Cloud Candy IPA: what it is and where to buy it

Cloud Candy is a hazy, juicy IPA from Mighty Squirrel, and CBC Liquors in Westford has it in stock now. You can find it on our shelves at 142 Littleton Rd or order it through pickup or delivery, and it sits alongside the rest of our IPA range if you want to compare it with other hop-forward beers.

What is Cloud Candy IPA?

MIGHTY SQUIRREL Cloud Candy is an IPA made by Mighty Squirrel. It belongs to the hazy, fruit-forward side of the style, the kind of beer people mean when they say a beer drinks soft and juicy rather than sharp and bitter.

That character comes from how hazy IPAs are made in general. Brewers use hops that add tropical and citrus aroma, keep the bitterness low, and leave the beer unfiltered so it pours cloudy. The name fits: it is meant to look and taste soft.

If you have had a hazy IPA before and liked it, Cloud Candy is an easy one to pick up. If you have not, it is a sensible place to start, because it gives you the hop flavor without much of the harsh bite older West Coast style IPAs are known for.

Is Cloud Candy a New England IPA?

Cloud Candy sits in the hazy family, and hazy IPA and New England IPA are, in everyday use, close to the same thing. The New England style is defined by a cloudy look, a soft body, and a heavy dose of aroma hops added late in the brew.

If that is the style you like, our New England IPA page groups the hazy beers together so you can browse them side by side.

A quick note on the name: you may also see a lighter version of Cloud Candy online. If you are after a specific one, check the can or the product listing before you buy so you get the beer you meant to.

What does a hazy IPA taste like?

Expect aroma first. Hazy IPAs lean on hops that smell like orange, grapefruit, mango, pineapple and stone fruit, and that smell carries into the flavor. The bitterness is there, but it sits in the background.

The texture is the other giveaway. These beers feel fuller and smoother than a clear, crisp lager or a classic bitter IPA. Many people describe the feel as juicy, which is mostly about that soft body rather than any added juice.

Because the hop aroma is the point, hazy IPAs are best enjoyed fresh. Keep the cans cold, drink them well before any date on the packaging, and pour into a glass if you can. The aroma is a big part of what you are paying for.

What should you drink with Cloud Candy?

A juicy, low-bitterness IPA works well with food that has some heat or richness. Tacos, grilled chicken, burgers, wings and anything with a bit of spice all suit it, because the fruit character softens the heat.

It also does well with salty snacks, sharp cheddar, and fried food, where the hops cut through the oil. If you are planning a cookout, a few cans of hazy IPA in the cooler will sit comfortably next to the grill.

If you are putting together a bigger spread, our Party Planner is a good place to sort out how much of everything you need. Drink at your own pace and make sure everyone has a safe way home.

What else should you try if you like Cloud Candy?

If the soft, fruity style appeals, there are plenty of neighbors on the shelf. MAINE BEER CO Lunch is a well-known IPA from Maine Beer Co. Lawsons Sip Of Sunshine is another IPA that comes up often when people are looking for something bright and hoppy.

For a different take, BISSELL BROTHERS Substance, WORMTOWN Be Hoppy and NIGHT SHIFT Santilli are all IPAs we carry, and each has its own balance of bitterness and fruit.

We also stock several breweries in depth. Browse Night Shift, Other Half, Toppling Goliath and Finback to see what else they have in the cooler. For heavier hopping, look at Imperial IPA, and for something lighter, Session IPA keeps the hop flavor in a more modest package.

How do you get Cloud Candy from CBC Liquors?

The simplest way is to walk in. We are at 142 Littleton Rd, Westford, MA 01886, open Sunday 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Monday through Thursday 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM, and Friday and Saturday 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

If you would rather not make the trip into the aisles, we also offer pickup during those same hours, and delivery. Delivery hours run Sunday 10:00 AM to 7:30 PM, Monday through Thursday 10:00 AM to 8:30 PM, and Friday and Saturday 10:00 AM to 9:30 PM.

Bring a valid ID. Anyone receiving alcohol has to be 21 or older and able to show it.

Our whole Beer section is worth a look while you are here. With 4,624 products and 1,893 brands in stock across the store, there is usually something new next to the beer you came in for.

Do you deliver beer to towns near Westford?

We do deliver, and we serve more than Westford. Our delivery areas include Chelmsford, Acton, Littleton, Carlisle, Lowell, Billerica, Tyngsborough, Boxborough and Dunstable.

If you are not sure whether your address is covered, the delivery areas page lays it out town by town.

We have a 4.7 out of 5 rating on Google from 339 reviews, which is a fair picture of how customers find the shop. If you have a question about a particular beer, ask at the counter and we will tell you what we have.