Averagely Perfect Saison - Poll #27 - Consider Spices?

While I love a saison dry hopped with American hops, I'd love to see something more traditional for this and would vote that way.

 

For the boil I hope the ground swells for "traditional" hops. For DH, anything goes . . . maybe even a wildcard?

run the hop polls wide open . . . makes a Hop Head salivate.​

 

I will throw down a vote for open hops. Some of the best Saisons I have done are a blend of Noble-like and New School USA/NZ/Aussie varietals.

 

After several pints of anchor steam I'm suddenly wondering how NoBrew would play with DuPont...

 

I haven't had this beer since about 2000, possibly when I visited the brewery. I have no recollection of tasting spices in. But that was before I dusted off my mash paddle (well, rubber extract scraper), returned to homebrewing, and invested considerable effort into learn about beer. Since then, I've noted on the labels that it is spiced and listed to brewmasters discuss spicing.

 

I prefer to let the yeast do the talking. I have made sour saisons with fruit and a brett saison with hibiscus that turned out well.

But for stuff like pepper/grains of paradise, etc. I say leave 'em out.

 

As for hops...while I would lean toward using traditional noble hops...I'd kinda like to see what would come of an open hop vote.

So...count me in for an open vote on hops.

 

I would prefer to keep it open and I will likely be voting European bittering and/or flavoring hops and American and/or NZ for flavor and aroma hops.

 

Open hops

 

another open hops vote

 

Wide ass open, too many options, just would rather this not become a French IPA.

 

Exactly.

…and furthermore, with WLP644 involved, I'd be hesitant to start throwing in a bunch of NZ/American varietals.

European hops only for me, please.

 

Late hops are a spice to me. I've brewed APA/IPAs that have had a significant spice addition in the past to compliment hops. I don't understand how someone could want to have the hop selection left wide open but not consider spicing. How is adding Citra or Galaxy late in a saison any different than some tangerine zest?

When used well, Grains of Paradise, various peppercorns, ginger, coriander, etc. add a complimentary note to saison esters and phenols. The trick is knowing what you're looking for and how to achieve it. I guess the problem is that we don't know what we're looking for...

 

Who said anything about the French? What about a Belgian IPA?

 

Brain fart. I had 3711 on the brain.

 

I wouldn't mind using some of the newer hops in this beer. I would really want to keep them to a complementary level though, and not the defining aspect of the beer.