Summer Saison

This would be my 1st ever Saison style ale and I hope it is a good one. I wanted to make something that is an easy drinker for the hot spring/summer months coming up. I think this will do the trick and also I want to see what the White Labs WLP568 Saison Ale Blend yeast does to this beer. I am going to try and pitch the yeast in at 62-63 degrees and let it slowly raise up in temperature for 10 days till around 72-73 degrees. I am hoping for some very nice flavors from this beer. On to the brew!

You can see a video of this beer fermenting away here

Summer Saison

Malt:

7.25 lbs: American 2-Row Pale

2 lbs: Vienna Malt

.5 lbs: Flaked Oats

.5 lbs: Flaked Wheat

.5 lbs: Orange Blossom Honey

Hops:

1.5 oz: EKG 4.2aa 60 min

.75 oz: Hallertauer 3.1aa 15min

.75 oz: Hallertauer 3.1aa KO

Yeast:

White Labs Belgian Saison Blend (WLP568)

Misc:

.5 oz: Coriander KO

2 Grams: Grains of Paradise KO

.25 oz: Bitter Orange Peel KO

.25 oz Sweet Orange Peel KO

Mash Temp: 148deg Held for 1 hour 15 minutes
Sparge Temp: 156deg Held for 15 minutes
Boil Time: 90 minutes

Target OG: 1.058

Target FG: 1.013

Target ABV: 6.0%

IBU: ~20

Actual OG: 1.060

Actual FG: 1.006

ABV: 7.3%
Apparent Attenuation: 89.5%

Hopville Recipe

Update 4.28.2009: Morning after brew day. Added yeast and had to rack over to my 6 gallon Better Bottle Carboy due to volume. I had right at 5 gallons with an OG of 1.060, so I over shot my target gravity but thats fine. Its puts me at 75% efficiency for the brew which might be the best I have ever done. Now lets hope the transfer didnt hurt anything and it starts fermenting by the middle of the day.

Update 5.1.2009: Took a gravity reading at 1.006 this morning. Amazing, just amazing the yeast attenuated at 89.5% and I have a ABV of 7.3%, which I think makes this quite Imperial. Im going to rack it over to secondary tonight and cold crash it for a few days. The beer tastes amazing and I cant wait to get this carbed up and ready to drink.

Update 5.20.2009: This beer took 2nd in the Belgian & French Ale category in this years Brewmasters Open. I haven't got the notes back yet, but hopefully I get some really good remarks.

Update 5.29.2009: Score sheet from the 2009 BMO Summer Saison