Ground Breaker Brewing Collaborates with Leikam Brewing to Release Psychrophilic Cold + Black IPA
Story by:
Bil Corcoran
Ground Breaker Brewing Psychrophilic Cold + Black IPA
Dark beer season is back. Ground Breaker Brewing and Leikam Brewing are marking the return of colder weather in the Pacific Northwest with Psychrophilic Cold + Black IPA, a 6.7% ABV collaboration that brings together the crisp, dry character of a Cold IPA and the darker malt profile of a Black IPA. It is an interesting combination, especially for drinkers who want plenty of hop character without another hazy IPA or a heavy, sweet dark beer.
The story behind Psychrophilic Cold + Black IPA goes back to 2021, when Leikam brewer Brandon Thomas first developed the beer while working as an assistant brewer at Ground Breaker Brewing. Now the two Portland breweries have revisited the recipe, bringing several years of additional brewing experience to a beer that already had personal meaning for Thomas. The new version was brewed and canned at Ground Breaker’s dedicated gluten-free brewery, giving this collaboration another point of distinction in Oregon’s craft beer scene.
Cold IPA has gained attention for its clean fermentation profile, firm bitterness, dry finish and assertive hop character, while Black IPA adds dark malt color and a roasted edge without necessarily turning the beer into a stout. Getting those elements to work together takes some thought.
Psychrophilic uses a clean lager yeast fermented at ale temperatures, with dry-hopping added near the end of fermentation, aiming for a crisp, hop-forward beer that keeps its dark appearance without losing the refreshing character associated with Cold IPA. A different approach to dark beer, and one that gives both breweries room to show how they work.
The collaboration also brought Ground Breaker head brewer Gloria Zeiger onto the brew deck with the Leikam team, making the project a chance to share techniques as well as revisit an established recipe. Psychrophilic Cold + Black IPA is scheduled to arrive at both breweries on November 4, with distribution to Ground Breaker’s territories expected in the days and weeks afterward. Here is the full announcement from Ground Breaker Brewing and Leikam Brewing, including the story behind Psychrophilic and details about its release.
| The cold season has finally returned in the Pacific Northwest, and with it, dark beer season! Ground Breaker Brewing and Leikam Brewing have teamed up to release Psychrophilic IPA. The 6.7% ABV cold and black IPA was brewed and canned at Ground Breaker’s dedicated gluten-free facility. It merges two styles of IPA into one; and was first developed in 2021 by Leikam brewer Brandon Thomas when he was assistant brewing at Ground Breaker. |
| Psychrophilic Cold + Black IPAA crisp and hop forward Black IPA |
| The Cold IPA style, pioneered by Gold Dot’s Kevin Davey when he was at Wayfinder Beer, has grown in popularity. The style centers on dryness, bitterness, and hop intensity. Thomas put his own spin on the style by using a black IPA malt profile with Cold IPA techniques. Psychrophillic Cold + Black IPA is fermented with a clean lager yeast at ale temperatures and dry-hopped at the tail end of fermentation. The result is a dark, crisp, hop-forward IPA.“ This was the first beer, as a brewer, where I had full creative liberty and holds a special place in my heart,” said Thomas. “Super thankful to the Ground Breaker team for inviting us in to revisit and combine our knowledge gained over the last 5 years to make this beer even better than it was before.” |
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| The Ground Breaker and Leikam crew on brew day |
| Always enthusiastic about learning and employing new techniques, Ground Breaker Head Brewer Gloria Zeiger was eager to hop on the brew deck with the Leikam team. “I was super excited to brew with Brandon and Theo,” remarked Zeiger. “I love working closely with other brewers to learn from them and see their perspective; it’s not something I get to do very often as a non-traditional brewer.”Psychrophilic Cold + Black IPA will be available at Ground Breaker Brewing and Leikam Brewing on November 4th. It will ship out to Ground Breaker territories in the following days and weeks. |
