IPA BIB | Black Rock
West Coast IPA bitterness on a malt backbone that actually holds its own.
A concentrated wort kit for brewing a West Coast-inspired IPA at home using Black Rock's Crafted Bag in a Box system. No heating, no second can, no sugar required — just pour the bag into a clean fermenter, top up with cold water to 23 litres, pitch the included Safale US-05 yeast, and ferment.
The grain bill is built around 89% MaltEurop Ale Malt, with Gladfield wheat malt, Toffee malt, and Light Crystal malt adding the biscuity, caramel, and toffee character that underpins everything a good IPA needs behind the hops. NZ Green Bullet hops provide West Coast IPA-level bitterness at IBU 38, giving the beer a clean, punchy finish with a malt backbone that can actually support it. It pours golden amber with a slight haze from the wheat malt.
At 23 litres this kit produces 5.8% ABV. Brew to 18 litres for a stronger 7.4% ABV version if that is more your speed. Dry hopping is where this kit goes from good to great — grab your preferred hop varieties instore and add them at day five to seven when fermentation starts to slow. Yeast included. Makes 23 litres. Can be ordered online and shipped.
Yeast Included: Safale US-05 (11.5g sachet — included in kit).
Dry Hop Recommendations:
Dry hopping is highly recommended. Add hops at day 5 to 7 when fermentation activity starts to slow. Use 50 to 200g of fresh, refrigerated, nitrogen-flushed hop pellets. Suggested combinations by style:
- Australian Pale Ale: Galaxy and/or Cascade — tropical fruit and citrus.
- West Coast American IPA: Citra and/or Centennial, Cascade, Mosaic, Simcoe, El Dorado, Amarillo, Idaho 7 — classic West Coast citrus, pine, and resin.
- New Zealand Pale Ale (NZPA): Nelson Sauvin and/or Nectaron, Riwaka, Superdelic, Taiheke — tropical fruit, white wine, and unique NZ character.
ABV: 5.8% | IBU: 38 | SRM: 8 | Batch volume: 23 litres