South Platte Rainbow Trout IPA

Pink flanks flashing over white water

A West Coast IPA named for the South Platte, piney and bitter at 6.8%, for a cold pour after a day on the river.

Brewed to order

South Platte Rainbow Trout IPA is a West Coast IPA whose label shows four rainbow trout leaping through white rapids below dark pines. The label runs in pine green, slate grey, foam white and a warm band of gold.

ABV: 6.8%
IBU: 65
Colour: 6SRM
OG to FG: 1.0621.010

West Coast IPA, 6.8% ABV, 65 IBU
Grapefruit, pine resin, dry bitter finish
Centennial and Simcoe dry hop
Four rainbow trout leaping white rapids
Pine green, slate grey and gold label

In the glass

A glass of West Coast IPA: clear deep gold, dense white head.

6SRM

Grapefruit and pine resin up front, a thin bready backbone, a firm dry bitter finish

Serve: 45°F in a tulip or shaker glass
Alongside: Fish tacos, sharp cheddar, green chile burgers

Four rainbow trout jump the rapids, pink stripes catching the light. Grey boulders split the current into curls of white foam. Pines stand dark on the ridge, and gold grass leans in at the bank.

It pours pale gold and smells of grapefruit and pine sap. The malt stays quiet, just a crust of bread, then a dry bitter snap closes it out. Open one when the waders are hanging up and the light goes long.

The dry hop is where this beer lives. Centennial and Simcoe go in on day ten for four days, and every bit of air you keep out after that keeps the pine and citrus bright.

The numbers

6.8%Alcohol by volume

(1.062 − 1.010) × 131.25

65Bitterness, IBU

Bitterness only means anything against the style. This one is a West Coast IPA.

6Colour, SRM

The swatch above is this number on the standard reference ramp, not an impression of it.

Gravity1.062 down to 1.010 — 84% apparent attenuation.

Named for the South Platte River

Colorado Front Range · CO

The water it is named for

Water type: Tailwater

Details

River: South Platte River
Style: West Coast IPA
ABV: 6.8%
Tasting notes: grapefruit, pine resin, orange peel, bready malt, dry bitter finish
Colors: pine green, slate grey, foam white, gold, rainbow pink

Make it yourself

A home brew day set up in a garage: kettle steaming on a burner, mash tun and chiller beside it.

At a glance

Style: West Coast IPA
Gravity, OG → FG: 1.062 → 1.010
ABV: 6.8%Derived from OG and FG
Bitterness: 65 IBU
Colour: 6SRMgold
Difficulty: Second batchthe dry hop and steady fermentation temperature reward some practice.
First pint: 35 daysFrom brew day, including conditioning
Brew day: 2 h 10 minKettle on to kitchen clean. The rest is the yeast.
You supply: brew kettle, mash tun, fermenter with airlock, wort chiller, thermometer, hydrometer, bottles, capper
Written for: 5 gal (18.9 L)
Efficiency assumed: 72%Brew-in-a-bag, full-volume. House guidance

Grain bill

4 malts · 12.75 lb for 5 gal

Piles of pale, amber and dark malted barley on a wooden bench beside a scale.

Milled grain, weighed for each batch size. The percentage is each malt's share of the grist and stays the same at every size.

Malt	% of grist	12-pack batch · 1.25 gal	Classic · 5 gal	12×12 batch · 15 gal
Pale 2-row	90.2%	2.88 lb (1.3 kg)	11.5 lb (5.22 kg)	34.5 lb (15.65 kg)
Munich	3.9%	2 oz (57 g)	8 oz (227 g)	1.5 lb (0.68 kg)
Crystal 15L	3.9%	2 oz (57 g)	8 oz (227 g)	1.5 lb (0.68 kg)
Carapils	2%	1 oz (28 g)	4 oz (113 g)	12 oz (340 g)
Total grain	100%	3.19 lb (1.45 kg)	12.75 lb (5.78 kg)	38.25 lb (17.35 kg)

Hop schedule

6 additions · 60 min boil

Whole green hop cones and hop pellets on slate, one cone split to show the yellow lupulin.

