Continuing in my objective of brewing and drinking only seasonally-appropriate styles, I move further into Spring with a Sorachi Ace single hop Saison (...see my earlier post on a "Faux bock" that was perfect for the early Spring Lenten season).
I have to admit, I've been hit or miss with Saisons and Belgian styles in general. I've sometimes ended up with lots of fusel alcohol and other off flavors to suggest that something went amiss during fermentation. I was talking to a friend (who happens to co-own a brewery!) about this, and he suggested that I was overpitching my yeast. So, I decided to brew a small batch (~1.5 gal) and pitch only about a quarter of the dry yeast package.
I also used a very simple grain bill of 86% Pilsner, 7% Vienna, and 7% White Wheat. I was looking through the freezer and noticed a half-used pack of Sorachi Ace hops, so I figured why not give it a try.
Fermentation was complete in about 5 days at around 64F. After letting it sit a few days and then cold crashing, the beer was ready to drink in a little over a week. I have to say that this one turned out amazing! Crystal clear, a nice mild malt backbone, and a hop profile unlike almost anything I've tasted. I think people either hate or love Sorachi Ace and it looks like I fall into the later category. Although I only added hops during the boil, this one still has a distinctive lemony aroma. The lemon, dill, and lemongrass really come through in the taste as well! I went light on the hops which was probably a good thing.
Anyway, let me know if you give this one (or something similar) a try, and what you think. I've shared the recipe on Brewfather here...
Great post and way to keep hitting the seasonal beer styles! Which yeast did you use?