Oneflewover
Landlord.
Yeah I think that the spicy earthy character it gives the beer works really well
May Brew Review Thread - Saison
- Thread starter Alastair70
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I am just about to keg my latest batch, it's hopped with Nelson. I will get you a bottle over when it's ready 
Oneflewover
Landlord.
Get the **** in!I am just about to keg my latest batch, it's hopped with Nelson. I will get you a bottle over when it's ready
Simple is best I reckon in general. Surprised it was belle saison, you must have fermented it quite cool? I have to say that I didn't pick up the cardamom. I did get the late hopping but thought it might be something American. Nice beer.
Yes, annoyingly we had workmen round and I couldn't use the brewfridge in the shed, had to make do with a little heater under the fv. Probably got to 26c max.
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First time kegging a saison, it will be interesting to see how it compares. Already planning my next attempt
I need to get some rye
1/3 @Oneflewover Saison
First off.. I loved the bottle :) Opened with a nice hiss and poured with a lovely white head and really well carbonated.
Hints of spice on the nose along with some citrus.
It was bubbly dry effervescent that was so refreshing with no hint of how strong it is, also had a sweetness that lingered on the tongue after the spice notes had disappeared.
I loved this beer, it went down a treat.. Thanks
First off.. I loved the bottle :) Opened with a nice hiss and poured with a lovely white head and really well carbonated.
Hints of spice on the nose along with some citrus.
It was bubbly dry effervescent that was so refreshing with no hint of how strong it is, also had a sweetness that lingered on the tongue after the spice notes had disappeared.
I loved this beer, it went down a treat.. Thanks
2/3 @pilgrimhudd
Again a nice hiss when opening, lovely straw colour to this one, didn't smell too much when first poured but after it warmed up had an overriding smell I couldn't place until someone on here has mentioned nutmeg, that was it.
I got hints of lemon and slight banana? on this one, light on the malt and very clean.
The mouth feel from the bubbles again belied the amount of alcohol which I could only detect once I finished, every sip left you wanting for more, the head lingered all the way down the glass.. Lovely.. good job I only had one.
Again a nice hiss when opening, lovely straw colour to this one, didn't smell too much when first poured but after it warmed up had an overriding smell I couldn't place until someone on here has mentioned nutmeg, that was it.
I got hints of lemon and slight banana? on this one, light on the malt and very clean.
The mouth feel from the bubbles again belied the amount of alcohol which I could only detect once I finished, every sip left you wanting for more, the head lingered all the way down the glass.. Lovely.. good job I only had one.
My last guest saison, this one from @Broken Toe
The appearance of this beer is again on point with almost clear golden yellow beer topped with a fluffy white head. Carbonation is plentiful so is just right for this beer with bubbles drifting up from the bottom of the glass throughout, maintaining a thin head to the bottom of the glass.
The aroma is also as expected with spicy lemon citrus and just a hint of grainy malt. The aroma is clean and fresh.
The flavour is also clean lemon citrus, white pepper which starts fairly subtle and builds toward the finish, and doughy bread malt. The bitterness is well balanced to the point you almost don’t notice it to start but like the pepper it too builds toward the finish. There are no off flavours and that finish when it comes is very dry and clean, nice.
This is another well made saison that’s true to style, fairly light bodied (again, not thin) due to high attenuation, and is very enjoyable.
Thanks BT, great job!
The appearance of this beer is again on point with almost clear golden yellow beer topped with a fluffy white head. Carbonation is plentiful so is just right for this beer with bubbles drifting up from the bottom of the glass throughout, maintaining a thin head to the bottom of the glass.
The aroma is also as expected with spicy lemon citrus and just a hint of grainy malt. The aroma is clean and fresh.
The flavour is also clean lemon citrus, white pepper which starts fairly subtle and builds toward the finish, and doughy bread malt. The bitterness is well balanced to the point you almost don’t notice it to start but like the pepper it too builds toward the finish. There are no off flavours and that finish when it comes is very dry and clean, nice.
This is another well made saison that’s true to style, fairly light bodied (again, not thin) due to high attenuation, and is very enjoyable.
Thanks BT, great job!
Thanks guys lovely to hear the feedback and I'm glad you enjoyed them. Most of the recipe was pretty standard, I went with summer saaz ( for no other reason than for the name), I actually managed to harvest yeast from a bottle of Dupont which, although I believe it's their finishing yeast, have a nice clean profile. I'm bummed out that during a power cut I lost my jar of it!
