How to Brew Dark IPA

TL;DR: Want to learn how to brew Dark IPA at home? This unique beer style combines bold, citrusy hops with smooth, debittered dark malts for a striking balance of hoppy bitterness and subtle malt complexity. Unlike stouts or porters, a Dark IPA is hop-forward with a crisp finish—not overly roasty or sweet. 

This guide covers everything you need to brew your own Dark IPA, from selecting ingredients to fermentation, dry hopping, and bottling. Whether you’re a first-time homebrewer or an experienced IPA lover, follow our step-by-step brewing process and start crafting your own perfectly balanced, dark, and hoppy IPA today

  • Overview
  • Download The Guide
  • What You’ll Need to Make IPA
  • Step-by-Step IPA Recipe
  • Watch the Video
  • Troubleshooting & Tips
  • Customize Your IPA

Getting Started with Brewing a Dark IPA

If you’ve ever wondered how to brew Dark IPA at home, you’re in the right place! This unique style combines the bold hop character of a traditional IPA with the deep, dark color of roasted malts, creating a striking contrast of flavor and appearance. Unlike stouts or porters, which feature rich chocolate and caramel notes with a strong roasted backbone, a Dark IPA balances citrusy, piney hops with smooth malt complexity.. 

So, how can I make IPA with a dark, bold twist? The secret lies in careful malt selection, hop timing, and precise fermentation. By using debittered dark malts, a Dark IPA achieves its signature midnight black color without the astringency found in heavily roasted beers. Paired with classic West Coast hops like Centennial, Chinook, Citra, Simcoe, and Warrior, this beer delivers a resinous, citrus-forward aroma with a smooth malt backbone. 

For those asking, "How do you make IPA that stands out?", the answer is simple: Start with the right ingredients and follow a proven brewing process. The easiest way to make IPA at home is with Craft a Brew’s Dark IPA Beer Recipe Kit, available in both 1-gallon and 5-gallon sizes. These all-in-one kits simplify the Dark IPA brewing process, providing all the necessary malts, hops, and step-by-step instructions to help you brew Dark IPA at home with confidence. 

By following this guide, you’ll learn how to brew Dark IPA from start to finish—whether you're a first-time homebrewer or an experienced craft beer enthusiast looking to experiment with this bold and hoppy dark ale.

Download Our Guide to Making IPA

For complete step by step instructions on how to brew dark IPA styles, download our instruction guide to making IPA & other ales at home.  This beginner friendly manual accompanies our dark IPA beer brewing kit and will walk you through brew day, fermentation, dry hopping & bottling.

What You’ll Need To Make Dark IPA

The key to brewing Dark IPA at home is selecting the right IPA ingredients, using the proper equipment, and understanding the unique brewing process behind this bold, hop-forward dark ale. Whether you're using Craft a Brew’s 1-gallon Dark IPA brewing kit for a small-batch test or scaling up to a 5-gallon Dark IPA recipe, having the right tools and ingredients will ensure a smooth brewing experience and a flavorful final product.

Ingredients

The IPA ingredients used in a Dark IPA create a unique balance between roasty malts and bright, citrusy hops. Unlike stouts or porters, which lean heavily on caramel and chocolate malts for deep sweetness and intense roast, a well-crafted Dark IPA maintains hoppy bitterness with just a touch of malt complexity.

Our Dark IPA recipe uses a Dark Dry Malt Extract (DME) base, which provides the deep color and fermentable sugars needed for this style. Unlike traditional dark beers, a Dark IPA relies on debittered dark malts, such as Blackprinz or Midnight Wheat, to achieve dark color without the harsh, burnt flavors often associated with stouts or porters. These malts create a smooth mouthfeel and light roast character that lets the hops shine.

