Recipe: Boo Koo

As part of our second-annual Homebrew Summer program, various San Diego County breweries will be sharing recipes for some of their most popular beers, which have been scaled-down for amateur brewers to try their hands at from the comfort of home.

Next up on the professional-to-recreational info-sharing train is the recipe for Boo Koo, a time-tested West Coast IPA from Mother Earth Brew Co. Ahead of the trend in that it’s a West Coast-style IPA that was engineered to convey less over-the-top bitterness when IBUs were all the rage, it’s a classic with modern-day appeal that you can try out from the comfort of home.

Check back to San Diego Beer News throughout the summer for more recipes as well as release dates for beers developed by local homebrewers which will be brewed at local breweries and tapped in their tasting rooms. It’s going to be a great summer for homebrewers and beer fans alike, and we’re glad to have you along for the ride!

I chose to share Boo Koo’s recipe for homebrewers because I believe it represents the current climate of IPA styles found in the market due to it’s low bitterness and fruit-forward aromas. After the meteoric rise of hazy IPAs, brewers are beginning to return to clear IPAs, but with one thing in mind…balance. Boo Koo has always had less bitterness than traditional West Coast IPAs because we wanted an IPA everyone could enjoy. The dry-hop is Mosaic-focused, providing fruit-forward aromas reminiscent of hazy IPAs but drier and clear. When homebrewing IPAs, it’s a good idea to split batches and try multiple strains of yeast to see how the ester profile pairs with hop flavors and aromas. Part of the reason hazy IPAs are so fruity is because of yeast esters like pineapple and guava, which develop during fermentation.”

Chris Baker, Director of Brewery Operations, Mother Earth Brew Co.