Saaz Vs. Spalt

[mrphillips]

I've never used either, but I'm planning on using both of them very soon. My plan was to use an ounce each as bittering hops in an ESB, and I was curious if anyone's experienced a taste difference between these two hops when using to bitter.

 

[aiptasia]

I've never used them in combination so I can't say for sure. Both are noble hops with very mild bittering qualities. You'll get plenty of soft floral and herbal notes from each which is why they're so popular in the lightest of ales.

I'm wondering why you're going with these hops choices over more traditional English hops like Fuggles, EKG, Challenger or First Gold? The English hops will give you a closer flavor profile to a true ESB, which usually has a flavor with a little earthy, piny flavor to it to stand up to the malts for balance rather than very light Czech/German hops. You're going to want that counter balance against Maris Otter malt bready/nutty flavor.

 

[unionrdr]

Czech saaz & German spalt are both aroma hops with AA% from 2% to 5.5%. A whole ounce may likely be needed for bittering with. but they're mainly for a bit of flavor & aroma in lagers/pilsners. I like Czech saaz in my hybrid lagers as a late flavor hop. Kinda spicy/floral,spalt is quite similar. And East Kent Golding would def be a better choice with an ESB with it's herbal/lemon grass flavors. Fuggle is more earthy to me,but classic as well.

 

[jonmohno]

I had a better experience with sazz than spalt, sazz went so well in an amber ale I did that I posted the recipe. I oaked that beer so I could have been infatuated by the oak character and its smoothness also. From my notes I did a spaltz select Amber ale which I didn't note the taste of it but did recognize it as englishy using 04 yeast. I used 05 in the saaz amber also making it a bit different.And gravitys were far from each other 1.06 for saaz and 1.043 for the spalts. That said I would have to brew them again to remember how I would compare them, they are both mild and used commonly in lagers. And go well in the right beer and esb could be a good choice I believe maybe not commonly per style though and could be interesting. I like Goldings even more though. As far as just bittering, Sazz is smooth to me, and mildly hoppy not shure about spalt I think it may have a bit milder sharper edge mild but sharp citrus maybe to it possibly or little more spice/pepper noted from memory.

You can also look up descriptions of hops to like on websites, etc. Although I commonly don't agree with them 100% as it varies but you can get a general idea but there is nothing like going with your own experience and that's the fun of brewing. Its not fun getting old hops though or poorly stored hops.

Heres the ones I used descriptions:
Saaz:
Fresh from the master growers in New Zealand, this new hybrid of Saaz is a welcome addition to the world's selection of organic hops. Saaz is renouned for a mild earthy spiciness and clean aroma, and is widely used in European lagers, especially the Pilsner style. The New Zealand Saaz is bred from Saaz rootstock hybridized with organic New Zealand stock. Although a newcomer on the hop scene, this hop is already in use by several prominent breweries.

German Spalt Select Pellets


6% Ave. Alpha. Exceptionally fresh and aromatic, the Spalt Select are one of the best organic hops we have found. Bred from Mittlefrueh and Spalt hops in the early 90's the aroma of Select hops is reminiscent of a fine Tettnanger or Hersbrucker noble hop. A hop suitable for bittering, flavor, and aroma, it is excellent in European ales and lagers, with a pleasant spicy flavor and strong aroma. A good substitute for Tettnanger, US Saaz, Hersbrucker

I also would like to add in my experience I have really liked almost or all NZ hops I have ever used before.

 

[mrphillips]

Thanks for the info! My idea was to make a Noble ESB consisting of equal amounts of the 4 noble hops - saaz and spalt (bittering), tettnanger and hallertau (flavor/aroma). No idea how it'll turn out, but all your advise has helped.

 

[jonmohno]

Thanks for the info! My idea was to make a Noble ESB consisting of equal amounts of the 4 noble hops - saaz and spalt (bittering), tettnanger and hallertau (flavor/aroma). No idea how it'll turn out, but all your advise has helped.

I think youll like it, Ive had good tettnanger and hallertau beers also.Im interested in how that turns out.

 

[eelpout]

Put em all in hop burst style at 15 or so

 

[mrphillips]

Hmmmm...a 15 min HOP BURST you say? I'd be lying if I said I wasn't turned on by the idea of creating a Bitter that doesn't use any bittering hops. You, sir, are a mad man!

 

[JKaranka]

How did this turn out? I like Saaz as a late hop in bitters / pale ales.

 

[mrphillips]

The idea got put on the back burner when I caught the dark-beer bug (a truly demonic infection to catch), and it never came to be. When March and April roll around, I'll get hoppy again and give this ago.

I still love the idea, even if it's buried in my recipe book. She will come to life when the spring warming comes around.

 

[JKaranka]

Yeah. I'll brew a pale in March and maybe one for summer. But I'm in the mood of an oxymoronic black blonde ale instead.