Unlike juicy or fruity hop profiles found in hazy IPAs, Dark IPAs embrace piney, resinous, and citrus-forward hops to complement their deep color and toasty malt backbone. The goal is to create a beer that tastes like an IPA despite its dark hue. Some of the best hop varieties for brewing Dark IPA include: 

  • Chinook – Bold pine and resin character 
  • Centennial – Citrus-forward with floral and earthy notes 
  • Simcoe – Complex mix of pine, berry, and citrus 
  • Citra – Bright bursts of orange, grapefruit, and tropical fruit

Our Dark IPA making kit includes SafAle US-05 dry ale yeast, which is widely used for American ales and IPAs. This clean-fermenting yeast helps maintain the crisp, refreshing IPA character while enhancing hop aromatics. It also promotes a foamy head, adding to the overall drinking experience.

Want to take your Dark IPA brewing process to the next level? Consider these optional ingredients: 

  • Brewer’s Crystals – Boosts ABV without thinning out the beer’s body. 
  • Calcium Sulfate (Gypsum) – Enhances hop perception and balances water chemistry for better fermentation. 
  • Edible Glitter – A fun twist! Silver "luster dust" can create a shimmering galaxy effect in a Dark IPA.

Equipment

To brew your own Dark IPA, you’ll use the same essential brewing equipment needed for most ales. If you’re new to homebrewing, our 1-gallon Dark IPA making kit has everything you need to get started!

A stock pot is essential for boiling your wort (unfermented beer). It should be large enough to hold at least 1 gallon of liquid, with extra room to prevent boil-overs. Avoid pots that are too large, as they can lead to excessive evaporation.

You’ll need a thermometer to closely monitor and maintain temperatures on brew day. Our IPA making kit includes a glass lab thermometer, but a digital food-safe thermometer works well, too!

Key temperatures you’ll need to reach and hold include:

  • Mash temperature: 155ºF (for steeping grains) 

Yeast pitching temperature: Below 75ºF (for optimal fermentation)

A funnel helps you transfer the wort from your brew pot into the fermenter without spills or mess. Our Dark IPA making kit includes a 4” funnel to make this process smooth and efficient.

Fermentation is where the magic happens! A 1-gallon glass carboy serves as the fermenter, allowing yeast to convert sugars into alcohol while retaining hop aromas. A rubber stopper ensures a tight seal, preventing contamination. This essential equipment is included in our Dark IPA making kit.

A racking cane is a rigid plastic tube that is used to siphon the fermented beer off sediment, preventing oxidation and maintaining beer clarity. Our Dark IPA making kit includes all the necessary siphoning tools for a seamless bottling process.

After fermentation, you'll need to carbonate your beer in bottles. For a 1-gallon batch, you'll need approximately: 

When working with IPAs and highly hopped beers, it’s important to keep hop debris separated from your beer. Any hop sediment from brew day that gets into your fermenter may eventually be transferred into bottles, which can lead to unpleasant grassy hop off flavors in your glass.

Step-by-Step Brewing Guide

Brewing Dark IPA at home is easy with the Craft a Brew Dark IPA Making Kit. This guide will walk you through the Dark IPA brewing process, from sanitizing your equipment to fermenting and bottling your beer. Follow along and learn how to brew your own Dark IPA with confidence.

Step 1: Sanitize Everything

Proper sanitation is essential to avoid contamination. Any bacteria or wild yeast can ruin your beer. 

  • Mix half of the included sanitizer packet with 1 gallon of water in a bucket or pitcher. 
  • Submerge all equipment that will touch the beer after boiling (fermenter, funnel, airlock, tubing, thermometer). 
  • Let everything soak for at least 60 seconds—no need to rinse. Air-dry on clean paper towels.

Step 2: Heating the Water & Steeping the Grains

  • Pour as close to 1 gallon of water as possible into your brew pot, leaving space to prevent boil-overs. 
  • Heat the water on high heat until it reaches 155°F (68°C). 
  • Place the specialty grains (BlackPrinz & Midnight Wheat) into the grain steeping bag, tie it off, and steep in the water for 20 minutes. 
  • Remove the grain bag and discard—do NOT squeeze it, as this can release tannins and create unwanted bitterness.

Step 3: Boiling & Adding Malt Extract 

  • Increase the heat and bring the wort (unfermented beer) to a boil. 
  • Once the first bubbles appear, remove the pot from heat and slowly stir in the dry malt extract to prevent clumping. 
  • Return the pot to medium-high heat and set a 60-minute timer. 

