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Author Topic: Water profile for Belgian Saison?  (Read 5235 times)

Offline Philbrew

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Water profile for Belgian Saison?
« on: April 19, 2016, 11:23:47 am »
A couple weeks ago the forum gave me good input on a saison recipe. 
I changed my original recipe to:

84% Weyermann Pils
 8%  Vienna
 8%  White wheat
Boil = 90 min.
12 IBU (1 oz) Hallertau @ 60 min.
 6  IBU (1 oz) Hallertau @ 15 min.
 4  IBU (.75 oz) Cascade @ 10 min.
 1/2 oz. Hallertau @ whirlpool

Est. SRM = 3.9

I'm leaning toward a "yellow balanced" water profile but I'm definitely open to suggestions.  I build from RO water.
« Last Edit: April 19, 2016, 11:34:14 am by Philbrew »
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Offline HoosierBrew

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Re: Water profile for Belgian Saison?
« Reply #1 on: April 19, 2016, 11:25:05 am »
Yellow balanced works great for me.
Jon H.

Offline Phil_M

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Re: Water profile for Belgian Saison?
« Reply #2 on: April 19, 2016, 11:30:47 am »
Yellow balanced works great for me.

+1, I've done that on the last two that I've brewed. Definitely still finishes properly dry, no need to make it seem more so with the water profile. I'm actually thinking of trying "Yellow Malty" for my next attempt.
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Offline brewinhard

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Re: Water profile for Belgian Saison?
« Reply #3 on: April 19, 2016, 11:52:54 am »
I ran yellow bitter on my last profile with 34 IBU's and it came out great. Had a nice little snap to it at the end.

Offline zwiller

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Re: Water profile for Belgian Saison?
« Reply #4 on: April 19, 2016, 12:39:59 pm »
I use filtered tap water for mine but aim lower for a mash pH of 5.2. 
Sam
Sandusky, OH

Offline HoosierBrew

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Re: Water profile for Belgian Saison?
« Reply #5 on: April 19, 2016, 12:47:49 pm »
I use filtered tap water for mine but aim lower for a mash pH of 5.2. 


I target 5.2 for saison, too. Nice crisp character.
Jon H.

Offline Philbrew

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Re: Water profile for Belgian Saison?
« Reply #6 on: April 19, 2016, 09:45:46 pm »
OK, sounds like I should target a little lower on PH.  Good info, thanks
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Offline cempt1

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Re: Water profile for Belgian Saison?
« Reply #7 on: April 20, 2016, 04:10:24 am »
I have only used "yellow dry"  for 2 different saisons. What differences are noted between the dry and balanced profiles by those who have used both?

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Offline Hand of Dom

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Re: Water profile for Belgian Saison?
« Reply #8 on: April 20, 2016, 04:27:59 am »
I used the Hainaut (boiled) profile in Bru'n Water for my last saison.  It's still in the fermenter, so I can't let you know how it turned out.
Dom

Currently drinking - Amarillo saison
Currently fermenting - Pale ale 1 - 2017

Offline reverseapachemaster

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Re: Water profile for Belgian Saison?
« Reply #9 on: April 20, 2016, 12:24:32 pm »
I tend to use the yellow bitter with the ph brought down to 5.2-5.3. I like a drier finish and a touch lower ph in the beer.

There are plenty of differing ideas on water profiles for saisons. Some people like balanced profiles, others like to try to emulate profiles across Wallonia while others adopt the NE/Vermont water profile used in Hill Farmstead and other saisons in the area that are softer and more chloride-forward. The question is more what do you want from the water rather than what you need the water to do.
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