Quick help on Saison recipe (hops)

[tennesseean_87]

probably brewing tomorrow during the day, and have a few options for the hops. This will not be a traditional saison, but a small batch to help multiply the yeast for other batches and be a light, at least mediocre beer to have around, a drinkable starter, if you will. Yeast is 3711.

I have some leftover columbus or centenial I can use up or some Zythos. I read on another thread that the zythos might be good for a beligian IPA, but wasn't remarkable, so I'm thinking it might be ok in a little saison, too. Which hop should I use?

 

[jessup]

Saisons are a recipe that can go whichever way you direct it. Earthy, citrus, higIBU, lowIBU, etc. I would recommend a 25 ibu beer with lots of 0 min additions for a nice floral aroma to add to the nice spicy yeast flavor contributions. Usually with saison you can do no wrong. 3711 is a beast too so it ahould have no problem ripping through anything!

 

[BishopGary]

I have found Saisons to be a blank page as far as hops go. Last summer one of the Saisons I did was primarily hopped with Amariilo with a small amount of Liberty. I also just bottled a batch that was late hopped with citra (10 min additions or less). This last batch tasted great. Both batches had a small 60 min addition, Amarillo in last years batch and Magnum in the most recent

I would add a small addition of Centennial at beginning of boil and try the Zyrhos in two late additions to achieve somewhere around 30 IBU. Should be better than a drinkable starter.

 

[tennesseean_87]

Thanks for the suggestions. I think I'll go with the latter plan.