Pellet hops, weighed in grams. Boil times count down to the end of the boil, so 60 minutes means the first thing in the kettle.

Hop	Use	Time	12-pack batch · 1.25 gal	Classic · 5 gal	12×12 batch · 15 gal
Columbus	Boil	60 min	5.3 g (0.19 oz)	21 g (0.75 oz)	64 g (2.25 oz)
Centennial	Boil	15 min	7.1 g (0.25 oz)	28 g (1 oz)	85 g (3 oz)
Simcoe	Boil	Flameout	7.1 g (0.25 oz)	28 g (1 oz)	85 g (3 oz)
Cascade	Whirlpool	20 min	7.1 g (0.25 oz)	28 g (1 oz)	85 g (3 oz)
Centennial	Dry hop	4 days	11 g (0.38 oz)	43 g (1.5 oz)	128 g (4.5 oz)
Simcoe	Dry hop	4 days	11 g (0.38 oz)	43 g (1.5 oz)	128 g (4.5 oz)

Yeast and pitch

California ale yeast · 2 liquid packs for 5 gal

California ale yeast (WLP001). Pitch at 64°F.

Yeast	12-pack batch · 1.25 gal	Classic · 5 gal	12×12 batch · 15 gal
California ale yeast	1 liquid pack	2 liquid packs	4 liquid packs

One pack per 5 gal, and one more above 1.060 OG in a batch over 3 gal. Never fewer than one. House guidance

Water

8.27 gal into the mash for 5 gal

Full-volume brew-in-a-bag: all the water goes in at the start and there is no sparge. Volumes are the total to heat, so the kettle has to hold the mash and still leave room to boil: the 12-pack kit sells a 5 gal stockpot and the 12×12 kit a 30 gal kettle for that.

Water	12-pack batch · 1.25 gal	Classic · 5 gal	12×12 batch · 15 gal
Into the mash	2.15 gal (8.2 L)	8.27 gal (31.3 L)	20.31 gal (76.9 L)
Boiled off	0.5 gal (1.9 L)	1.25 gal (4.7 L)	1.25 gal (4.7 L)
Held by the grain	0.26 gal (1 L)	1.02 gal (3.9 L)	3.06 gal (11.6 L)
Left as trub	0.15 gal (0.6 L)	1 gal (3.8 L)	1 gal (3.8 L)
Into the fermenter	1.25 gal (4.7 L)	5 gal (18.9 L)	15 gal (56.8 L)

Boil-off, grain absorption and trub are typical figures for a stovetop pot and a propane kettle, not measurements of your own gear. Brew once, note what you end up with, and adjust. House guidance

Water profile Firm sulfate with low chloride, near 2:1, sharpens the bitterness and keeps the finish dry.

Mash

150°F · 60 min

The mash turns starch into sugar. Hold the temperature steady and the beer finishes the way the recipe intends.

Rest150°F for 60 minutes
Strike waterHeat to 160°F; the grain cools it to the rest temperature. House guidance
Mash-outRaise to 168°F and hold 10 minutes, then lift and drain the bag. House guidance

Mash ina cooler rest leaves the beer dry so the hops lead

Boil

60 min · 4 hop additions

Hops go in on a countdown from the end of the boil. Early additions give bitterness; late ones give aroma.

Length60 minutes
60 minColumbus
20 minCascade (whirlpool)
15 minCentennial
FlameoutSimcoe
15 minA kettle fining (whirlfloc or Irish moss) clears the beer if you have one. House guidance

Chillto 64°Fa cool pitch keeps the yeast clean

Fermentation

4 steps · 2 dry hop · first pint in 35 days

A glass fermenter of amber beer with foam on top and an airlock.

The recipe's own schedule, in order. Temperature control matters more than almost anything else on this page.

7 days at 66°F
Raise to 68°F for 3 days
Dry hop on day 10 for 4 days
Cold crash at 34°F for 2 days

Dry hopCentennial, 4 days
Dry hopSimcoe, 4 days

First pint 35 days from brew day.

Packaging and carbonation

2.5 volumes CO₂ · bottle or keg

Plain aluminium cans and a small keg on a workbench beside a priming-sugar measure.

