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Batch 100 Cucumber Poblano Saison


Vital Statistics:

Batch Number:100
Style:Saison
Brew Date:19 November 2017
Original Gravity:1.042 (10.48 °Plato)
Final Gravity:1.002 (0.51 °Plato)
ABV:5.2%
ABW:4.1%
Calories per pint:177
Estimated IBU (Rager):38.5
Estimated IBU (Tinseth):30.4
Mash Temperature:151°
Mash Efficiency:63%
Days in Primary:56  
Days in Secondary:0 (kegged on 14 January 2018)
Ferm. Temp. Notes:64-67°
Yeast Used:3711 French Saison
Apparent Attenuation:95%
Real Attenuation:78%
Rating:3.93
Entirely Consumed:Yes (finished 17 May 2018)
Availability:123 days
 Recipe:

6 lb wheat malt
4 lb 2-row pale malt

7 AAU (23g @ 8.4% AA) Amarillo @ 60
10 AAU (33g @ 8.4 %AA) Amarillo @ 5

2 diced poblanos (whirlpool 30 mins)
2 diced cucumbers (whirlpool 30 mins)
1 diced cucumber (after primary fermentation)

Wyeast 3711 - Franch Saison
General Notes:

Cucumber added to primary after 24 days.
Tasting Notes:

Notes taken 19 April 2018, 95 days after kegging. Dispensed from kegerator into a dimpled mug.

Appearance: clear light-golden hue with only the tiniest touch of haze and a finger of frothy white foam with OK retention. It's actually not too bad looking a beer. 3.75

Smell: green chiles first and foremost with a hint of heat; the cucumber adds a hint of cool melon character. Not much of the "saison" character comes through, but I basically got just what I wanted out of this one. 4

Taste: the poblano flavor along with the cool cucumber is outstanding. Again, like in the aroma, the saison character doesn't exactly come through, but I'm guessing it's adding a nice balance behind the scenes. The heat hinted at in the aroma is barely present in the flavor, which I think is nice (although after a pint or two you notice it). I'm very happy with how this one came out. 4

Mouthfeel: medium-light body with a decent enough carbonation and creaminess. Not the worst, nor the best, beer I've made in this department. 3.5

Drinkability: man, this one goes down easy. Low in ABV and with that irresistable cool+hot combination, this is one I could quaff a heck of a lot of. 4.25

Overall score 3.93 (B+). I am super happy with how this beer came out. It has just the right balance of pepper and cucumber, and the mild saison is the perfect backdrop for the duo. It's highly drinkable, and with only minor tweaks I think this beer could be really great.

I brought a growler of this to ATG Brewers Night in May of 2018, and we had a People's Choice vote -- in which this beer took first place in a field of 11! Woohoo!
Hops Table
Hop Variety Addition Time AAU AA% Quantity (g) Type IBU (Rager) IBU (Tinseth) Notes
Amarillo 60 7.00 8.4 23 Pellet 30.4 23.7  
Amarillo 5 10.00 8.4 33 Pellet 8.1 6.7