How to Brew the PERFECT COLD IPA (Is this an IPL??)

[@PhatALby]

Did one of these a couple of months ago with 80/20 pislner and flaked corn. Fermented under pressure with Lutra Kveik as a 'seudo lager' in the keg with a floating diptube which is probably the easiest way to do it. It was ready in a week, and lasted about that long too!

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

Nice! I think if I was pressed for time lutra would be ideal for this beer! It's a great option. Cheers!

[@marcinkolek252]

Something that confuses me. How can a beer be ready in a week? People brew these beers "grain to glass in 7 days" but whenever I brew anything it's never good if it hasn't bottle conditioned for at least 3 weeks. Even with kveik

[@Chris.patient85]

I brewed a Cold IPA earlier this summer. Very similar grist, but I used flaked corn in place of rice. And slightly different hops, along with 34/70 yeast. Ended up being one of the best beers I've made so far and I plan on making it again soon.

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

Nice! I think that would be absolutely delicious!

[@vruychev]

Judging by your smile, this beer must be very smackable lol I agree with you, S189 is a great lager yeast. On a side note, your video quality is absolutely leaps and bounds better than your early days on the channel. Case in point - the dynamic range is awesome - seeing details in highlights and shadows at the same time is pretty hard to achieve. Sorry to geek out on you, cheers Steve on yet another successful brew tutorial!

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

That is awesome to hear dude!! I appreciate it, since I've been one of the slowest brewing channels to learn videography but I'm glad it's finally paying off. I appreciate everyone's patience with this!

[@vruychev]

@@TheApartmentBrewer I am a pro photographer and I see things like that. Big pet-peeve is the white balance, color tonality and focus. But you have definitely done your homework.

[@Murrauder585]

You can tell when the smell is so good because you always want to go right into the taste as fast as possible

[@TheBruSho]

I've never really had a Cold IPA that blew me away, and I've tried a lot. Not sure what it is about it but the one you made here does sound quite good. May have to brew one someday.

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

It's similar to the west coast IPA we had from denny and drew but with less malt character. Same crisp brightness

[@BlichmannEngineering]

Agreed! Great point, Trent!

[@PartyTimeBrewing]

I love me some Cold IPA! Been using the Novalager and it seems to always turn out great. I do want to try the 34/70 though, it's way cheaper and potentially flocculates a lot better. Like the macro shots! Cheers!

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

Thanks James! I think novalagor would definitely be a great choice for this one! Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@dougmate2378]

What is 34/70? Sorry I have not finished the video yet, if it's mentioned.

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

​@@dougmate237834/70 is a yeast strain. Saflager W-34/70 specifically

[@dougmate2378]

@TheApartmentBrewer thank you braj. 🤙🍻

[@jordananiceto7771]

How did you learn this craft so thoroughly? Most places I look dont get this technical

[@charlesjohnson5811]

On an episode of the BruLab, they explained that the IBUs can actually decrease with big dry hop additions as the hop matter can absorb the iso-alpha acids. I wonder if this is one of the reasons that this beer (and probably many other west coast IPAs with huge calculated IBUs) do not turn out to be very bitter. Great video Steve, will definitely be brewing myself a cold IPA!

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

I believe that's somewhere around 1 oz per gallon which is the rate I used in this video. Might be a thing for me to look into!

[@marklpaulick]

For that more aggressive bitterness try bittering with chinook. Sometimes Magnum is too smooth!

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

Chinook is a great bittering hop, definitely a good option

[@richardguernsey908]

Gonna brew this one this weekend! Using Emerald Spire and Mackinac hops. Great video!

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

Sounds great!

[@fuhmeable]

I've done 5 Cold IPA brews this year. Probably my favorite IPA style right now. I haven't used Flaked Rice yet but have been opting for Flaked Corn about 20%. Great video!

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

Flaked corn would definitely make this have a nice little bit of sweetness on top of everything. I think that would be delicious!

[@chrisnewton9788]

Looks like a cracking beer that one Steve. Good job

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

I'm very pleased with it!

