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Houblon Saison


Vital Statistics:

Batch Number:56
Style:Saison
Brew Date:22 April 2012
Original Gravity:1.050 (12.39 °Plato)
Final Gravity:1.004 (1.03 °Plato)
ABV:6.0%
ABW:4.7%
Calories per pint:212
Estimated IBU (Rager):154.9
Estimated IBU (Tinseth):126.9
Mash Temperature:146°
Mash Efficiency:72%
Days in Primary:24  
Days in Secondary:0 (kegged on 16 May 2012)
Ferm. Temp. Notes:68°
Yeast Used:3711 French Saison
Apparent Attenuation:92%
Real Attenuation:75%
Rating:4.00
Entirely Consumed:Yes (finished 24 July 2012)
Availability:69 days
Recipe:

6 lb 5 oz wheat malt
4 lb 2-row pale malt
6 oz Crystal 60°

20 AAU (39g @ 14.5% AA) Columbus @ 60
10 AAU (50g @ 5.6% AA) Challenger @ 30
10 AAU (25g @ 11% AA) Galena @ 20
10 AAU (19g @ 14.5% AA) Columbus @ 10
15 AAU (39g @ 10.7% AA) Amarillo @ 5
11.2 AAU (56g @ 5.6% AA) Challenger @ 0 (dry-hop)

Wyeast 3711 - French Saison
General Notes:

Dry hops added 7 days into fermentation.
Tasting Notes:

Tasting notes taken 3 July 2012, 48 days after kegging. Poured from tap into a tulip.

Appearance: medium orange hue with a light haze and a lazy effervescence. Head poured about two thick fingers of creamy ivory head which leaves a thin but thorough layer of foam on the glass. I can't really call it lace -- it's just straight-up clingy foam. I like it. (4)

Smell: plenty of heady funk from the French saison yeast, but its dank earthiness combines with the fresh, citrusy hop character to make a pretty refreshing-smelling brew. Aroma hops are perhaps a bit delicate for the unsubtlety of the yeast character, but overall it's not too poorly balanced. (4)

Taste: slightly sour up front with a fair amount of the yeast funk. Bitterness pervades the entire experience from front to back, with plenty at the end -- although there is competition for that bitterness with the lingering funk of the yeast. Hops are more earthy and piney than citrusy in the flavor; that's probably that Galena and Columbus. It's an interesting beer, maybe not for everyone, but I rather like it. (4)

Mouthfeel: lightish body but a good, well-integrated carbonation which yields a good creaminess. It's had seven weeks to condition at this point, and it is spot-on for carbnonation. Quite good. (4)

Drinkability: a drinkable refresher; despite its robust and bizarre flavors, it is not overwhelming on the palate. If anything, it sort of leaves me wanting more. Next time I do a hoppy saison, I'll focus more on the citrus aspect (Citras, maybe), and maybe even spice it up with something else (a hoppy ginger saison? fascinating!). (4)

Overall score 4.0 (B+). This is a pretty steady beer across the board, and relatively well-received among my guests. I'm sure I've got more saisons in my future. Perhaps even something at a sessionable 4% next time? Hmm.
Hops Table
Hop Variety Addition Time AAU AA% Quantity (g) Type IBU (Rager) IBU (Tinseth) Notes
Columbus 60 20.00 14.5 39 Pellet 83.3 62.9  
Challenger 30 10.00 5.6 50 Pellet 28.4 24.2  
Galena 20 10.00 11.0 25 Pellet 21.2 19.0  
Columbus 10 10.00 14.5 19 Pellet 12.6 11.4  
Amarillo 5 15.00 10.7 39 Whole 9.4 9.4  
Challenger 0 11.20 5.6 56 Pellet 0.0 0.0 Dry-hopped in primary.