Hopping_Mad
Regular.
Ok, I've done the Amber Ale and Pale Ale in this series and they were both awesome but I wanted to try new styles so I thought I would have a go at their saison.
Did this in February and, as is the case with saison yeast, I made sure I had the heat pad on full ready for the FV.
Usual MO with these kits - massive bag of LME and some dextrose but there is also some liquid barley extract also. All this added up to an SG of 1056 and an FG of 1006 giving an approximate ABV of 6.8% - nice one saison yeast!!! I managed to keep the FV at a fairly constant 28*C. The saison yeast is happy at 30*C plus apparently.
Bunged 60% of the 100g hops packet in (yeah call me 'chicken'!) on day 10 (Motueka and another I can't remember?) and gravity was same three days in a row by day 14 so all bottled. There was a s**t load of trub, but didn't bother with secondary or cold crashing - some suggest saison is good with a little yeast roused and the barley makes it hazy anyway. Says should be well carbonated so used large measure of table sugar per bottle.
So, given its strength, I've just cracked the first one open tonight hoping this will be a nice summer tipple when well chilled.
As with the other YCA kits this makes superb beer! No twang at all, slightly hazy as expected, well fizzy as recommended. The head is white, fluffy and stays to the bottom of the glass. Yeast is well compacted, so don't have to have it yeasty with a careful pour.
The aroma is amazing - hops to the fore but with a hint of the pepper flavours to come. Tastes amazing too. Agains hops are floral with only a hint of malt, but the pepper hit that the saison yeast impart is strident, almost medicinal! I was shocked initially, but I was warming to it by the end of the glass. I think I will warm to this as I drink more but it might not appeal to everyone.
Give it a go - if you don't end up liking it, you will find somebody who does! This will be ace with BBQ food, particularly spicy chicken, white fish (wrap in foil for the BBQ), rocket salad and maybe other seasoned meats.
Did this in February and, as is the case with saison yeast, I made sure I had the heat pad on full ready for the FV.
Usual MO with these kits - massive bag of LME and some dextrose but there is also some liquid barley extract also. All this added up to an SG of 1056 and an FG of 1006 giving an approximate ABV of 6.8% - nice one saison yeast!!! I managed to keep the FV at a fairly constant 28*C. The saison yeast is happy at 30*C plus apparently.
Bunged 60% of the 100g hops packet in (yeah call me 'chicken'!) on day 10 (Motueka and another I can't remember?) and gravity was same three days in a row by day 14 so all bottled. There was a s**t load of trub, but didn't bother with secondary or cold crashing - some suggest saison is good with a little yeast roused and the barley makes it hazy anyway. Says should be well carbonated so used large measure of table sugar per bottle.
So, given its strength, I've just cracked the first one open tonight hoping this will be a nice summer tipple when well chilled.
As with the other YCA kits this makes superb beer! No twang at all, slightly hazy as expected, well fizzy as recommended. The head is white, fluffy and stays to the bottom of the glass. Yeast is well compacted, so don't have to have it yeasty with a careful pour.
The aroma is amazing - hops to the fore but with a hint of the pepper flavours to come. Tastes amazing too. Agains hops are floral with only a hint of malt, but the pepper hit that the saison yeast impart is strident, almost medicinal! I was shocked initially, but I was warming to it by the end of the glass. I think I will warm to this as I drink more but it might not appeal to everyone.
Give it a go - if you don't end up liking it, you will find somebody who does! This will be ace with BBQ food, particularly spicy chicken, white fish (wrap in foil for the BBQ), rocket salad and maybe other seasoned meats.
