Iowa State Students Collaborate with Backpocket Brewing for Unique IPA Creation
The aroma of malted grains and hops drifts through the Iowa State University brewing science lab, where students are not just learning, but competing to create a unique India pale ale (IPA) for commercial production. In a new venture with Backpocket Brewing, students are applying their brewing knowledge in a real-world challenge.
The course, “The Science and Practice of Brewing,” offered by the ISU brewing science program, engages students with the essentials of brewing science while also tasking them with developing a commercially viable IPA. Robert C. Brown, leading the program and co-director of the university’s Bioeconomy Institute, notes, “This semester, Backpocket Brewing challenged our students to apply what they are learning about brewing to develop a new IPA for commercial production, and the competitive opportunity has taken student enthusiasm and learning to a whole new level.”
The Brewing Challenge
Among the 20 undergraduates in the course is Trenton Major, who is pursuing a beverage management minor alongside his major in agricultural business. The challenge of creating an IPA for Backpocket Brewing has provided Major and his peers with invaluable insight into the differences between home and commercial brewing, particularly in terms of production scale.
Backpocket Brewing, which operates in Coralville, Dubuque, and Johnston, requested the creation of a “new American IPA” that merges the flavors of hazy IPAs with the bitterness of West Coast IPAs. Luke Jipp, head brewer at Backpocket, describes it as “an easy-drinking, balanced IPA with an approachable, fruiter hop profile.”
Students formed teams to craft their brews, experimenting with traditional beer ingredients and innovative techniques in the university’s 2,800-square-foot brewing lab. The culmination of their efforts was presented in early November to a panel of judges, including Jipp and ISU faculty.
Jipp expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “It was exciting to find out what the students created; each team started from scratch, developed a recipe and brewed it in the ISU lab.”
Introducing Alien Juice Party IPA
The winning brew, dubbed “Alien Juice Party” by Team 3, was crafted using Galaxy hops, known for their citrus notes. Team members Connor Hollarbush, Trenton Major, Grant Miller, David Nelson, and Steven Ragan collaborated to produce this standout IPA.
Describing their creation, Major explained, “Compared to traditional IPAs, our Alien Juice Party IPA has a more forward citrus flavor, less noticeable bitterness and a crisp finish.” The process involved soaking grains to create wort, boiling and adding hops, cooling and fermenting with yeast, and additional hopping with Galaxy and El Dorado varieties.
The Alien Juice Party IPA will debut at a release event on December 13 at Backpocket Brewing’s Pin & Pixel in Johnston, with public tastings and student meet-and-greets. Starting December 20, it will be available on tap at all Backpocket locations.
About the Brewing Science Program
ISU’s brewing science program offers students the opportunity to connect disciplines like chemistry, biology, and engineering with practical brewing experience. The program’s course involves lectures and extensive lab work, overseen by a team of ISU instructors. For more information, visit extension.iastate.edu/wine/brewing-science-program.
Read More Here
