Founders All Day IPA Clone Recipe

Founders-Style All Day Session IPA Clone Recipe

Founders All Day IPA didn't just popularize the session category; it proved that a beer could be low in alcohol without sacrificing flavor. It's the beer that makes the "ordinary extraordinary," balancing a complex grain bill with a refreshing, citrus-forward hop profile.

It’s also one of the most rewarding beers to clone at home.

Founders utilizes a complex array of grains and a specific hop blend of Crystal, Cascade, Amarillo, and Simcoe to achieve that signature drinkability. This recipe captures that essential character, using your professional-grade ingredients to help you replicate that clean, crisp, and crushable finish.

The Recipe

  • Batch Size: 5 gallons

  • Method: BIAB or traditional all-grain

  • Boil Time: 60 minutes

  • Fermentation Temp: 65°F–68°F

Target Stats:

  • OG: 1.047

  • FG: 1.011

  • ABV: ~4.7%

  • IBU: 42

Grain Bill

  • 8 lb Briess 2-Row Malt

  • 1 lb Wheat Malt

  • 0.5 lb Flaked Corn

  • 0.5 lb Flaked Oats

  • 0.5 lb Caramel 60L — Briess

Mash: 148°F for 60 minutes. Lowering the mash temp is key to achieving the high attenuation required for this light-bodied session beer.

Hop Schedule

  • 1 oz Crystal Hops @ 60 min

  • 1 oz Centennial Hops @ 15 min

  • 1 oz Cascade Hops @ 5 min

  • 1 oz Simcoe Hops @ 0 min (Flameout)

Yeast

  • 1 packet SafAle US-05 American Ale Yeast

    US-05 is clean, neutral, and highly attenuative—exactly what this beer needs to let the complex hop profile shine without any distracting yeast esters.

Brew Day Notes

  • Water Profile: Target a balanced, neutral profile. Avoid heavy mineral additions that could clash with the delicate hop balance.

  • Dry Hopping: For maximum aroma, consider a small dry hop addition of 0.5 oz of Cascade 3–5 days after primary fermentation.

  • Conditioning: This beer is best enjoyed fresh. Drink within 3–4 weeks to capture that vibrant, citrusy hop aroma before it begins to fade.

Tasting Notes

  • Appearance: Pale gold with a crisp, persistent white head.

  • Aroma: Refreshing citrus, floral, and subtle tropical fruit notes.

  • Flavor: Balanced and crushable. The malt provides a clean, light base for the complex hop character.

  • Finish: Crisp, clean, and moderately bitter—the definition of an "all day" beer.

Troubleshooting

  • Not enough hop aroma? Ensure you are adding your late-addition hops (or dry hops) only after primary fermentation has slowed.

  • Too heavy? Double-check your mash temperature; keeping it at 148°F is essential for that light, dry finish.

  • Hazy? A cold crash for 48 hours and a Whirlfloc tablet at 10 minutes will keep the beer bright and clean.

Ready to Brew?

We've put together everything you need in one kit: fresh-milled grain, pre-measured hops, and yeast. No hunting down individual ingredients, no guessing quantities.

Shop the Founders-Style All Day Session IPA Clone Kit — 5 Gallon