Recipe Formulation
Recipe formulation is the design phase of brewing: choosing ingredients and targets before the kettle is lit. A good IPA recipe is a deliberate balance of malt, hops, yeast, and water aimed at a clearly defined style.
#Start With Targets
Every recipe begins with numbers. Pick your style (West Coast IPA, New England IPA, Double IPA) and set targets within the BJCP range.
| Parameter | Meaning | Typical IPA range |
|---|---|---|
| OG | Original gravity (sugar content) | 1.056–1.075 |
| FG | Final gravity (residual sugar) | 1.008–1.014 |
| ABV | Alcohol by volume | 5.5–7.5% |
| IBU | Bittering units | 40–70 |
| SRM | Color | 3–9 |
ABV is derived: roughly (OG − FG) × 131.25.
#Design the Grain Bill
IPA grists are simple and pale so hops can lead. A baseline:
- 88–95% base malt: usually 2-row or Maris Otter; see Base Malts.
- 0–8% character malt: light crystal, Munich, or Vienna for backbone.
- 0–10% adjuncts: flaked oats or wheat for New England IPA softness; sugar for a dry Double IPA. See Specialty Malts and Adjuncts.
If a malt does not have a clear job, leave it out. Crystal malt above ~8% muddies hop expression.
#Design the Hop Bill
This is where the style is made. Allocate hops across the four windows from Hop Additions and Timing:
| Window | Purpose | Share of hop weight |
|---|---|---|
| Bittering (60 min) | Clean IBU | 10–25% |
| Flavor (10–20 min) | Optional | 0–15% |
| Whirlpool (<80 °C) | Aroma + soft IBU | 25–40% |
| Dry hop | Pure aroma | 35–55% |
Choose varieties with complementary oils; see Hop Oils and Terpenes and the Hop Variety Index. A classic combo pairs Citra and Mosaic.
#Yeast and Water
Yeast sets attenuation and biotransformation potential. See IPA Yeast Strains and Biotransformation. Water shapes perceived bitterness via the Water Chemistry and the Sulfate-Chloride Ratio: sulfate-forward for crisp West Coast, chloride-forward for soft New England. Plan it with Water Treatment for Brewing.
The most common formulation mistake is adding everything. A focused recipe with four ingredients beats a cluttered one with twelve.