Zebra Hop Hazy Double IPA Recipe with Component Brewing

February 9, 2024

The Brewer: Jonathan Kowalske

My name is Jon, and I own and operate Component Brewing with my two cousins, Steve and DJ.

What started as a hobby for one of us has become a collective obsession and we’re thrilled to be keeping the flame alive for Milwaukee’s legacy of brew masters with our craft beer hall concept. We’ve dedicated years to experimenting with different styles, ingredients and flavor profiles that allow us to devote 20 tap lines to our own beers – some generally true to style and some a little off-the-wall – to quench our thirst for adventure and yours.

We love our beer, but at the end of the day our brand is family.

The Beer: Hazy Double IPA

Five years ago, right after we opened our brewery, our family’s life changed forever when our middle son, Mac, was diagnosed with Malan Syndrome. Malan Syndrome is a rare genetic disorder caused by a change in the NFIX gene.

Knowing that we were in uncharted territory, we started looking for resources to get the most help possible for Mac. One of the resources we tapped into was the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) and it has provided a support network for not only Mac, my wife, and me, but also for thousands of families and individuals around the U.S. with rare diseases. Thankfully, Mac is living his best life as a hockey-loving, sports-crazed jokester who is the best salesperson around.

This collaborative beer uses advanced brewing products and techniques to represent the advances in medicine happening now and in the future to find cures for all rare diseases.

Every year, on the last day of February (because it's the only month that doesn't have 30 or 31 days) we at Component Brewing celebrate National Rare Disease Day with a Zebra Hop Release Party, where we serve our version, along with at least half a dozen other breweries around town, with all proceeds going toward NORD.

Not in the Milwaukee area? That's okay! You can still brew Zebra Hop or a "rare" style of your own to help support this important mission. If you brewed this year's recipe, let us know!

This year, our recipe features new hops and yeast products as well as some newer to market hops. This is supposed to symbolize advances in medical research to find a cure for all rare diseases. The can is designed around the zebra, the national symbol for rare diseases and is noted by its black and white stripes.

The Recipe: Zebra Hop

INGREDIENTS

GRAIN

9 lbs Pilsen Malt
2.5 lbs Flaked Oats
1 lbs Flaked Wheat
1 lbs Dextrose
1 lbs Dextrin Malt

HOPS

Boil hops: Temp Saaz in Mash
Boil hops: 0.5 oz Nelson Sauvin- 0:30 min
Whirlpool @ 180 ºF / 15 minutes: 20 grams Citra Incognito, 1 oz Nelson Sauvin & 1 oz Waiema
Dry Hops: 2.5 oz Nelson Sauvin - 3 Days
Dry Hops: 2 oz Waiema - 3 Days
Dry Hops: 2 oz Nectaron- 3 Days

YEAST

Omega OYL-402 Cosmic Punch

INSTRUCTIONS

BATCH SIZE: 5 gal

OG: 1.076

FG: 1.018

IBU: 40

ABV: 7.5%

EFFICIENCY: 70%

MASH TEMP: 152 ºF

BOIL: 30 min

FERMENTATION: 66ºF - 14 days

How to Get Involved

Sharing this beer with friends and family will help create awareness for individuals with rare diseases. Plus, it tastes really, really good!

To learn more about Mac's story, click HERE.

For more about Zebra Hop, NORD or to donate please click HERE.

Let's all "show our stripes" this February.

Cheers,
Jon, Julie and Mac Kowalske

Spike Summarizes: All Things Hazy IPA

What is a Hazy IPA?

Hazy IPAs are by far one of the most popular beers—and we definitely know why. With a “hazy” glow, intense hop aroma and smooth, creamy texture, it’s a true delight for the senses.

Unlike traditional IPAs, Hazy IPAs are brewed with a combination of malts, hops, and yeast that produce a beer with a thick, cloudy appearance and a soft, velvety mouthfeel. These beers have a juicy, fruity flavor and aroma, with notes of citrus, tropical fruits, and stone fruits.

What is the History of a Hazy IPA?

The origins of hazy IPA can be traced back to a brewery in Vermont called The Alchemist. This brewery was founded in 2003 by John and Jen Kimmich and in 2011, They released their first hazy IPA, called Heady Topper.

