Coopers just changed how my IPA hits — better body, less bitterness, no weird aftertaste.

June 9, 2025

Why Light Malt Extract Might Be the Secret Ingredient Your IPAs Are Missing

Most folks think IPA brewing is all about the hops. But what if the secret weapon for bolder flavour, smoother pours, and a richer finish isn’t in the boil — but in the base?

1. Bigger Body, Better Balance – Without Going Overboard

We’ve all had a homebrew IPA that starts out strong and then… falls flat. There’s bitterness, yeah — but no depth. That’s where Coopers Light Dry Malt Extract steps up. Its 100% pure malted barley composition boosts the flavour and structure of your beer without tipping it into heavy or syrupy territory.

This little 500g pack works hard behind the scenes — it adds subtle malt character and boosts fermentable sugars, all while keeping the hop-forward profile of your IPA intact.

“I wasn’t after a thick beer, just something with a bit more chew. One batch with Coopers Light Malt and it was like switching from thin crust to wood-fired — same base, way more satisfying.”

The best bit? It’s light enough to not overpower your hops. So you can bump up the mouthfeel and head retention without watering down that citrus-pine punch you’re chasing.

2. Cleaner Ferment, Fewer Surprises

If you’ve brewed a few batches, you’ve probably danced with the sugar devil — yeast going rogue with unpredictable sugars, funky aftertastes, or sluggish fermentations that throw everything off. Coopers Light Dry Malt keeps it simple: clean, consistent fermentables your yeast will love.

Unlike using plain table sugar (which can dry out your beer faster than a summer wind), malt extract gives your yeast something familiar to chew on — leading to smoother, more reliable fermentations and better final flavours.

That’s brewing smarter, not harder. And you don’t need a science degree to see the results. Just one tweak, and suddenly your timeline’s tighter, your finishing gravity’s right on track, and there’s no weird tang lurking in the shadows.

3. It Makes Hop Bombs Taste Like Real Beer

Modern IPAs can be hop monsters — tropical, dank, citrusy. But there’s a fine line between a juicy hop hit and a one-dimensional sip that falls apart after the first few mouthfuls.

By adding Coopers Light Dry Malt Extract into the mix, you build a backbone that holds all that intensity. It keeps your hop flavours balanced and stretched longer across the palate. Think of it like laying turf on decent soil instead of beach sand — everything grows better.

Plus, you get better foam stability. The lasting cap on your glass isn’t just for Instagram glory; it’s a sign of proper protein content and good brewing form. LDM helps on both fronts.

“My mates love a face-puckering IPA, but I wanted mine to have some elegance too. The malt extract gave it just a bit of classic body — like a punk band that suddenly learned harmony.”

Quick Tips for Brewers Adding Coopers LDM to Their IPA Recipes

Use it in place of part of your base malt or sugar — around 10–20% of fermentables works great.
Dissolve it properly — stir it into hot water to avoid clumps before adding it to wort.
Pair it with high-alpha hops — it softens bitterness slightly, so you’re safe to go bold.

Doesn’t Have to Be Fancy to Be Flawless

This isn’t about “gamifying” your brew day or tricking out everything with fancy digital gadgets. It’s about getting the core inputs right. And sometimes, a simple pack of dry malt extract quietly solves half the issues you didn’t even know you were having — from that lingering thinness in the body to inconsistent fermentation curves.

Add it once. Taste the shift. You’ll never brew another IPA without it.

To stronger head retention and tastier pours,

Candeece