[@gradhlon]

I made a Idaho7/Galaxy Cold IPA one month ago. It's a blast !!

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

That sounds incredible!!

[@Slflanders]

You mentioned in the "Possible Improvements" bit that you were looking for a stronger or different bitterness. I recommend Warrior in place of, or in combination with Magnum. In my experience it seems to have a sharper, cleaner bitterness than Magnum when used in West Coast style beers I've brewed. Additionally, Since I began pre-acidifying my wort for these styles, my homebrew contest results have gone through the roof. Now I routinely drop pre-fermentation acidity to around 4.2ph on West Coast IPA's and Pilsners. Thank you for your continued content!

[@jacobhutchison7596]

Do you just add a suitable amount of lactic to get the ph? Totally agree with the warrior...nice clean bittering hop with a touch of citrus.

[@Slflanders]

@@jacobhutchison7596 - Yep, 100% I normally brew 11gal batches and, depending on post boil PH, my lactic acid addition going into the fermenter is usually 1-3ml. For reference, my West Coast IPA's are going into packaging around 4.6-4.7ph. I measured the PH of MANY West Coast IPA's and the "good ones" are always in the 4.5-4.8ph range. Anything over that tends to be "flabby". PS - I also do this for my Pilsners...

[@jimmatzek5895]

Made this. Came out great. Novalager yeast. Nice lengthy hop finish.... Missed my og nimber by 10 points but tastes damn good.

[@marklpaulick]

You put so much into these videos , thank you! Has anyone mentioned you repeat yourself a lot ? Try saying things once instead of 3 times.

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

Glad you enjoyed the video. I often say things several times over to help people who are watching remember and otherwise retain the information

[@paulschroeter4987]

would it be a bad idea to add el dorado, motueka,? or perhaps magnum, el dorado and motueka ?

[@ElementaryBrewingCo]

Sounds really good, Steve! I am now thirsty, cheers 🍻

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

Cheers Brian!

[@cantfunction98]

I ended up doing this recipe, excluding some modifications due to my local resources. it ended up being very fruity and tropical taste. I didn’t have access to cryo hops but I kept the hops additions the same. I also doubled the corn sugar and ended up with a 9% brew that doesn’t even taste alcoholic ended up extreamly clean in flavor but very hazy. 19C fermentation at 2psi using 34/70, dry hopped at 1.020 then dropped the temp to 15C and cranked the psi up to 15, OG was 1.069 FG was 1.005.

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

Wow! That's quite the brew, sounds delicious!

[@TheBMurph43]

Can you in a future video go over pre-acidification of your wort before fermentation.

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

Sure, its just a few drops of lactic acid post boil

[@digitalFig]

Wait, you pre-acidified your wort!? How? Lactic acid? I think I understand why with your mentioning that dry hopping rises the pH, but I've never heard of this before. Did you measure the pH then figure out how much acid to add? Maybe this idea, the process, the how and why would be a good subject for another video. Great one here as always, good on ya, thanks!

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

I'll incorporate it into another ipa sometime. Yeah it's just a few mL lactic acid added to the wort when transferring to fermenter. Confirmed pH and then pitched.

[@arpadhalak6066]

I just finished my keg of west coast pils yesterday, while brewing the scaled up version of it to 6.6%. It’s almost the same as a cold ipa, but I don’t add rice/corn, and fermented with nova. These types of beers are my favourite at the moment. Keep up the great work! Cheers!

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

Sounds delicious!!

[@bobdole4573]

Super video. Thanks so much,

[@mikekeller5202]

Looks like you did a great job, can you taste the alcohol in it?

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

Not at all!

[@scotttippetts3794]

Just as an aside, almost all my brews I do split-batch fermentation so that I can see how 2 or more different yeasts work on the same wort/grist. This would have been a fun experiment to do half with your 34/70 (or Diamond, etc) and the other half with a Kolsch yeast. I've just started using Lallemand's Koln, and it surprised me with a 94% attenuation on a Cascadian Dark Ale (black IPA?) with great hops flavor coming through. I'd bet it might've worked on your IPL here too. (I notice you actually mentioned Kolsch early in this video, so you were probably thinking along those lines already.)