Step 4: Adding Hops 

Hops contribute bitterness, aroma, and flavor to your home Dark IPA brewing process. Your Dark IPA Kit includes a blend of hops to create the perfect balance of piney, resinous, and citrusy notes. 

  • At the start of the 60-minute boil, add Bittering Hops. 
  • At 10 minutes left, add Flavor Hops. 
  • At 2 minutes left, add Aroma Hops. 

💡 Pro Tip: Watch for boil-overs! If your wort foams up, turn off the heat and stir to prevent spills. 

Step 5: Cooling the Wort 

After boiling, the wort must be cooled to a yeast-friendly temperature before fermentation begins. 

  • Create an ice bath in your sink using ice and cold water. 
  • Place the pot in the ice bath and cover it with a lid to avoid contamination. 
  • Stir the surrounding ice water occasionally to speed up cooling. 
  • Use a sanitized thermometer to check that the wort is below 75°F (23°C). 

Step 6: Transferring to the Fermenter & Pitching Yeast 

  • Using a sanitized funnel, transfer the cooled wort into the sanitized fermenter, leaving any thick sediment (trub) behind. 
  • If needed, add cool water to reach the "one-gallon" fill line. 
  • Cut open the yeast packet and pitch the yeast (sprinkle the entire contents into the fermenter). 
  • Aerate the wort by sealing the fermenter and shaking it vigorously for one minute—this helps the yeast thrive.

Step 7: Setting Up the Blow-Off Tube & Monitoring Fermentation

  • Insert a sanitized blow-off tube into the fermenter’s rubber stopper. 
  • Place the other end in a half-full glass of water—this prevents foam overflow. 
  • Store the fermenter in a dark, temperature-stable location (ideally 60-75°F). 
  • Within 24-48 hours, bubbling should begin as fermentation starts.

Step 8: Swapping the Blow-Off Tube for an Airlock

  • After 4-5 days, once bubbling slows down, swap the blow-off tube for an airlock filled with water. 
  • Fermentation will continue for about 10-14 days.

Step 9: Adding Dry Hops for Maximum Aroma & Flavor

  • After 10 days of fermentation, add the dry hops directly into the fermenter. 
  • No need to stir or mix—the hops will infuse flavor & aroma naturally.

Step 10: Preparing Bottling Equipment & Priming Sugar

  • Sanitize bottles, caps, siphon tubing, and the bottling wand. 
  • In a small stockpot, heat 1.5 cups of water with 2 Tablespoons of sugar. 
  • Stir until dissolved and boil for 5 minutes. 
  • Allow the sugar water (priming sugar) to completely cool before use. 

Step 11: Siphoning Beer into Bottles 

  • Place the fermenter on a high surface and the pot of priming sugar on the floor. 
  • Siphon the beer into the pot, carefully leaving sediment behind. 
  • Gently stir the beer to evenly mix in the priming sugar. 
  • Using sanitized tubing, siphon the beer into bottles, filling just to the neck. 
  • Cap the bottles securely.

Step 12: Carbonation & Aging

  • Store bottles in a dark, temperature-controlled area (68-75°F) for two weeks to allow carbonation to develop. 
  • After 14 days, refrigerate and enjoy your homebrewed Dark IPA! 

💡 Pro Tip: If your beer is under-carbonated, let it sit at room temperature for an additional 3-5 days before chilling.

Now that you know how to start brewing Dark IPA, you’re ready to brew Dark IPA at home like a pro. Whether you’re learning how to brew your own Dark IPA for the first time or experimenting with new hop combinations, Craft a Brew’s Black IPA Beer Making Kit makes the process easy and rewarding. 

Watch Our IPA-Making Video

Are you a visual learner? See our IPA recipe in action in our step-by-step beer brewing video. This video serves as a visual aid to this Dark IPA recipe, made using the Craft a Brew kit. 