| About Ground Breaker Brewing Ground Breaker Brewing opened as the first dedicated gluten-free craft brewery in 2011. Ground Breaker is dedicated to crafting 100% gluten-free beer; using ingredients that are naturally gluten-free and allowing no gluten in their facility. Ground Breaker has won seven medals in the Gluten-Free category at the Great American Beer Festival®. The pub is located at 2030 SE 7th Ave. in Portland, OR. Ground Breaker’s beers are distributed in the following territories: OR, WA, CA, CO, MI, MA, RI, NY, NJ, and CT. Ground Breaker ships directly to customers in OR, OH, VA, KY, NH, VT and DC throughthe online beer store.https://groundbreakerbrewing.com/ facebook.com/groundbreakerbrewing Instagram: @groundbreakerbrewing Ground Breaker Brewing is a Portland, Oregon-based craft brewery known for producing beer exclusively with naturally gluten-free ingredients. Founded in 2011, Ground Breaker established itself as the first dedicated gluten-free craft brewery in the United States, building its business around the idea that gluten-free beer should offer the same variety and character expected from the wider craft beer industry. The brewery’s approach goes beyond adapting a conventional beer recipe for people avoiding gluten. Ground Breaker brews with naturally gluten-free ingredients and maintains a facility where gluten is not used in production. That dedicated process allows the brewery to focus on gluten-free craft beer from the beginning of recipe development through brewing and packaging. Ground Breaker has produced a range of styles, including pale ales, IPAs, lagers and darker beers. Its lineup gives drinkers options beyond a narrow selection of light or mild beers, and seasonal releases allow the brewing team to explore new ingredients and approaches. The brewery has also earned seven medals in the Gluten-Free category at the Great American Beer Festival, recognition that reflects its continued work in a specialized part of the craft beer market. Its beer program includes hop-forward releases alongside more traditional styles. Ground Breaker has worked with different hop varieties and seasonal ingredients to create beers with distinct profiles, from fresh hop IPAs to crisp pilsners and lighter lagers. Releases such as Louise West Coast Pilsner and Love Your Body Mexican Lager show how the brewery approaches familiar styles while working within its gluten-free brewing process. Ground Breaker also participates in collaborations and brewing projects that bring new ideas into its lineup. Psychrophilic Cold + Black IPA, made with Leikam Brewing, is one example. The beer combines the clean, dry profile of a Cold IPA with the dark appearance and malt character of a Black IPA, offering a different option for drinkers interested in hop-forward beer. Brewing and canning the collaboration at Ground Breaker’s dedicated gluten-free facility also connects the release directly to the brewery’s central mission. The brewery operates a pub at 2030 SE 7th Avenue in Portland, where visitors can explore its beers in a taproom setting. Ground Breaker distributes its beer in several U.S. markets, including Oregon, Washington, California, Colorado, Michigan, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. It also offers direct shipping to eligible customers in select states and Washington, D.C., subject to current availability and shipping rules. Ground Breaker’s role in craft beer is built around both specialization and experimentation. Rather than limiting its output to a single signature style, the brewery continues to develop a varied range of gluten-free beer for drinkers who want options across the craft category. Its work with ingredients, seasonal releases and other breweries helps keep that lineup moving while remaining focused on gluten-free production. For more information about the brewery, its current beers, taproom and distribution, visit the official Ground Breaker Brewing website at https://groundbreakerbrewing.com/. About Leikam BrewingEstablished in 2014, Leikam Brewing is a certified kosher, community-centric, and family-operated 5BBL brewery. Their taproom is located at 5812 E. Burnside Street, Portland, Oregon.https://leikambrewing.com/ Instagram: @leikambrewing |
Related news from mybeerbuzz.com:
Ground Breaker Brewing has appeared in previous MyBeerBuzz coverage for seasonal releases, hop-forward beers and the brewery’s expansion into new markets. Related stories include the return of Louise West Coast Pilsner, the release of Love Your Body Mexican Lager, the brewery’s 2026 Fresh Hop Season and four new beers, and its gluten-free craft beer expansion into New York City and New Jersey. These stories provide additional background on Ground Breaker’s beer lineup, seasonal brewing and place in the gluten-free craft beer market.
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