Wild Leap Brew Co. Chief Brewing Officer Chris Elliott Talks Side Bae Double IPA: Idaho 7

We spoke with Wild Leap Brew Co. Chief Brewing Officer Chris Elliott about Side Bae Double IPA Idaho 7.

Who was responsible for this beer’s recipe?
I designed the neutral base beer for the Side Bae series, and my brewers and hop providers play a role in selecting the ideal hop varieties to feature. This was a hop varietal that was recommended by our friends at Yakima Chief Hops.

What sets this beer apart from other examples within the style?
This beer has a great balance that truly lets the Idaho 7 hops shine. We keep the IBUs very low with whirlpool-only, hot-side hop additions. Most of the flavor and aroma all come from late-addition hops and dry hopping. We also keep a hint of residual sweetness to increase the juiciness.

What makes this beer truly World Class?
We approached the development of this beer like we do for most of our brands: spare no expense and make it balanced and delicious. We also love experimenting with new innovative hop products like Cryo pellets in our recipes. These products are truly elevating the quality of IPA, among other styles.

What is your favorite aspect of this beer (flavor, aroma, mouthfeel, etc.)?
This beer may have the best aroma of all the IPAs we have made to date.

How popular is this beer among your faithful fans?
We make about 5-6 versions of our Side Bae series every year, and this has probably been the most requested version we have ever brewed.

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