Also forgot to say thanks to @Alastair70 for this, it’s now turned into one of my favourite styles which I wouldn’t have brewed probably prior to this 
Survey results are in, thank-you to the 10 other people who submitted responses.
1. How may times a year do you think the swap should run?
10 votes for 4 times. 1 vote for "As many as possible! I have done 6 in the last six months and I'd swap all of them"
Result - 4 brews it is.
2. What interval would you like to see between brewing and swapping?
9 votes for 1 long turn around (6 months). 2 votes for all short turnaround (8 weeks)
Result - We'll include a slow burner next year
3. What broad styles would you like to brew for a 2 month turnaround?
Top 3 - Pale Ale 8 votes, Belgian beer 8 votes, Speciality IPA 7 votes
4. What styles would make a good ‘slow-burner’ brew?
Top choice - Imperial Stout 9 votes
5. What sort of style direction do you think works best?
9 votes for narrow. 2 votes for broad
Result - narrow
6. Comments/suggestions
3 responses. Only what I've mentioned above!
I love the idea of swapping and tasting others brews. im really excited about it.
I think that sticking with less common styles would be best
So. We've got a plan for next year. A pale ale style thats not an IPA, an impy stout, a belgian beer and a Speciality IPA. With sub-styles to be selected nearer the time.
I have to agree with the less common style comment myself, this swap is perfectly suited for brewing outside your comfort zone.
1. How may times a year do you think the swap should run?
10 votes for 4 times. 1 vote for "As many as possible! I have done 6 in the last six months and I'd swap all of them"
Result - 4 brews it is.
2. What interval would you like to see between brewing and swapping?
9 votes for 1 long turn around (6 months). 2 votes for all short turnaround (8 weeks)
Result - We'll include a slow burner next year
3. What broad styles would you like to brew for a 2 month turnaround?
Top 3 - Pale Ale 8 votes, Belgian beer 8 votes, Speciality IPA 7 votes
4. What styles would make a good ‘slow-burner’ brew?
Top choice - Imperial Stout 9 votes
5. What sort of style direction do you think works best?
9 votes for narrow. 2 votes for broad
Result - narrow
6. Comments/suggestions
3 responses. Only what I've mentioned above!
I love the idea of swapping and tasting others brews. im really excited about it.
I think that sticking with less common styles would be best
So. We've got a plan for next year. A pale ale style thats not an IPA, an impy stout, a belgian beer and a Speciality IPA. With sub-styles to be selected nearer the time.
I have to agree with the less common style comment myself, this swap is perfectly suited for brewing outside your comfort zone.
Last edited:
Agentgonzo
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@Hazelwood Brewery @FirebladeAdam . Here is my recipe. 23L batch
OG 1.049, FG 1.003, EBC 8.2, IBU 25
6% ABV
No water additions (my water profile is hard)
3.8kg Pilsner
1kg Munich 1
Mash @65C for 60 minutes
60 minute boil.
Hop additions:
25g Challenger (7.5% AA) 60 minutes
15g Challenger (7.5% AA) 15 minutes
1 sachet of Belle Saison, dry pitched directly into the fermenter.
Fermented 14 days @20C.
Bottle conditioned.
@Alastair70 , I still have yours in the fridge. We've been drinking more wine these past few weeks instead of beer, but I plan on drinking it this evening (unless we open more wine
)
OG 1.049, FG 1.003, EBC 8.2, IBU 25
6% ABV
No water additions (my water profile is hard)
3.8kg Pilsner
1kg Munich 1
Mash @65C for 60 minutes
60 minute boil.
Hop additions:
25g Challenger (7.5% AA) 60 minutes
15g Challenger (7.5% AA) 15 minutes
1 sachet of Belle Saison, dry pitched directly into the fermenter.
Fermented 14 days @20C.
Bottle conditioned.
@Alastair70 , I still have yours in the fridge. We've been drinking more wine these past few weeks instead of beer, but I plan on drinking it this evening (unless we open more wine
)
Agentgonzo
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I've just finished tidying up the garden, so perfect weather for a refreshing saison, this one from @Alastair70
On opening, it gave a gentle hiss and needed a little bit of encouragement to encourage a head. I over poured slightly, and by the time I got a photo or has turned out cloudier than intended (the photo makes it look a lot worse than it is) - a nice reddish hue.
On the first nose, there was an overpowering sour scent (like a geuze) but after 30 seconds it has fully discipated, so this may just be the initial burst of gases accumulating in the head of the bottle.