Common Brewing Mistakes to Avoid

How is Dark IPA brewed successfully? It comes down to a balanced malt bill, proper hop selection and a few key precautions. Home Dark IPA brewing is easier than ever—especially with Craft a Brew’s Dark IPA Making Kit. Just keep these important topics in mind whenever you brew Dark IPA:

✅ How to Avoid It: Always use a siphon when transferring beer to minimize splashing and oxygen exposure. When adding dry hops, work quickly to limit the beer’s contact with oxygen. Store bottled Dark IPA in a cool, dark place to preserve freshness and hop aroma. 

✅ How to Avoid It: Use a nylon hop straining bag or fine-mesh strainer to filter out hops before transferring wort into the fermenter. If dry hopping, use a sanitized nylon hop bag to contain hop matter while still extracting bold aroma and flavor. Reducing hop debris in bottles helps prevent harsh bitterness and maintains the clean hop-forward flavor of a Dark IPA. 

✅ How to Avoid It: Stick with dehusked or debittered dark malts like BlackPrinz and Midnight Wheat, which provide dark color without excessive roasted bitterness. Avoid using heavy caramel, chocolate, or roasted barley malts, as these can overpower the hop-forward profile of a Dark IPA.

Tips for Successful Homebrewing

If you’ve been wondering, "How do I brew Dark IPA at home?" - the key lies in proper fermentation, hop handling, and careful oxidation control. Craft a Brew’s beer-making kits are designed to ensure success on your very first batch.  But if you really want to knock it out of the park on your first try, follow these expert tips to brew Dark IPA at home like a pro!

  • Maintain a steady fermentation range of 65–70°F (18–21°C) for a clean yeast profile. 
  • Avoid temperature swings, as they can lead to unwanted esters or phenols that may clash with the beer’s roasted malt backbone. 
  • If your brewing space fluctuates in temperature, consider using a fermentation chamber or a simple water bath to regulate conditions.
  • Oxidation is one of the biggest risks when brewing highly hopped beers like Dark IPA. If oxygen sneaks into your beer post-fermentation, it can cause the deep black color to fade to murky brown and introduce stale, cardboard-like off-flavors that dull the hop aroma.
  • Avoid splashing when transferring wort or bottling. 
  • Always use a siphon or racking cane to minimize air exposure. 
  • When dry hopping, add hops quickly and reseal your fermenter immediately to limit oxygen contact. 
  • Store bottles in a cool, dark place to preserve hop aroma and freshness.
  • Use a hop bag or mesh strainer to contain hop matter during the boil. 
  • When transferring to the fermenter, leave behind as much hop sediment as possible to prevent clogging. 
  • For dry hopping, use a sanitized hop sack to extract hop aroma while preventing hop particles from ending up in the final beer.
  • Sanitize all brewing equipment—fermenters, airlocks, siphons, bottles, and tubing. 
  • Use a no-rinse sanitizer (like the one included in Craft a Brew’s Dark IPA Kit) for quick and efficient sanitization. 
  • Rinse out your siphon and tubing immediately after use to prevent residue buildup and bacterial growth.

Homebrewing FAQs

If you have questions while learning how to homebrew Dark IPA, we've got you covered. Here are some of the most common dark IPA brewing FAQs to help you brew dark IPA at home successfully. 

Many first-time Dark IPA brewers worry that the dark malts will make the beer taste like a stout or porter rather than an IPA. The key to avoiding this is using the right dark malts—ones that provide color without overwhelming roastiness. 

  • Use debittered or dehusked dark malts like BlackPrinz or Midnight Wheat, which add color without excessive coffee or burnt flavors. 
  • Avoid roasted barley or chocolate malt, which are common in stouts and porters but too intense for a Dark IPA. 
  • Make sure your hop selection leans toward piney, resinous, and citrusy varieties, like Chinook, Centennial, or Simcoe, to keep the beer hop-forward.

