It’s hard to make a good low ABV saison. I mash mine at 158 and it still finishes at 1.004. I also increase my flavor/aroma hops by 50% from what I would normally use.
I struggle making low ABV beers I really enjoy, in general. But I’ve made a pretty good very simple low ABV saison. I believe I used T-58. Came out great.
Victory is one of my favorite breweries. I will try anything from them. But I agree with you, this is not a good beer. I gave the rest of the beers away to someone. I maybe didn’t like them?
I kind of think that making a low abv saison is not that hard myself. 3711 throws so much character off that is tastes nice and refreshing everytime I make one.
Yes. Swing is so lifeless it makes me think they used whatever house yeast they have and called it a saison. I’m a big fan of many of their beers, so this was very disappointing.
That’s disappointing to hear, especially from such a good brewery. I agree, it sounds like they didn’t use a saison strain. Saison yeast doesn’t normally make ‘lifeless’ beer, even at cooler temps.
Bummed to hear about the Victory Saison, but you can’t brew a saison without a true saison yeast, IMO. I’m guessing they’re probably just using their Golden Monkey yeast on this.
Interesting. I have a hard time picturing a watered down/boring beer from 3711. Everything that yeast touches turns to gold for me. My Saison goes from 1.040 down to 1.004 or so, but still has a great mouthfeel. I do mash at 158 for that one, but I don’t have to go up to 162 like I do for most other session beers - the yeast leaves behind a nice mouthfeel on its own. My tips are to target a low mash pH (5.2) and carbonate highly. It comes out like a dry white wine.