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

I totally agree! Different lager yeasts interact with hops differently so it would be cool to compare directly! Kolsch yeast is amazingly versatile!

[@TheChemicalOli]

Thanx 4 the video, I have to try 1 soon.

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

My pleasure!

[@jordananiceto7771]

How did you learn this craft so thoroughly? Most places I look dont go into such technical detail

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

Lots of trial and error, and lots of research!

[@TheHomebrewChallenge]

The beer looks great. Did it pour this clear without finings?

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

I used a little biofine in the keg but it cleared up pretty fast after that. I imagine there would be a slight haze with all the dry hops without finings.

[@gregperez3491]

Always very good quality in you recipes , let me try make this cold ipa

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

I'm glad you enjoyed the video!

[@TheVindalloo]

That's my beauty and you very very much seem to enjoy it 😊. You've really awakened my wanting to brew this thing. Thanks as always

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

It's delicious!

[@Nusbizz]

Man.. just made one last week and ferm stalled at 1.020. Pitched at 80F and Im thinking maybe was too high for 34/70.. ended up tossin the brew and redid the recipe yesterday. Fingers crossed. Great vid!

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

Yeah 80 is way too high of a pitching temperature. Hopefully the rebrew went better!

[@Nusbizz]

Ok, 2nd batch was better. Think I need to revisit my ferm system (stainless bucket in a chest freezer and lamp for heat). Freezer seems to dip temp a little lower then desired when it kicks on and lamp needs a hotter bulb to correct faster. Either way, had to ferm this one 8days before dry hopping. One of my better beers surprisingly lol. Strata, 586, nelson. Insane combo. Lime, citrus, striped gum. Want to use cryo next time.

[@dpromny]

At those temperatures the yeast will rip through in no time, 34/70 is an absolute beast. Regularly finishes for me in 3 days.

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

It goes nuts when its warm like that!

[@DylanScully1]

I think ill give this one a go, maybe add in some carapils for head retention? My last cold ipa didnt hit the dry mark for my taste so the addition of some sugar too is a good idea. Cheers!

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

Sounds great! Cheers!

[@escollay]

Love the look of this beer, recently had an epic Cold IPA, had put me in the mood to brew one! Can I ask how you achieved your carbonation as it looks excellent! Did you force carb? If so at what level and for how long? What was the serving pressure? Love the videos, I’m on your Patreon too, keep up the good work!

[@capecoraljoseph]

No sparge with the clawhammer system? Great video, btw, skal

[@capecoraljoseph]

I've been thinking about brewing this style for awhile. This video has convinced me to dive in.

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

You can sparge with the system if you want to but it's not necessary. I have mine dialed in so I don't need to

[@seriomarkj]

Can't wait to do this style myself...and i wonder if another small addition at like 45 or 30 mins would help give that bittering bite your looking for

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

Not a bad idea!

[@JoeGraves24]

Not brewed one yet. Anymore I’m only doing sub 6% abv brews. Looks interesting though. Thank you for your hard work.

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

Make a cold session IPA! Glad you enjoyed it. Cheers!

[@javansheneman3659]

Great video! One question I have, did you use two packs of yeast because of the higher gravity or because you wanted it to ferment quicker?

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

Yup, based on gravity

[@JimmyJusa]

Just to boost the conflicting nomenclature (using ipa term but using a lager yeast for this style) I've made a black cold ipa (I've seen a couple commercial examples since I made mine so I wasn't the only one) and it was good but I doubt the rice addition could be perceived compared to if I left it out.

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

Haha I love it. Beer is beer and it's great to push the artificial boundaries we've all created for ourselves with these styles. Sounds awesome!

[@jimmatzek5895]

Grest video. Will be msking shortly. I hsve Kveik Lutra in the fridge. What sbout using corn instead of rice, will it put too much sweetness????

