Saison Hi Nelson! Nelson Hopped Saison w/Hibiscus

[Hello]

What yeast are you using?

The belle saison that was recommended.

 

[Hello]

Bubbling away well.

 

[happyinsonoma]

This is a place I use for random bulk spices and herbs.

http://www.sfherb.com/store/FullView.asp?URLStr=100

 

[sathrovarr]

Should I add some acid malt if I want it to be a bit tart? or the hibiscus makes it tart enough?

 

[BUCKNUTS]

Should I add some acid malt if I want it to be a bit tart? or the hibiscus makes it tart enough?

Mine has a nice tartness from just the hibiscus


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[Hello]

This is a place I use for random bulk spices and herbs.

http://www.sfherb.com/store/FullView.asp?URLStr=100

Not bad, actually great price but minimum order is $30.

 

[val214]

Not bad, actually great price but minimum order is $30.

I brewed 9gal of this 10 days ago. I am going to pick up some hibiscus flowers soon. If you are having a hard finding some let me know. I can send you some.


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[Fuzzymittenbrewing]

Should I add some acid malt if I want it to be a bit tart? or the hibiscus makes it tart enough?

Mine has a nice tartness from just the hibiscus


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I agree with Bucknuts, acid malt would be over the top.

 

[sathrovarr]

another question: why not add the hibiscus to the boil?

 

[Hello]

another question: why not add the hibiscus to the boil?

Having never used hibiscus before my initial impression would be that adding it to the boil would be fine; however, I question the amount of possible tannins it could release or could it start to taste more like a wine? The tea may give you a brighter smell and flavor. I think about the comparison of adding strawberries at flame out vs adding them to secondary. I felt both tasted nearly the same but the smell was brighter with the beer where the strawberries were added to secondary.

I would not deter you from adding it to the boil but I'd add it at flameout or at 5 min. Another thought would be unless you ferment with the flowers, you may lose the flavor. Not 100% certain. Try and search some threads here where people used the flower and see what their results were.

 

[BUCKNUTS]

another question: why not add the hibiscus to the boil?

I made a tea and added it to secondary and this us the first time I used it in a beer. That said I wonder if adding it to the boil would make for a more floral flavor? Idk this just wondering if it might. Also cleaning the red color out my stock pot is easier than cleaning my keggle.


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[hopbrad]

i made a saison about 2 months ago and reserved a gallon for a jamaica tea addition at bottling time. next time i will use some more jamaica flowers. barely a hint or tartness but it goes very well with the style.
id be curious to see what flavors or aromas are added if you put some flowers in the boil.

 

[BUCKNUTS]

i made a saison about 2 months ago and reserved a gallon for a jamaica tea addition at bottling time. next time i will use some more jamaica flowers. barely a hint or tartness but it goes very well with the style.

id be curious to see what flavors or aromas are added if you put some flowers in the boil.

I made a 1/4 - 1/2 gallon of tea with 8 oz of Jamaica flowers and the flavor is definitely tart. This beer is a winner I'll definitely brew it again.


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[kingfuhippy]

Hey, I've got this going now and it smells phenomenal in the fermentor. And I picked up the hibiscus leaves today.

One question. After making the tea, do you strain out the hibiscus, or dump it all in the fermentor?

 

[Fuzzymittenbrewing]

Hey, I've got this going now and it smells phenomenal in the fermentor. And I picked up the hibiscus leaves today.

One question. After making the tea, do you strain out the hibiscus, or dump it all in the fermentor?

Strain the petals and don't be afraid to give em a little squeeze.

 

[kingfuhippy]

Strain the petals and don't be afraid to give em a little squeeze.

Sweet. Sounds like a plan. I honestly can't wait for this one, this is my most excited I've been for a beer in a while.

 

[Fuzzymittenbrewing]

Sweet. Sounds like a plan. I honestly can't wait for this one, this is my most excited I've been for a beer in a while.