This beer quickly became a cult classic, and helped to popularize the style of beer that we know today as the Hazy IPA.

What Is the Difference Between a Hazy IPA and a Regular IPA?

Ingredients: Both Hazy and regular IPAs are brewed with a combination of malts, hops, and yeasts. Although hops used in hazy IPAs are usually added late in the brewing process to create a fruitier aroma while in regular IPAs, hops are added early in the brewing process to create a more bitter flavor.

Taste and texture: Hazy IPAs are usually fruitier and less bitter than regular IPAs. Hazy IPAs also have a softer mouthfeel and more rounded flavor profile while regular IPAs have a strong and pronounced hop flavor.

Alcohol content: Hazy IPAs tend to have higher alcohol content than the regular ones. Hazy IPAs typically range from 6-8% alcohol by volume (ABV), while regular IPAs usually range from 4-7% ABV.

Brewing process: in order to give it a unique flavor and aroma, Hazy IPAs are brewed using a variety of techniques versus regular IPAs which are brewed using traditional methods.

What Causes the Haze in Hazy IPAs?

Filtration: Filtration is an important part of the brewing process that removes particles and impurities from the beer, but it’s not necessary. For Hazy IPAs, the filtration process is either skipped or done at a minimal level to keep the beer hazy.

Dry Hopping: If you can smell and taste a strong hop aroma and flavor in your beer, it probably went through dry hopping. This process involves adding hops after the beer has finished fermenting, usually in the form of pellets, cones, or plugs.

Yeast Strains: Yeast strains can be categorized into two main groups: ale yeasts, which are top-fermenting, and lager yeasts, which are bottom-fermenting.

More Grains: The haze that can be seen in wheat beers is mainly because of the wheat itself. This type of grain has a much higher protein content than barley. That being said, Hazy IPAs make use of grains like wheat and oats, which provide a high level of protein that contribute to the beer's cloudy appearance.

What Are the Hops Used in a Hazy IPA?

Aroma Hops: From the name itself, aroma hops impart unique flavors and aroma to the beer. They are typically low in alpha acids which means that they do not contribute much to the beer’s bitterness.

Bittering Hops: To add bitterness to the beer, clearly you need bittering hops. They are typically added during the boil stage of the brewing process, and unlike aroma hops, bittering hops are typically high in alpha acids, which are responsible for the bitter flavor.

Dual-Purpose Hops: When you combine the powers of aroma and bittering hops, you get a dual-purpose hop. It’s the most versatile type of hop as it provides both bittering and aromatics.

Is a Hazy IPA Strong?

Hazy IPAs can range from a light session beer to a full-bodied double IPA. The alcohol by volume (ABV) of a typical Hazy IPA can range from 4-10%. The higher the ABV, the stronger the beer.

What Is the Difference Between a Hazy Pale Ale and an IPA?

Hazy Pale Ales and IPAs both use the same type of malts and hops. The difference is that IPAs are more hop-forward, have a higher ABV, and are more bitter than Pale Ales which are more balanced and have a lighter body.

Why Are Hazy IPAs Expensive?

Hazy IPAs are more expensive due to the cost of ingredients and the labor-intensive process of brewing. The making of a Hazy IPA requires more hops and yeast, which can be expensive and on top of that the brewing process takes longer, so brewers need to charge more to cover their costs.

What Does a Hazy IPA Taste Like?

Hazy IPAs are usually fruity and juicy, with notes of citrus, tropical fruits, and pine. The beer has a creamy texture and a smooth finish. It has a low to moderate bitterness and a moderate to high hop aroma.

Why Is It Called Hazy IPA?

Hazy IPA got its name from its look. The beer is unfiltered and has a hazy, cloudy appearance. This is due to the yeast, proteins, and hops that are suspended in the beer.

Is a Hazy IPA Sweet?

Hazy IPAs are not overly sweet. They have a moderate to high hop aroma, which gives the beer a slight sweetness. However, the bitterness of the hops balances out the sweetness, making the beer more balanced.

Is a Hazy IPA a bitter beer?

What makes a bitter beer? It's all about the hops. Hazy IPAs usually have a low to moderate bitterness. The hop aroma is usually more pronounced than the bitterness, giving the beer a fruity and juicy flavor.