Target 2.5 volumes of CO₂.

Bottling	12-pack batch · 1.25 gal	Classic · 5 gal	12×12 batch · 15 gal
Corn sugar to prime	1.1 oz (31 g)	4.39 oz (124 g)	13.17 oz (373 g)
12 oz bottles it fills	12	50	144

Dissolve the sugar in a little boiled water, stir it gently into the beer, then bottle. The amount is worked out for 68°F, the warmest the beer got while it fermented.

Kegging Set the regulator to 11.2 psi at 38°F.

Kegging instead Skip the bottles with 3 × 5 gal ball-lock kegs, 1 × 5 lb CO₂ tank, 1 × dual-gauge regulator, 1 × gas and beer lines with picnic taps: the kegging upgrade for the 15 gal home brewery, $594.

Brewer's notes

3 tips

Keep oxygen out after the dry hop; it dulls pine and citrus fast.From the recipe
Hold the crystal malt to 8 oz so the finish stays crisp.From the recipe
Drink it fresh, within a few weeks of the first pour.From the recipe

A fermenter, airlock, siphon, hydrometer, thermometer and bench capper. — The kit

Every kit size

Ingredients only

Ingredient kit · 12-pack batch

$31.87

$2.66 a bottle

Grain milled, hops bagged per addition, yeast, priming sugar and 12 caps, for 1.25 gal.

Includes Pale 2-row · Munich · Crystal 15L · Carapils · and 11 more

Every item in this kit · 15 items

Ingredients

Pale 2-row$6.582.88 lb (1.3 kg) · Milled to order
Munich$0.322 oz (57 g) · Milled to order
Crystal 15L$0.362 oz (57 g) · Milled to order
Carapils$0.181 oz (28 g) · Milled to order
Columbus (60 min)$1.505.3 g (0.19 oz)
Centennial (15 min)$1.507.1 g (0.25 oz)
Simcoe (flameout)$1.507.1 g (0.25 oz)
Cascade (whirlpool, 20 min)$1.507.1 g (0.25 oz)
Centennial (dry hop, 4 days)$1.5011 g (0.38 oz)
Simcoe (dry hop, 4 days)$1.5011 g (0.38 oz)
California ale yeast$11.991 pack · Liquid yeast, shipped cold
Milling and kitting$31

Packaging

Corn sugar for priming$0.441.1 oz · Primes to 2.5 volumes of CO₂
Crown capsIncluded12

Guide

Printed brew guideIncluded1

Ingredient kit · 12×12 batch

$237.46

$1.65 a bottle

Grain milled, hops bagged per addition, yeast, priming sugar and 144 caps, for 15 gal.

Includes Pale 2-row · Munich · Crystal 15L · Carapils · and 11 more

Every item in this kit · 15 items

Ingredients

Pale 2-row$79.0134.5 lb (15.65 kg) · Milled to order
Munich$3.891.5 lb (0.68 kg) · Milled to order
Crystal 15L$4.341.5 lb (0.68 kg) · Milled to order
Carapils$2.1712 oz (340 g) · Milled to order
Columbus (60 min)$8.9864 g (2.25 oz)
Centennial (15 min)$11.9785 g (3 oz)
Simcoe (flameout)$11.9785 g (3 oz)
Cascade (whirlpool, 20 min)$11.9785 g (3 oz)
Centennial (dry hop, 4 days)$17.96128 g (4.5 oz)
Simcoe (dry hop, 4 days)$17.96128 g (4.5 oz)
California ale yeast$47.964 packs · Liquid yeast, shipped cold
Milling and kitting$81

Packaging

Corn sugar for priming$5.2813.2 oz · Primes to 2.5 volumes of CO₂
Crown caps$6144

Guide

Printed brew guideIncluded1

Complete home brewery

Complete home brewery · 12-pack batch

$225.69

$18.81 a bottle

Bought separately $247.23 · you save $21.54

All the equipment, then the ingredient kit, for 1.25 gal. Works on a kitchen stove.

