Melting Stream Spring Saison

You may know about the SheppyBrew Seasonal Saison series of beers.

The first time I brewed a Saison was in the late Winter of 2014, Arctic Vortex Winter Saison. Then, I brewed a Summer Saison with Hail Storm Summer Saison. My most recent beer in the series was this past Autumn with Falling Leaves Harvest Saison.

It was between my Summer brew and my Autumn brew that I realized I was doing a Seasonal Series. Alas, I had skipped Spring.

Early in 2015, I started my second Seasonal Saison cycle with a second batch of Arctic Vortex, and this time I was ready for a Spring Saison when Winter was over.

Like all my saisons, I wanted it to finish dry and derive any of its spiciness from the 3711 ("The Real Super Yeast") and noble hops. No spices added, just beer ingredients. I decided to go a little lighter than a traditional saison in color.

I decided to load this beer up on noble hops, using the hop schedule from Ello Poppet as a template. It does use more hops than Ello Poppet. I might be hoppier than the style calls for.

I spent a fair amount of time trying to come up with a good name. The more clever names I came up with were taken by other beers on untappd. Finally, I decided on Melting Stream. Spring in Colorado is when mountain snow starts to melt and fills up the creeks and streams. The image of rushing water from snow melt is something that says Spring to me. I thought "Melting Stream" conveyed that image. And, no one else had a beer with that name on untappd.

I changed up the recipe for batch 3. I reduced the OG and ABV. I also decided to finally try the Lemon Drop hop. 

Batch 7 was modified slightly to fit in my Anvil Foundry.



For more about SheppyBrew's Seasonal Saisons on my blog see Sheppy's Blog: Seasonal Saisons.

For more specifically about this beer see Sheppy's Blog: Melting Stream.

Melting Stream Spring Saison --- Batch 8 (309)

Style		Saison		Batch Size		5.50 gal
Type		All Grain		Boil Size		6.57 gal
Brewhouse Efficiency		68.00		Boil Time		60 minutes

Recipe Characteristics

Recipe Gravity		1.049 SG		Estimated FG		1.008 SG
Recipe Bitterness		28.4 IBUs (Rager)		Alcohol by Volume		5.5 %
BU : GU		0.579
Recipe Color		3.7 SRM		Color
Measured OG:		1.049		Measured FG:		1.003
ADF:		93		Measured ABV:		6.1

Ingredients

Ingredients

Amt	Name	Type	#	%/IBU	Volume
7.36 gal	Denver, Colorado	Water	1	-	-
9.00 g	Gypsum (Calcium Sulfate) (Mash)	Water Agent	2	-	-
8 lbs 12.0 oz	Pilsner (2 Row) Bel (2.0 SRM)	Grain	3	81.4 %	0.68 gal
2 lbs	White Wheat Malt (2.4 SRM)	Grain	4	18.6 %	0.16 gal
0.500 oz	Magnum [14.40 %] - Boil 40.0 min	Hop	5	23.1 IBUs	-
1.00 Items	Whirlfloc Tablet (Boil 15.0 mins)	Fining	6	-	-
1.00 tsp	Yeast Nutrient (Boil 15.0 mins)	Other	7	-	-
0.500 oz	Lemondrop [5.90 %] - Boil 5.0 min	Hop	8	2.1 IBUs	-
1.000 oz	Lemondrop [5.90 %] - Steep/Whirlpool 5.0 min, 194.4 F	Hop	9	2.0 IBUs	-
1.000 oz	Saaz [3.50 %] - Steep/Whirlpool 5.0 min, 194.4 F	Hop	10	1.2 IBUs	-
1.0 pkg	French Saison (Wyeast Labs #3711) [50.28 ml]	Yeast	11	-	-
1.000 oz	Lemondrop [5.10 %] - 3.0 Days Before Bottling for 5.0 Days	Hop	12	0.0 IBUs	-
1.000 oz	Saaz [3.50 %] - 3.0 Days Before Bottling for 5.0 Days	Hop	13	0.0 IBUs	-

Mash Profile

Mash Steps

Name	Description	Step Temperature	Step Time
Saccharification	Add 29.44 qt of water at 156.6 F	150.0 F	45 min
Heat	Heat to 156.0 F over 10 min	156.0 F	20 min

If steeping, remove grains, and prepare to boil wort

Recipe Notes
Make 6 cup starter a few days before brew day.
From Denver water, gypsum puts my water profile at
Ca=107,Mg=8,Na=21,SO4=231,Cl=23,HCO3=104
Overnight mash if desired.

Brewing Record

Brew Date:				Strike Temp:
Mash Temps:
Pre-boil OG		(1.044 SG)		Pre-boil Vol		(6.57 gal)
Actual Mash Efficiency				Pitch Temp
Fermentation
Day 1:
Day ...
Day ...