Great! I'm glad to see other brewers getting tasty results and enjoying it.

 

[1fast636]

This one is next up in line fermenters are empty so hopefully next weekend I'll be brewing it

 

[Hello]

I'm at 1.004 after 10 days. Cold crashing my sample to see if it's worth my time to cold crash in general. With the wheat it is obviously cloudy.

It is good. My first saison too! After going to two stores and not finding hibiscus flowers I just ordered them. I needed new vanilla beans as well since the others molded. Should have them by Thursday and will bottle Friday most likely because the only empty tap I have was root beer/cream soda and I don't want to mess with buying new lines to drink this. Oh and I like having soda on tap.

 

[val214]

13 days in primary and Its down to 1.001. I used white labs belgian saison II yeast. I think it's ready for dry hop and the hibiscus tea.


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[BUCKNUTS]

I'm at 1.004 after 10 days. Cold crashing my sample to see if it's worth my time to cold crash in general. With the wheat it is obviously cloudy.

It is good. My first saison too! .

Mine finished at 1.004. I'm really happy with this beer and i'm sure you will be as well it's better than my first attempt at a saison which isnt garbage but isnt anything to write home about either. I did not cold crash nor would I bother to most of the commercial examples ive had are slightly cloudy.


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[Hello]

13 days in primary and Its down to 1.001. I used white labs belgian saison II yeast. I think it's ready for dry hop and the hibiscus tea.


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You just reminded me to dry hop!

 

[basementbrewbrad]

Brewed a slightly modified version if this yesterday. I will let you know how it turns out


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[kingfuhippy]

I added my hibiscus tea and the dry hops today. Looks amazing. The sample was almost 1.000 dead nuts, belles saison yeast is ridiculous. Sample tasted pretty good too, even before the hibiscus. Really pumped about this one.

 

[Hello]

So I was under some dumb impression that you made a tea with the leaves and then bottled it right up like that. Would it matter if I made a tea with the leaves then threw it all in a keg or do I really need to heat water, add leaves and add to secondary?

 

[BUCKNUTS]

So I was under some dumb impression that you made a tea with the leaves and then bottled it right up like that. Would it matter if I made a tea with the leaves then threw it all in a keg or do I really need to heat water, add leaves and add to secondary?

Definitely boil the water steep the leaves and then strain. I klll the heat after it comes to a boil and then steep for 30 minutes which produced a nice ruby color in the beer. I dont see why you couldnt add the tea to the keg



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[Hello]

Okay cool. I think I just didn't catch onto why the tea needed to go into secondary. I don't see any sugar reference on the bag of flowers I got so I assumed that the addition of the tea was supposed to be at bottling or kegging. I have an open tap suddenly so I'm happy I can keg it. Off to make my tea.

 

[BUCKNUTS]

Okay cool. I think I just didn't catch onto why the tea needed to go into secondary. I don't see any sugar reference on the bag of flowers I got so I assumed that the addition of the tea was supposed to be at bottling or kegging. I have an open tap suddenly so I'm happy I can keg it. Off to make my tea.

Press on the leaves with a spoon or spatula when straining them they hold on to quite a bit of liquid/color.


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[Fuzzymittenbrewing]

Okay cool. I think I just didn't catch onto why the tea needed to go into secondary. I don't see any sugar reference on the bag of flowers I got so I assumed that the addition of the tea was supposed to be at bottling or kegging. I have an open tap suddenly so I'm happy I can keg it. Off to make my tea.

I didnt secondary for long. I was mostly being careful for any natural sugars that may have needed to ferment out.

 

[Hello]

I made the tea, proceeded to make a complete mess too! I let it steep for 30-40 min and then added it to the keg. Let it cool for a moment then racked my saison over it. It's cooling now and I hooked it up to gas. Hoping it's carbonated enough by Friday. I never even took a sample with the tea added. I cannot wait.

Pro tip: If you like your floors don't spill what looks like concentrated hibiscus tea all over it.