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

Yes you can. It may add some sweetness but won't upset the balance I don't think

[@pmhartel]

I still dont know how a cold IPA is not an IPL. It's a highly hopped lager. It's also typically said to be fermented with a lager yeast at warm temperatures. So neither cold or an ale... That said i have my version of a beer like this currently in the fermenter. I used Citra and Centennial and I'm fermenting with lutra at 85f. I'm looking forward to having a light body hoppy beer on tap to finish out the summer.

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

Whatever it gets classified as, its a delicious beer style!

[@pmhartel]

@@TheApartmentBrewer I'm not usually a style stickler. The best beer is the beer in my hand!

[@DoNNyP421]

I will be brewing this style coming up this weekend- gonna Use Lutra for Yeast and Citra Mosaic and Eldorado Hops ! - 🤞it comes out tasty

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

Sounds great! I hope the brew went well!

[@milkcoffee4124]

3-7 days too fast for fermenting a lager, isnt it? Did you ferment at 65F on purposes to speed up the yeast’s activity?

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

It is hardly too fast for 34/70. If I was using a czech lager strain then maybe, but not all lagers are the same and this one is well-documented to ferment cleanly at 65+. The fermentation speed is an added benefit.

[@Jimsmith656]

Love your vids!! just noticed though you dont sparge ? is there no need to or is it the system you use?

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

I typically skip the sparge step with this system. You can sparge with it if you want though

[@NWsmallbatchBrewing]

Expert level content

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it so much!

[@chilecayenne]

Thanks for another fun episode!! Quick question...if you were to do a lager yeast under pressure (say 12-15psi)...what is the upper bound of temperature you could do this at? I live in New Orleans without any temp control (for cooling)...so, alternatives are what I'm having to work with. Thank you in advance!!! CC

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

I think it depends on the lager strain but I've never personally taken anything above the high 70s under pressure. Lutra kveik might be a better option for you if you want to keep it hot.

[@chilecayenne]

@@TheApartmentBrewer Goodness, thank you for the prompt reply! I was thinking of trying that new Novalager yeast...which I think naturally has a bit of a higher upper temp max. I was thinking maybe that under pressure could be ok with, say 78F as a max? I.was really keen on trying something like your black lager Shwarzbier that I saw just the other day.... Again, thank you for the help!! Much appreciated CC

[@AlbeeSoaring]

I have used 34/70 lager yeast under pressure and let it free ride temp at around 75 and 13-17psi, and it has done very good. Not on tis beer style though but was thinking it would work just great.

[@AlbeeSoaring]

very nicely done. Looks and sounds very good. Glad you helped spell out what a Cold IPA is. I thought it was just a IPL as well. FYI that beer is very clear since I can read your shirt through the glass.

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

It's definitely a debatable thing but there are officially recognized beer styles with less delineation between them! Clarity is huge on this style! I'm glad it came across on video, that can be tough.

[@herbstava]

I have PTSD with suck back being an issue when doing soft cold crashes. Is there a way to keep that to a minimum, especially post massive dry hop additions?

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

If you can pressurize or spund your fermentation that would be the best way to avoid suckback. I've heard of people using a balloon to capture CO2 and minimize suckback as well.

[@k-daddy5598]

One last question b4 I brew this one. Did you do a 60 or 90 minute boil? Thanks again.

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

60 min

[@larryryba4497]

Fall is coming... thoughts on a Vienna Cold IPA? Awesome vid as always man.

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

Interesting idea!

[@robbrasmussen7568]

Thanks again Steve! You mention pre acidifying your wort. What was the pH? And that might make for some interesting and informative content. Ya know… like you always make. 🍻

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

Dropped everything to 5.1

[@Nagellan]

I love your T-shirt. Can you give a link where can I buy it. I hope they are shipping overseas 😊

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

Glad you like it so much! theapartmentbrewer.creator-spring.com/

[@Djordan620]

Do you ever use anything like ferm cap or foam Axe?

