Recipe Kit Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA

Recipe Kit Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA is an extract kit built to replicate the hop character of one of America's benchmark IPAs. Magnum handles the clean bittering, Citra delivers the intense tropical citrus and grapefruit aroma the variety is known for, and Hersbrucker adds a subtle herbal spice note that gives the hop profile depth beyond just citrus. A Carapils grain steep adds body and head retention without changing colour or flavour. Fermented with Mangrove Jack's M42 New World Strong Ale Yeast, the result is a well-attenuated, characterful American IPA at 5.8% ABV with 35 IBUs and a reddish golden colour.

The Carapils addition is worth noting. At 400g steeped alongside 3.7kg of pale and wheat malt extract, it improves mouthfeel and produces a creamy head that holds well in the glass. It is a small step that makes a real difference in how the finished beer presents.

Key advantages

• Magnum, Citra, and Hersbrucker hop combination: clean bitterness, tropical citrus aroma, herbal spice depth
• Carapils grain steep: improved body and head retention without adding colour or competing flavour
• M42 New World Strong Ale Yeast: high attenuation, clean fermentation suited to bigger IPAs
• 5.8% ABV and 35 IBU — a proper American IPA, not a watered-down version

When it makes sense

• Works well if you drink Sierra Nevada Torpedo commercially and want to brew a close approximation at home
• Good kit for intermediate brewers who have brewed a few pale ales and want to move up in hop intensity and ABV
• Suits anyone who prefers West Coast IPA clarity and bitterness over the soft hazy IPA style

Brewing specs

• Style: American IPA
• Volume: 21 litres (28 longnecks at 750 mL, or about 55 stubbies at 375 mL)
• ABV: 5.8%
• IBU: 35
• Colour (EBC): 20
• Hops: Magnum (bittering), Citra (aroma), Hersbrucker (herbal spice)
• Grain bill: Pale malt and wheat malt extract (3.7kg), Carapils (400g steeped)
• Yeast: Mangrove Jack's M42 New World Strong Ale Yeast
• Fermentation temp: 16 to 22 degrees C (M42 range; aim for 18 to 20)
• Original gravity: 1.055
• Final gravity: 1.012
• Difficulty: Intermediate
• Ready to drink: 5 to 6 weeks from brew day

What's in the kit

• Pale malt and wheat malt extract (3.7kg) — fermentable base for a firm, full IPA body
• Carapils malt (400g) — steeped for improved mouthfeel and head retention
• Magnum hop pellets — clean, neutral bitterness
• Citra hop pellets — intense tropical citrus and grapefruit aroma
• Hersbrucker hop pellets — herbal spice depth
• Mangrove Jack's M42 New World Strong Ale Yeast — high attenuation, clean fermentation
• Dextrose — boosts ABV and primes carbonation in the bottle

Tasting notes

• Aroma: Tropical citrus, grapefruit, and pine from Citra, with a herbal and spice note from Hersbrucker
• Appearance: Reddish golden with a creamy white head
• Flavour: Firm clean bitterness up front, layered tropical and citrus hop character through the middle. Smooth malt finish from the Carapils
• Mouthfeel: Medium-bodied with good fullness from the Carapils steep
• Finish: Dry and lingering with hop bitterness that invites another sip

Hamish's tip

M42 is a high-attenuation yeast and will ferment down to 1.012 or below. Give it 12 to 14 days of primary at the lower end of its range, 18 to 20 degrees C, and confirm with a hydrometer before bottling. At 5.8% ABV the beer needs conditioning time, so allow the full 5 to 6 weeks from brew day before opening the first bottle. Citra aroma is at its best in weeks 4 to 8 and fades after that, so drink it fresh. If you prefer to cellar a big IPA and let the hops settle into the malt, that is a fair way to enjoy it, just know you are trading the citrus punch for a rounder, maltier beer.

Reviewed by the AHB Brewing Team — June 2026.