Saison d'Hiver




Last September 09' I brewed an Imperial Black Saison. Spiced with Meadowsweet, Chamomile, and Nutmeg. Aged on French Oak for two months, called Saison d'Hiver. At 10% it's a big beer and has gotten better with age. One complaint I have with the first batch is head retention. I'll be making some changes to grist bill to aid in head retention. I believe the problem is in the use of spices (oils) and the high alcohol content doesn't help either. Another shortcoming is because of the high alcohol and low finishing gravity, thin body. Other tweaks to recipe are to give more body to the brew. Making it a true, Winter Warmer, of sorts.



Grist bill: Pale malt, Flaked Oats, Chocolate Malt, Black Patent malt, Biscuit Malt, Crystal Malt, and Coffee Malt. Maxing out my mash tun with twenty five total pounds of grain. Hopped lightly with Vanguard. Spiced with Meadowsweet, Chamomile, and Heather (no nutmeg in house).

4 comments:

  1. What are you thinking to add body? I'm curious because as a new brewer discussing body with most people they tell me to just use some malto dextrine. However, I was wondering if there is something else that can be added other than unfermentable sugars.

    Would you adjust your mash or sparge temps for something like that?

    Just curious!

    I really want to taste some of your beers!

    Mike
    Mike's Brew Review

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  2. You can create body a couple ways during the brewing process. By mashing in warmer (152-157), different enzymes go to work and create more unfermentable sugars in the mash then mashing in at 145-149. So I mashed in a little warmer and used a large portion flaked oats in the grist. Both will help add body. Another way is to add some carapils/dextrin malt to your grist bill. If your doing extract add a pound of carapils/dextrin malt to your specialty steep. Cheers!

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  3. Nice!

    Thanks for the advice man! I'm struggling to keep up with all your brew posts! So many look so delicious!

    Mike
    Mike's Brew Review

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  4. Sounds tasty! Where did you find meadowsweet? I have been looking for that for a while to add to a heather (fraoch) ale that I brew.

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