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

Fermcap is in pretty much every beer I make

[@qedljkn]

What time on boil do you add Dextrose/Corn sugar?

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

10 min

[@ksmith9887]

Would you brew something with Sasquatch hops if I mailed them to you?

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

Welcome to the hobby!

[@k-daddy5598]

Going to try this one soon. I have a quick question… Do you ever consider dumping the yeast before the DH, then rousing the DH addition when at soft crash temps? I have a conical and It concerns me that the hops quickly compact in the cone and limit hop utilization at those cooler temps… interested to know your thoughts on this. Seems like for this beer, you did not do a yeast dump prior to the DH so I gather there was no hop rousing step. Thanks again for the great videos!

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

I've roused the hops before when I use the conical but its not typically standard practice for me. Not a bad idea if you're set up to do it. That being said you could see increased vegetal effects and hop burn as a result potentially.

[@davemollins3810]

Great content! Keen to give this a go. I am fairly new to brewing but was surprised you didn't dry hop with Cryo, using half the amount for greater yield?

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

I did dry hop with cryo, the only one that wasn't cryo was the chinook, because I couldn't find cryo chinook

[@k-daddy5598]

Your videos are great!… chock full of solid intel. I just watched this a second time along with the IPL recipe video you released a couple of years ago. My next brew will be my first IPL based on one of them. I’ve compared them both in terms of process, recipe and your impressions/improvements. Did you have a preference or any recommendations b4 I start? FYI, I am able to pressure ferment. Thanks again.

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

Really glad you are enjoying them! If you can't pressure ferment you may want to stick with a few very specific yeast choices to get you what you need at higher temperatures: either 34/70 like I've used here, lutra Kveik or a very clean ale yeast like Nottingham or US-05. That will help you make lagers or lager like beers at higher temperatures.

[@k-daddy5598]

@@TheApartmentBrewer Thanks. Yes, I can pressure ferment and I have temperature control. I will be using 34/70 for this one. I was just wondering which of your two IPL recipes you preferred.

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

Sorry, I misread the way you wrote that then. I probably like this one more

[@k-daddy5598]

@@TheApartmentBrewer Thanks again. Brewing this one in the next week or two. Looks delicious!

[@madsteff1097]

What device do you use to measure your fermentation process?

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

Thats the app for the anton paar smartref

[@AltMarc]

At the end you mention a (little) lack of bitterness, is it possible to add hops extract after the beer is done? can it replace that cold dry hoping? As a beginner with some mash-extract brews behind me, where I replaced sugar with spray-malt. This time I only used the Spray-Malt, with a 20min boil with Citra-Cascade and post boil with Citra, both removed before pitching with Lutra. While not ready yet, first sample are not bad at all, I imagined it would be more like a seltzer without any taste of maltiness but it seems I'm wrong, or I don't know what I am doing.

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

It's a good question, but no, you can't just add hops after to get bitterness. You need to boil the alpha acids in hops to isomerize them, that's what creates bitterness.

[@AltMarc]

@@TheApartmentBrewer I'll admit my self-made hops extract (with alcohol) isn't that bitter (but good flavour). I also bought a commercial hops extract, where the label says: "isomerized 6%", what does that mean? (it's pretty bitter to taste but low on flavour ) Btw: This video saved my spray-malt beer experiment.

[@daniel_boone233]

Another great video. I know you have explained it before, but with so many people saying you don't need to mash out with the no sparge method, I'm curious what your reason was to still do it. I'm sure you have a well thought out reason why, for now I'm just blindy copying you.

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

Really its just a habit at this point. I find that it still does two things: Increases my efficiency and makes the wort drain out of the grain basket much easier than otherwise.

[@ElCaminoMasLargoBrewing]

Would you recommend dropping the ph of the wort for every beer you dry hop? Do you just add lactic?

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

Yes, if you're diligent enough to remember to do so (I am not lol). It helps get that final beer pH in the sweet spot. I just used a few mL of lactic acid.

