West Coast IPA fans know that few beers strike the perfect balance between crisp bitterness and vibrant hop character like AleSmith IPA. This clone recipe captures that iconic West Coast profile: a dry finish, assertive bitterness, and a saturated hop aroma that explodes with citrus and pine.
Whether you're perfecting your first IPA or chasing the benchmark of San Diego’s hop-forward legacy, this all-grain recipe delivers a brew that honors one of the finest American IPAs out there.
Interested in brewing this beer, save time and add the entire recipe kit here, Alesmith IPA All-Grain Recipe Kit.
This grain bill lays the foundation for a clean, slightly malty backbone that supports hop-forward flavors without competing.
Bittered with CTZ and layered with Amarillo and Simcoe, this hop bill offers complex aromas and the kind of clean bitterness West Coast IPAs are known for.
| Time | Addition |
|---|---|
| 60 min | 1 oz CTZ |
| 10 min | 1 oz Amarillo |
| Whirlpool (0 min) | 1 oz Amarillo + 1 oz Simcoe |
| Dry Hop (Day 10–16) | 2 oz CTZ + 2 oz Amarillo + 2 oz Simcoe |
Use a single-infusion mash and batch sparge. Recirculate until wort runs clear before lautering into your boil kettle.
Bring your wort to a vigorous boil for 60 minutes. Add hops according to the schedule above. At flameout, stir in your whirlpool hops and allow the wort to rest for 15 minutes to extract maximum aroma.
If using a wort chiller, sanitize it by placing it in the kettle during the last 10 minutes of the boil.
Cool the wort to 68–70°F and transfer to a sanitized fermenter. Oxygenate thoroughly by shaking or using pure O₂. Pitch WLP001 California Ale Yeast.
Ferment at 68–72°F until terminal gravity is reached (~7–10 days). Once fermentation slows or stops:
Carbonate to ~2.4–2.6 volumes of CO₂, either by bottle conditioning or force carbonation in a keg. Once carbonated and chilled, this beer is best enjoyed fresh to showcase the vibrant hop aroma.
Expect a bright, clear beer with a golden hue and firm white head. The aroma leads with citrus zest, pine resin, and light floral notes. On the palate, AleSmith IPA balances a clean malt body with bold bitterness and finishes dry, inviting the next sip.
This AleSmith IPA clone recipe is a textbook example of how to construct a West Coast IPA: clean fermentation, bold bitterness, and a layered hop experience. It’s a must-brew for anyone chasing the classic San Diego IPA character that helped define the style.
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