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Created by Nik Allen, Process Improvement Manager

One of the benefits of homebrewing is being able to make styles that, while you may personally enjoy, are difficult to acquire (especially fresh) or not as popular as they may have ever been. There’s something inimitable about having that unique beer you can’t get at your local brewery or bottle shop and, even still, something immensely fulfilling about making that beer yourself.

In a bit of a challenge years ago, my colleague Adi and I agreed to brew a beer for each other in a style that we personally enjoy but the other was not necessarily fond of. Adi introduced me to the first Grodzskie I’d ever enjoyed and, in kind, I sought to prove a great Black IPA could be made. Light on the roast, light on the caramel malts, and sticking to the more traditional citrus-and-pine-forward American hops, I made something that Adi, in his inability to feign enjoyment of bad beer, vocally appreciated.

For yeast choice, stick to more attenuative strains to differentiate it from an American stout. Esters can be your friend, but don’t hesitate to use a cleaner yeast if that’s your preference.

For 5 gallons (~19 liters)

OG — 1.058
FG — 1.010 – 1.006 (dependent on strain choice)
ABV — 6.4 – 6.8% (dependent on strain choice)
IBU — 60

Maris Otter — 11 lb (82%)
Midnight Wheat — .75 lb (6%)
Rye Malt — .5 lb (4%)
Dextrose — 1 lb (8%)

Columbus — 1 oz at 20 Minutes
Nugget — 1 oz at 15 Minutes
Columbus — 1 oz Dry Hop (At terminal gravity, for 4 days)
Nugget — 1 oz Dry Hop (At terminal gravity, for 4 days)
Simcoe — 1 oz Dry Hop (At terminal gravity, for 4 days)
Apollo — 1 oz Dry Hop (At terminal gravity, for 4 days)

Yeasts — OYL-006 (British Ale I), OYL-071 (Lutra Kveik), or OYL-501 (Gulo Ale)

Directions

Add grain to 9 gallons water at 151°F for a target mash of 148°F. Hold mash temp for 60 minutes. Recirculate mash until wort is free from large amounts of grain. Drain off wort into boil kettle for approximately 7.5 gallons (sparge as needed for a boil gravity of 1.043). Boil for 90 minutes, adding hops as noted above. Pitch yeast as directed.