Kiwi Express IPA: A Fast Track to Summer in a Glass

I brewed Northern Brewer’s Kiwi Express IPA a while back and loved the tropical hit from those New Zealand hops. It felt like a summer beer with some real attitude. But this time around, instead of buying the kit again, I rebuilt it myself from scratch, using DME and a few tweaks to match my brewing setup and timeline.

It’s basically the same hop-forward IPA, just adapted for a 5-gallon extract batch using dry malt extract. Honestly, it might’ve turned out better than the original kit.

Why DME?
Simple: time, space, and flexibility. DME gives me a faster brew day and lets me control exactly what goes into the batch. It also preserves the beers color almost to an exact match.

Here’s the Full Recipe I Used:

• 6.6 lbs Golden Light DME
  • 3.3 lbs at the start of the boil
  • 3.3 lbs added at flameout
• Hops:
  • 1 oz Nelson Sauvin @ 60 min
  • 1 oz Motueka @ 20 min
  • 1 oz Nelson Sauvin @ 10 min
  • 1 oz Motueka @ 5 min
  • 1 oz Nelson Sauvin @ flameout
  • Dry hop: 1 oz Nelson Sauvin + 1 oz Motueka for 4–7 days
• Yeast: Safale US-05
• Optional: Whirlfloc tab or Irish Moss @ 15 min for clarity

OG came in around 1.062, and I finished at 1.010, putting it right around 6.2% ABV.
I fermented it around 66°F and dry hopped after fermentation slowed down, cold crashing for 2 days before bottling.

Tasting Notes:

• Big white wine, gooseberry, and lime aromas from the Nelson and Motueka
• Bright, tropical flavor with a dry, crisp finish
• Light enough to enjoy in the heat, but still punchy enough to be interesting

If you’ve brewed the original Kiwi Express IPA kit and want to try building it yourself, this DME version is a great way to get back to basics without losing what makes it awesome. It’s fast, flavorful, and absolutely perfect for summer.

Thinking about keeping this one on tap until the leaves start falling. Check out the full recipe below!

Kiwi Express IPA (5 Gallon DME Recipe)

Style: American IPA with New Zealand hops
ABV: ~6.2%
IBU: ~60
SRM: ~6
Batch Size: 5 gallons
Boil Time: 60 minutes
Fermentation Temp: 64–72°F

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Brew Day Instructions

1. Heat 2.5–3 gallons of water to ~150°F.
2. Bring to a boil, then add 3.3 lbs DME slowly while stirring to prevent clumps or scorching.
3. Boil for 60 minutes, following the hop schedule above.
4. At flameout, turn off the heat and add remaining 3.3 lbs of DME, stirring until fully dissolved.
5. Top up to 5 gallons with cold water. Chill wort to ~68°F.
6. Aerate well and pitch yeast.
7. Ferment for 1–2 weeks at 64–68°F until gravity is stable.
8. Dry hop for 4–7 days once fermentation slows.
9. Cold crash if desired, then keg or bottle as usual.

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Target Gravity

• OG: ~1.062
• FG: ~1.010
• ABV: ~6.2%

If anyone has any questions feel free to drop me a message!

Keep on brewing!