A second nose and it's much gentler. Some rich fruit scents mixed with a touch of dark toffee, and just a subtle hint of those geuze scents.
On the tongue, the beer sparkles so has enough carbonation for a refreshing beer (unless you subscribe to the "rules of brewing" that says it must be monstrously fizzy). First flavour is a hit of red berries, mixed with a slight sourness that gently unfolds into soft biscuity malt tones that fade with a dry finish and a light tartness left on the tongue and the edges of the mouth. Well balanced for bitterness as it's not at the forefront, by balances the malt flavours. The residual gentle tartness lingers on until the next sip.
A very intriguing beer, not like any I've had before. The gentle sour/tartess is hard to describe, but I would try to describe it as what you would get if you did a mix of a 75% amber beer and maybe 25% geuze/framboise/kriek, but (but far less fruity than the kriek/Framboise).
Definitely hits the mark as a thirst quencher after farm (garden) labour! Thank you.
I'm very keen on seeing the recipe!
On opening, it gave a gentle hiss and needed a little bit of encouragement to encourage a head. I over poured slightly, and by the time I got a photo or has turned out cloudier than intended (the photo makes it look a lot worse than it is) - a nice reddish hue.
On the first nose, there was an overpowering sour scent (like a geuze) but after 30 seconds it has fully discipated, so this may just be the initial burst of gases accumulating in the head of the bottle.
A second nose and it's much gentler. Some rich fruit scents mixed with a touch of dark toffee, and just a subtle hint of those geuze scents.
On the tongue, the beer sparkles so has enough carbonation for a refreshing beer (unless you subscribe to the "rules of brewing" that says it must be monstrously fizzy). First flavour is a hit of red berries, mixed with a slight sourness that gently unfolds into soft biscuity malt tones that fade with a dry finish and a light tartness left on the tongue and the edges of the mouth. Well balanced for bitterness as it's not at the forefront, by balances the malt flavours. The residual gentle tartness lingers on until the next sip.
A very intriguing beer, not like any I've had before. The gentle sour/tartess is hard to describe, but I would try to describe it as what you would get if you did a mix of a 75% amber beer and maybe 25% geuze/framboise/kriek, but (but far less fruity than the kriek/Framboise).
Definitely hits the mark as a thirst quencher after farm (garden) labour! Thank you.
I'm very keen on seeing the recipe!
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Agentgonzo
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... and I can definitely tell it's over 7%... The crossword is getting harder and harder 
Another cruciverbalist! What are you doing. I’m still muddling through Thursdays Times, it’s been a busy weekend.... and I can definitely tell it's over 7%... The crossword is getting harder and harder
I’m ready for the next one now 
My last Saison, this one from @samale. Apologies for the poor photo, the head picked up with a gentle swirl, lasted for the whole pint and laced the glass. I drank it beside the BBQ, just like I did with the @Hazelwood Brewery Saison and the similarities didn’t end there.
The aroma had a light funk with a bit of spice thrown in. The carbonation was spot on and the last sips were just as lively as the first. Bready malt flavours balanced really well with lemony citrus hops and peppery yeast phenols. It was the perfect accompaniment to the beer can chicken that I ate with it.
Cheers @samale, what a great way to sign off on a great and varied selection of Saison’s
.
The aroma had a light funk with a bit of spice thrown in. The carbonation was spot on and the last sips were just as lively as the first. Bready malt flavours balanced really well with lemony citrus hops and peppery yeast phenols. It was the perfect accompaniment to the beer can chicken that I ate with it.
Cheers @samale, what a great way to sign off on a great and varied selection of Saison’s
.
Agentgonzo
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Times quick cryptic. Currently working our way through printouts from September 2021.... We've fallen a bit behind
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Glad you enjoyed it, it's a great style of beer to brew.My last Saison, this one from @samale. Apologies for the poor photo, the head picked up with a gentle swirl, lasted for the whole pint and laced the glass. I drank it beside the BBQ, just like I did with the @Hazelwood Brewery Saison and the similarities didn’t end there.
The aroma had a light funk with a bit of spice thrown in. The carbonation was spot on and the last sips were just as lively as the first. Bready malt flavours balanced really well with lemony citrus hops and peppery yeast phenols. It was the perfect accompaniment to the beer can chicken that I ate with it.
Cheers @samale, what a great way to sign off on a great and varied selection of Saison’s
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