Rhubarb saison

Stigmond13 · Apr 2, 2016

I often use a Canadian blonde coopers kit with 500g of dry malt extract and a kg of dextrose (from craigtube) and dry hop the crap out of it to make a strong ipa style beer. Thinking about doing exactly the same but instead of adding the hops adding rhubarb to make a saison.

How much rhubarb would I need for a 23 ltr batch and would you add to primary or secondary or both?

Also, would you add any hops? I currently have cascade, chinook and centennial in the freezer but thinking they might be a tad over powering?

Any comments appreciated?

Stigmond13 · Jun 2, 2016

Well experiment over so in case anyone is thinking about trying, I added 400g of chopped rhubarb to a gallon (uk) following a week in primary. I left the beer on the rhubarb for a further week and then bottled. Very pleased with the results but the rhubarb taste is strong. Will be trying again shortly but will reduce the rhubarb to about 250g. Will also be trying the same with raspberry and strawberry so could be interesting!

TasunkaWitko · Jun 2, 2016

I've got a recipe for a rhubarb strong calling for 120 grams of rhubarb, and balancing it with about 15 strawberries (for a gallon).

If I remember correctly, the grains are Belgian in nature (biscuit and pilsner), and so is the yeast. Hops are Cluster and Challenger.

Hope this helps.

Stigmond13 · Jul 2, 2016

So I split the brew into 4 1 gallon (uk) demijohns.

1) added 60g of centennial and 40g Columbus.

2) added 200g strawberries (crushed up)

3) added 150g rhubarb and approx 50g strawberries

4) added 200g raspberries.

Let sit of fruit, hops for about a week and then bottled.

The rhubarb beer is way better then before and the strawberry and raspberry saisons have turned out very well.

Give it a go, you might like it??

unionrdr · Jul 6, 2016

This makes me want to try some rhubarb in a saison kit I like from Morebeer!? It's a 5 gallon kit & that barnyard quality in the background from the yeast might be interesting?

Kent88 · Jul 7, 2016

If you ever feel like doing a rhubarb saison all-grain, check out this link. I made it last summer and it was a hit, and I'm about ready to bottle another 3 gallons of it. My family doesn't usually like "strange" beers, but they liked this.