Saison kit?

[Monkeybrew]

I got some homebrew shop vouchers for my birthday, so it would rude not to use some towards a can of Coopers Wheat beer!

I'm not sure if they sell the yeast though, so may have to order some online.

When I get the bits, I'll probably use some EKG pellets in place of the Saaz.

Cheers

MB

[widdersbel]

Just tested the brew. It's been going a week and a half at 20C and has dropped from 1060 to 1008 (I make that 6.83% abv). And it tastes great - actually pretty much resembles what I expect in a saison. Not too hoppy, slightly sweet. With a bit of bottle conditioning and a chance to clear, it should be a great refreshing summer beer.

I'm aiming to bottle it next weekend.

[Caddarn]

I've just put mine on... OG was 1054 so I'll be interested to see if it finishes lower than yours widdersbel.

[Monkeybrew]

I've got the yeast, APA, DME & EKG pellets, now just waiting for the Wheat beer kit to arrive!

MB

[widdersbel]

I'd be a little worried at the potential for producing bottle bombs with that much priming sugar

Just read the recipe again... Hmmm, 8g per litre does seem rather a lot. Think I'll reduce how much sugar I use, maybe by as much as half.

[jaroporter]

i primed my last saison at 5g/L, and it was perfect for my taste, but then i don't like it superfizzy. i've read of loadsa people on here priming lagers and the like at 8g/L. when it's time to bottle my lagers i think i'll be pushing it up closer to that..

[Monkeybrew]

I'd be a little worried at the potential for producing bottle bombs with that much priming sugar

Just read the recipe again... Hmmm, 8g per litre does seem rather a lot. Think I'll reduce how much sugar I use, maybe by as much as half.

I maybe wrong, but I've come to the conclusion that the reason Coopers suggest priming at 8g/L, is because down under, they drink all of their ale at ice cold temps.

I bottled a Sparkling Ale this week, and went for 6g/L as I plan to drink it at quite cool temps.

A saison is supposed to be highly primed, so I may still opt for the 8g/L when I brew mine


Cheers

MB

[widdersbel]

Good points, MB. I'm like jaroporter in that I don't like my beers superfizzy (not even lagers) but it would be right for the style to have a bit of sparkle.

I was planning on bottling this weekend, after nearly three weeks in primary, but I just tested it and it's now at 1006, down two points since Monday, so I might leave it another day or two just to be sure it's finished fermenting before bottling.

I tasted the sample and I'm very pleased with it. Very pleased indeed. It seems to be turning out as exactly what I was hoping for.

[widdersbel]

Bottled it a few days ago, primed with 120g golden caster sugar. Came to 35 x 500ml bottles, plus dregs and spillage, so just shy of 18L, ie about 7g/L.

Annoyingly, I sucked up a bit of sediment when racking it into the bottling bucket. Really hope that settles out and doesn't affect the flavour.

A few pics of the bottling process...











Will knock up some labels later. Can't wait to actually sample it though!

[GavH]

Thinking of having a go at a Saison but replacing the APA with Coopers Real Ale and using Wyeast 3711. Any thoughts?

[widdersbel]

I guess it depends what you're hoping for in the finished beer. The APA is a light, refreshing golden ale with a low hop profile and I think that's probably what makes it suitable for this Saison recipe. The added Saaz hops bring an earthiness but not much bitterness, which again I think seems right for style. I don't know the RA but I'd guess it's both darker and hoppier than the APA and will bring those characteristics to the finished beer. Which is fine if that's what you want.

As for yeasts, I can only vouch for the Danstar Belle Saison being a very good performer, and it seems to produce authentic flavours.

Pending taste test, I reckon I'll definitely do this recipe again. I may be tempted to tweak it, but it seems pretty good as it is.

[Caddarn]

Mine now appears to have finished at 1010, will be double checking tomorrow and then bottling early next week. Smells great and I can't wait to taste it!

[GavH]

Right, ingredients are all bought, just the hops to decide on.

I have Cascade, Galaxy, Fuggles, Goldings and Saaz to choose from. I see a lot of recipes calling for Saaz, but the only Saison I've tried before was a US version from the Boulevard brewery in Kansas called 'Tank 7', which used Magnum, Bravo amd Amarillo. I'll be using a can of Coopers Real Ale, Amber LME, half a kilo of Light DME ajd half a kilo of Wheat DME and letting a Wyeast 3711 do the work. I'm thinking a hop tea of some variety but stuck for what hops to use.

I know there is really no right or wrong answer for a Saison but would like to know what thoughts any of you have in respect of a hop combo that will complement the 3711 yeast?

[Monkeybrew]

I've had the same thoughts, and after reading up about Saison hops, it seems that noble hops are preferred because they won't overpower the yeast flavours.

Cheers

MB

[GavH]

So maybe steep around 20g of Saaz for half an hour and add to the kit in the FV then let the 3711 produce the flavours? Any role for the Fuggles and Goldings in their 'english noble' capacity?