Includes 5 gal stainless stockpot · Fine-mesh brew bag · 1.5 gal glass fermenter with drilled bung · 3-piece airlock · and 25 more

Every item in this kit · 29 items

Equipment

5 gal stainless stockpot$49.991
Fine-mesh brew bag$9.991
1.5 gal glass fermenter with drilled bung$17.991
3-piece airlock$2.491
No-rinse sanitizer, 4 oz$12.991
Hydrometer and test jar$15.991
Digital probe thermometer$14.991
Mini auto-siphon with tubing$13.991
Spring-tip bottle filler$5.991
12 oz amber bottles$16.9912
Wing capper$19.991
Brewery wash, 1 lb$9.991
0.1 g kitchen scale$14.991
Long stainless spoon$8.991

Ingredients

Pale 2-row$6.582.88 lb (1.3 kg) · Milled to order
Munich$0.322 oz (57 g) · Milled to order
Crystal 15L$0.362 oz (57 g) · Milled to order
Carapils$0.181 oz (28 g) · Milled to order
Columbus (60 min)$1.505.3 g (0.19 oz)
Centennial (15 min)$1.507.1 g (0.25 oz)
Simcoe (flameout)$1.507.1 g (0.25 oz)
Cascade (whirlpool, 20 min)$1.507.1 g (0.25 oz)
Centennial (dry hop, 4 days)$1.5011 g (0.38 oz)
Simcoe (dry hop, 4 days)$1.5011 g (0.38 oz)
California ale yeast$11.991 pack · Liquid yeast, shipped cold
Milling and kitting$31

Packaging

Corn sugar for priming$0.441.1 oz · Primes to 2.5 volumes of CO₂
Crown capsIncluded12

Guide

Printed brew guideIncluded1

Complete home brewery · 12×12 batch

$1,333.46

$9.26 a bottle

Bought separately $1,455.24 · you save $121.78

All the equipment, then the ingredient kit, for 15 gal. You supply a propane tank and water.

Includes 30 gal stainless kettle with ball valve and thermometer · 72 · 30 gal brew bag · 50 ft copper immersion chiller · and 28 more

Every item in this kit · 32 items

Equipment

30 gal stainless kettle with ball valve and thermometer$3991
72,000 BTU propane burner and stand$991
30 gal brew bag$44.991
50 ft copper immersion chiller$1291
7.9 gal fermenting buckets with lids and airlocks$89.973
No-rinse sanitizer, 32 oz$32.991
Brewery wash, 4 lb$34.991
Hydrometer and test jar$15.991
Refractometer$29.991
Digital thermometer$24.991
½" auto-siphon with tubing$24.991
Bottling buckets with spigots$55.982
Bottle filler$5.991
12 oz amber bottles (6 cases)$119.94144
Bench capper$59.991
Mash paddle$24.991
Digital scale$24.991

Ingredients

Pale 2-row$79.0134.5 lb (15.65 kg) · Milled to order
Munich$3.891.5 lb (0.68 kg) · Milled to order
Crystal 15L$4.341.5 lb (0.68 kg) · Milled to order
Carapils$2.1712 oz (340 g) · Milled to order
Columbus (60 min)$8.9864 g (2.25 oz)
Centennial (15 min)$11.9785 g (3 oz)
Simcoe (flameout)$11.9785 g (3 oz)
Cascade (whirlpool, 20 min)$11.9785 g (3 oz)
Centennial (dry hop, 4 days)$17.96128 g (4.5 oz)
Simcoe (dry hop, 4 days)$17.96128 g (4.5 oz)
California ale yeast$47.964 packs · Liquid yeast, shipped cold
Milling and kitting$81

Packaging

Corn sugar for priming$5.2813.2 oz · Primes to 2.5 volumes of CO₂
Crown caps$6144

Guide

Printed brew guideIncluded1

The creator

Sunny

@sunny

Strips it fast and stays for the grab.

See everything by @sunny

Remixes

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Where this came from

river beer · made September 16, 2026

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west coast ipa
south platte
rainbow trout
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fly fishing
ipa
homebrew recipe
centennial
simcoe
pine
grapefruit
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