[@swider80tv]

Awesome video as always. Not my skill level yet one day I will get there 👍

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

It's not too tough though if you pick the right yeast! I hope you make one someday, it's delicious!

[@1TheLord1]

Hmm you got me a bit worried about mine aboutr wanting more bitterness. I went more with the Arbeiter model (BYO magazine) which has a much lower bitterness (25-35 ish IBU from FWH), and hopped more like a NEIPA actually (I went Mosaic, Galazy, El Dorado). I guess this style lets you do what you want for the hop side, can't wait to taste mine and compare to a more west coast style vs NEIPA stype hop profile. So maybe you craved bitterness because your mind went West Coast. Cheers!

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

I think this could work both ways, and if yours was designed to be softer than perhaps that makes the most sense! I love West coast hops with a good punchy bitterness so that's why I went that route.

[@paulschroeter4987]

and nova lager

[@Pingwinho]

I think a better way of showing us your hop additions (at least for the boil) would be to show how many IBUs they translate to, rather than weight and AA%

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

That's a really good idea. I will start to incorporate that!

[@Peter-Southern-Victoria-Aust]

Hello from the bottom of Australia, I read that the original IPA was an English ale with English hops not American ones, they put in heaps or English hops to act as a preservative for the long voyage via ship to India, so really a IPA you buy everywhere should be called an American Indian pale ale.

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

Cheers!

[@TuskJBC]

Still won’t be able to convince me this isn’t an IPL :)

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

There's definitely going to be some debate for some time!

[@iliffavenuebrewhouse6496]

I'm with ya Tusk!

[@calder13]

My take is cold IPA is less malty and has more dry hops. Most examples probably more bitter. Also better.

[@iliffavenuebrewhouse6496]

@@calder13 My IPL was always like this years ago. I suppose considered a cold IPA years later but I'm sticking with IPL

[@Fyrwulf]

To me this is another failed style, along with Brut IPA, meant to bring back the worst tongue scraper WCIPAs while being the anti-NEIPA. Styles like this are always going to fail because nobody actually remembers the IBU Wars with any fondness and are, IMO, why NEIPAs gained and maintained their popularity. Like, I'm normally all for people spending their money how they please, but Cold IPAs and Brut IPAs and the breweries that make them need to be ostracized. Just my opinion and it's worth the value of the electrons used to send it.

[@TheApartmentBrewer]

Wake up on the wrong side of the bed today? Let people brew and drink what they want to brew and drink. Maybe its a passing fad, maybe not but its already outlasted brut IPA. Personally I really don't care about the IPL vs Cold IPA debate or if it's just WCIPA in disguise, but I know I love clean west coast hops and appropriate levels of bitterness and I think that's why this one works. I don't think there's a need to crush bitter IPA.

[@Fyrwulf]

@@TheApartmentBrewer I love good WCIPAs as well, it's something that I can drink all day. I've had fresh Pliny multiple times and it's rightly regarded as the standard bearer for the style, even if I think there are equals to it and even better beers in the style if you like the new school hops. But then you have beers like Sculpin, whoch was objectively terrible, but was propped up by this IBU Bro culture that demanded ever more bitter beers in contravention of good sense and taste. The IBU Wars did real, actual damage to the craft beer market and culture that is only being slowly recovered from. Personally, I regard anything that threatens to bring that back as reprehensible. Obviously, I don't control anybody's bank account but my own, so I don't have any power over anybody else and my opinion is only worth the cost of the electrons, same as everybody else.

[@calder13]

Way off I think. No one needs to be ostracized. Cold IPA is doing well commercially and with home brewers. The focus isn't to make the most bitter, tongue scraping beer possible (like in the "IBU Wars"). It's supposed to be assertively bitter, because people still like that, but also focus heavily on those very fruity/juicy and tropical dry hop character. Brut IPA is all but gone, but Cold is here to stay I think. FYI I like NEIPAs, but also like a more bitter IPA about half the time.