Hop timing is crucial for getting the right balance of bitterness, flavor, and aroma in a Dark IPA. Here’s some of the Best Hop Timing for a Dark IPA: 

  • Bittering Hops: Add at the beginning of the 60-minute boil for classic IPA bitterness. 
  • Flavor Hops: Add 10 minutes before the end of the boil to enhance piney, citrusy, and dank notes. 
  • Aroma Hops: Add in the last 2 minutes of the boil or during a hop stand at 180°F for maximum aroma. 
  • Dry Hops: Add after fermentation slows (Day 5–7) to bring out bold, resinous hop character without excessive bitterness.

A good head of foam helps trap aromas and enhances mouthfeel, but some homebrewers struggle to achieve a thick, lasting head on their Dark IPA. 

  • Ensure proper carbonation—if the beer is under-carbonated, the head won’t form properly. 
  • Avoid using too many oils or fatty ingredients (such as certain fruit additions) that can reduce foam stability. 
  • Serve your beer in clean glassware—any leftover soap residue or oils can break down foam quickly.

Now that you know how to home brew Dark IPA, it’s time to put these tips into action! With Craft a Brew’s Dark IPA Kit, you’ll get all the pre-measured ingredients and step-by-step guidance needed to craft a bold, hop-forward Dark IPA that’s balanced, smooth, and packed with piney, resinous aroma.

Customize Your Dark IPA

Craft a Brew’s Dark IPA making kit comes with everything you need to brew an exciting, piney dark IPA. But you can put your personal creative spin on this beer with simple customizations!

Create a fuller body

If you like a fuller bodied, thicker IPA - try Maltodextrin! A simple non-fermentable sugar added on brew day helps add heft to the mouthfeel and promotes good head retention in your glass.

Add Citrus Zest

Complement the natural piney, citrusy hop notes of a dark IPA with a hint of real citrus! Using a grater, zest the skin of a grapefruit, lemon or lime (avoiding the bitter white pith) and add to the end of the boil.

Boost the ABV with Brewer’s Crystals!

Dial up the alcohol content in your homebrewed dark IPA - without thinning or drying the mouthfeel or adding an unpleasant boozy flavor - with Brewers Crystals. A blend of fermentable and non-fermentable sugars help give yeast more fermentation fuel. Add with Dry Malt Extract on brew day and proceed as usual.

Why Make Your Own Dark IPA?

If you love bold, hop-forward beers with a dark twist, learning how to brew dark IPA at home is an incredibly rewarding experience. This unique style isn’t always easy to find at local breweries, plus nothing beats the satisfaction of brewing Black IPA at home and customizing it to your exact taste preferences. With a Craft a Brew Black IPA Beer Kit, the dark IPA brewing process is straightforward and accessible for beginners and experienced homebrewers alike.

Here are a few reasons why you should brew your own dark IPA at home:

  • It’s Easier Than You Think: Many people think brewing beer is difficult, but with the right IPA brewing kit, it’s actually simple and fun. The Craft a Brew Black IPA Kit provides all the equipment, ingredients, and easy-to-follow instructions you need to brew Dark IPA at home with confidence. No prior brewing experience needed! The process is straightforward with just a few basic steps. You’ll get all the ingredients pre-measured for convenience. Follow our step-by-step brewing guide to ensure success.
  • Save Money & Always Have Your Favorite Beer on Hand: While craft beer prices continue to rise, home Dark IPA brewing is a cost-effective way to enjoy high-quality beer without breaking the bank. A 5-gallon batch of homebrewed Black IPA can yield over 50 bottles of beer for a fraction of the cost of store-bought craft beer. Never worry about your favorite Black IPA being out of stock—you control the supply!
  • The Joy of the Brewing Process: Brewing is part science, part art—and completely satisfying. There’s something special about crafting your own beer from start to finish, watching fermentation happen, bottling your brew, and finally enjoying that first sip of something you created with your own hands. If you love to drink beer, there’s nothing more fun than learning the science behind your favorite drink first-hand.

Simplify the Process with the Craft a Brew IPA Making Kit

Excited to brew your own Dark IPA, but not sure where to begin? Our Black IPA starter kit has everything you need in one convenient kit. Our Black IPA starter kit includes the best dark malts and piney hops for this style, along with reusable equipment to get your homebrewing hobby off the ground!