen Con to create unique, limited-edition beers that capture the magic of the gaming world. But the roots of this partnership go even deeper. Back in the earliest days of Gen Con in Indy (before the beer was officially official), we were crafting themed brews and decorating with leftover props from Gen Con displays. We were fans first because we knew there was something special about the energy of the con and its community.
That passion led us to approach Gen Con in 2011 with an idea to make the beer collaboration official. The following year, Ale of Destiny was born along with a tradition that’s become a cornerstone of our summer.
“We enjoy doing fun stuff with cool people,” says Sun King co-founder Dave Colt. “Gen Con leadership has always been warm, welcoming and collaborative. They are a true partner in every sense.” With the support of Visit Indy, and a mutual commitment to community and creativity, the Sun King x Gen Con relationship has grown stronger each year.
Fan Favorites Through the Years:
For more than 10 years, we've brewed up some unforgettable Gen Con beers. There are a few that fans still ask for today and every year:
Twenty-Sided Rye (2016)
Dragon’s Delight (2017, brought back by vote in 2022)
Genevieve (2021, extended during Covid)
Hive Mind (2023)
Others, like Flagon Slayer (2013) and Froth of Kahn (2014), continue to be legendary in their own right and are frequently requested by fans hoping for a revival.
Every new year brings a new brew and a new adventure.
Join the Quest:
Core Strategy launches this Wednesday at the Gen Con Block Party. Come claim all four collector’s cans before they vanish into myth.
Check with your local Sun King taproom for availability. Not all locations carry the same brews, and Core Strategy is limited!