Dank Pale Ale and IPA Recipes (All-Grain): Galaxy, Simcoe, Amarillo
What “dank” means in beer, and two all-grain recipes: a Hazy Tropical Pale Ale and the SuperDank IPA, with Galaxy, Simcoe and Amarillo. Both switch between 5 to 30 gallons.
In this post
The short answer: “dank” describes a pungent, resinous hop aroma, borrowed from cannabis slang. In beer it usually means tropical fruit like mango and papaya with a piney, earthy edge, from hops such as Galaxy, Simcoe, Amarillo and Citra. Below are two recipes: a light Hazy Tropical Pale Ale (5.0% ABV) and the bigger SuperDank IPA (6.7% ABV). Both switch between 5 to 30 gallons.
| Hazy Tropical Pale Ale | SuperDank IPA | |
|---|---|---|
| ABV | 5.0% | 6.7% |
| OG | 1.049 | 1.069 |
| Hops | Simcoe, Amarillo, Galaxy | Amarillo, Galaxy |
| Style | East Coast pale ale, dank “lite” | East Coast IPA, full dank |
What makes a beer dank
West Coast double IPAs can be dank, but I lean towards East Coast IPAs for it. My favourite hops for the job are Galaxy, Simcoe, Amarillo and Citra: to me they bring mango and papaya with a bit of pine. Oats in both recipes give the smooth, juicy body of the East Coast style. Thanks to Chris, a fellow Vancouver brewer, who helped me build these recipes.
Recipe 1: Hazy Tropical Pale Ale
Dank “lite”: a pale ale that touches on dankness, with light hop additions. I like how the aroma arrives before the taste. For more punch, double the whirlpool and dry hops.
Bräu Supply recipe · All-grain
Hazy Tropical Pale Ale
Grain · for 5 gal into the fermenter
| 8.9 lb (4.04 kg) | Pale 2-row malt | 87% |
| 0.9 lb (0.41 kg) | Oat malt | 9% |
| 0.45 lb (0.2 kg) | Crystal 20 | 4% |
Hops
| 1 oz (28 g) | Simcoe · 13% AA | 15 min |
| 2 oz (57 g) | Amarillo · 9% AA | Whirlpool |
| 1 oz (28 g) | Galaxy · 14% AA | Dry hop, 5 days |
Yeast and water
| 1 pkg | American ale yeast (Fermentis US-05) | |
| Water | Soft to moderate water with a little more chloride than sulfate suits the juicy, smooth style. | |
Process
- Mash: 152°F (67°C) for 60 minutes
- Boil: 60 minutes
- Whirlpool: Cool to about 160°F (71°C), add the whirlpool hops
- Ferment: 66°F (19°C) until the gravity is stable
- Dry hop: 5 days, then cold crash and package
Brew it on
Based on 72% brewhouse efficiency and about 5.5 gal after the boil for a 5 gal batch. Adjust the base malt if your system runs higher or lower. Hops scale in a straight line; larger kettles extract a little more bitterness.
Recipe 2: SuperDank IPA
This one kicks it up to an East Coast IPA: heavy, aromatic and approachable thanks to the tropical hops. It has become my favourite. Recipe software can rate it at over 80 IBU if it counts the whirlpool hops as boil hops, but almost all the hops go in the whirlpool and dry hop, so it tastes far less bitter than that. We estimate about 32 IBU.
Bräu Supply recipe · All-grain
SuperDank IPA
Grain · for 5 gal into the fermenter
| 12.15 lb (5.51 kg) | Pale 2-row malt | 84% |
| 0.95 lb (0.43 kg) | Flaked oats | 7% |
| 0.95 lb (0.43 kg) | Oat malt | 7% |
| 0.45 lb (0.2 kg) | Crystal 20 | 3% |
Hops
| 2 oz (57 g) | Amarillo · 9% AA | 10 min |
| 6 oz (170 g) | Amarillo · 9% AA | Whirlpool |
| 4 oz (113 g) | Galaxy · 14% AA | Dry hop, 5 days |
Yeast and water
| 1 pkg | East Coast Ale yeast (White Labs WLP008) | |
| Water | Soft to moderate water with a little more chloride than sulfate. | |
Process
- Mash: 152°F (67°C) for 60 minutes
- Boil: 60 minutes
- Whirlpool: Cool to about 160°F (71°C), add the whirlpool hops
- Ferment: 66°F (19°C) until the gravity is stable
- Dry hop: 5 days, then cold crash and package
Brew it on
Based on 72% brewhouse efficiency and about 5.5 gal after the boil for a 5 gal batch. Adjust the base malt if your system runs higher or lower. Hops scale in a straight line; larger kettles extract a little more bitterness.
Whirlpool temperature
Add the whirlpool hops once the wort has cooled to about 160°F (71°C). I’ve been whirlpooling a little longer, at 120 to 130°F (49 to 54°C), to push even more aroma into the beer. Experiment: that’s what homebrewing is for.
Tips
- Dry hop in a closed fermenter and keep oxygen out afterwards; dank aroma fades fast once oxygen gets in. See keeping oxygen out.
- Use the freshest hops you can find, stored cold and sealed.
- More in how to dry hop and getting the most from dry hops.
Frequently asked questions
What does dank mean in beer?
A pungent, resinous hop aroma, often with tropical fruit, pine and an earthy, cannabis-like note.
Which hops are dank?
Galaxy, Simcoe, Citra, Amarillo, Mosaic, Columbus and Chinook are common choices.
Why do oats help?
They add body, a smooth, silky mouthfeel and haze, which suit the juicy East Coast style.
More recipes
Try our hazy IPAs Cloud Walker and Chasing Ghosts, or browse all our recipes.