Dry hop my American Saison?

[smbenn]

Hi All

Have made a split batch (2 x 12.5L) to compare US05 with Danstar's Belle Saison. Recipe is for an Rye APA (Magnum for bittering, aroma is a bit of Chinook, then a Amarillo/Falconer's Flight combo). Will be dry hopping the US05 version but wonder if dry hopping the Saison will overpower it?

Argument for dry hopping both: exactly the same process and ingredients for both so a valid A/B comparison.
Argument against: I'll end up with 2 x APAs. Leaving out the dry hop for the Saison would avoid disguising the yeast flavour. (As I stuck both in the brew fridge I settled on 21C, ie. at the upper end for US05 but tolerable if not great for the Saison.)

So, should I dry hop the Saison as per the US05? Wouldn't want to dry hop with non-US as this will add a third variable in the mix...

[BrannigansLove]

If your objective truly is to compare US05 with Belle Saison, then you really have to apply the same process to both, so dry hop. If you're just looking to see whether your recipe works as a good saison recipe, I would leave out the dry hops.

[hazelbrew]

if it was me... to really see the differences in the two yeasts.

I would take the US05 version out and let it ferment at ambient temperature - hoping you have somewhere between 18-22C for it to sit.

I would then crank the brew fridge up to 24, 26 or even higher to let Belle Saison express itself properly... and I would not dry hop the saison version.

[BrannigansLove]

if it was me... to really see the differences in the two yeasts.

I would take the US05 version out and let it ferment at ambient temperature - hoping you have somewhere between 18-22C for it to sit.

I would then crank the brew fridge up to 24, 26 or even higher to let Belle Saison express itself properly... and I would not dry hop the saison version.

This is what I would do if it was my beer.

[smbenn]

Sold - I'll pull the US05 from the fridge, up the temp on the Saison and avoid dry hopping. Thanks chaps. (I had to ask myself what I was trying to achieve here.)

[Matt12398]

I would then crank the brew fridge up to 24, 26 or even higher to let Belle Saison express itself properly... and I would not dry hop the saison version.

You shouldn't have to with Belle Saison. It performs perfectly well at standard temps. The Dupont strain is a different story.

[hazelbrew]

I would then crank the brew fridge up to 24, 26 or even higher to let Belle Saison express itself properly... and I would not dry hop the saison version.

You shouldn't have to with Belle Saison. It performs perfectly well at standard temps. The Dupont strain is a different story.

hmmm. quick read says it is as you say less sensitive to temperature. I must just have it confused with other strains. lots of reference to fermenting this at 22-24 ish. made harder when many of the posts are in 200 year old temperature units (Fahrenheit...)!

[daf]

A saison is a yeast-forward beer so hops (bittering and aroma) should be minimal.

[smbenn]

I would then crank the brew fridge up to 24, 26 or even higher to let Belle Saison express itself properly... and I would not dry hop the saison version.

You shouldn't have to with Belle Saison. It performs perfectly well at standard temps. The Dupont strain is a different story.

hmmm. quick read says it is as you say less sensitive to temperature. I must just have it confused with other strains. lots of reference to fermenting this at 22-24 ish. made harder when many of the posts are in 200 year old temperature units (Fahrenheit...)!

Have moved out US05 and bumped fridge up to 24. Agreed that other Saison strains are more fussy/prefer higher temps.

[serum]

A lot of "craft" breweries will do late and dry hopping on saisons. It's not authentic but it's still alright to do. That yeast isn't massively expressive compared to some others. I found it a bit bland for a Belgian if anything.

[daf]

A lot of "craft" breweries will do late and dry hopping on saisons. It's not authentic but it's still alright to do. That yeast isn't massively expressive compared to some others. I found it a bit bland for a Belgian if anything.

These "craft" breweries should call their "saisons" something else!