New saison recipe

[alsch890]

Hi there,
I have a couple of packets of Belle Saison yeast to use up so was going to use one on a new saison recipe. My typical saison grain bill is Pilsner (70%ish), Munich (15%), Wheat (10%), caramunich II (5%) and hopped with Sladek or Saaz at 60 and 15mins. However I have some other grains and hops in store so was planning to change it up a bit....

Based on a roughly 20litre boil, 16 litre batch

Pilsner 3kg 80%
Wheat 400g 10%
Munich 250g 7% OR Carahell 250g 7% OR Carapils 250g 7%
Special B 3%

Elixir 15g 5.2% @60min 14ibu
Elixir 15g 5.2%@5min 4ibu
Barbe Rouge 9.1% 15g @switch off
Barbe Rouge 9.1% 15g dry hop

Lallemand Belle Saison

Questions:
- wondering whether to use Munich or Carahell in the mash? Carahell would likely make it slightly darker and sweeter, Munich would be a bit lighter and more bready. I prefer my saisons on the paler side so also considering just replacing with a standard dose of Carapils?
- never normally dry hop a saison but this is my first beer ever with Barbe Rouge so would like to accentuate it a bit?
- splitting my first hop charge into two since I want to take advantage of some of the Elixir aroma.
- I have one packed of Belle Saison that expired in Dec, worth risking? It has been refridgerated since I got it but not sure how the LHBS handled it. I also have an in date packet. might just dump the older one.

All comments, advice, questions welcome.

 

[Baldylocks Brewery]

1st Saison is next on my planning list so keen to watch this thread

 

[MrRook]

Saison recipes varied quite a bit depending on what grains were available. So it's pretty open as far as what grains you use.
Don't toss that "out of date" yeast. Dry yeast lasts a LONG time. I've used yeast more than four years past the best by date with no issues.

 

[Madhouse]

How'd you get on?

Have also just made my first Saison and am bottling it later now that it's carbonated in the keg - I went Maris, Vienna, Crystal, and Flaked Oats with Chinook, Mosaic & Cascade, no dry hop though so will be interested to hear how that changes things. Think I used Belle too, have a Farmhouse to use at some point as well.

I went all-in for my first with a rum-barrel aged saison with honey, coriander, sweet and bitter orange peel (well, fake barrel aged anyway - oak chips soaked in rum for a few weeks). It was also my first 20L brew having upgraded my FV and keg.
Think my yeast was past it's date too and I also messed my temps up so it spent the first couple of days at 18.5 degrees before I popped it up to a more yeast friendly 23, not that it had any trouble going all the way down to 1.001 (7.1% abv), although it didn't taste that dry when I kegged it - tasted pretty good actually

Fingers crossed it's tasting as good later, giving counter-pressure bottle filling a go too. This brew has certainly been one of firsts!