Australian Saison

[Danscraftbeer]

Given the Australian climate and the nature of the Saison style (ie refreshing, dry, fermented at higher temps), they seem a match made in heaven. I'm surprised we don't see more Saisons brewed locally, or even more readily available locally.

Anyhow, I've been contemplating brewing a Saison using all Australian ingredients. I'll obviously wait until the weather warms up a bit, but the grain bill would be easy enough with a Pilsner/Wheat mix. With the range of locally bred hops now available, that shouldn't be a problem. The main issue is with the most important ingredient of a Saison, which is the yeast. This is the problem with doing any all Australian beer as we only really have the one local strain, Coopers. I love the Coopers strain and use it often in Pale Ales (I'm not so much of a fan of it in darker ales). Would the Coopers yeast handle being pushed out a bit temp wise, say to 25c? I'm assuming I'd get a heap of pear and banana esters, but would it move into the unpleasant territory? Coupled with some Galaxy / Ella as late addition(s), could provide a nice tropical fruit hit.

Anyway, I'll keep you updated when I get around to making it, but any shared experiences / advice is always appreciated.

Did you make one? Just to share that concoction I posted has that banana tropical fruit your talking about. Never had it before. Your partly to blame for a beer that may be the best I've ever made!

Non Saison it is! but I don't have any Saison yeast and unknown If I would like it anyway. I'm Austrayion yuknow we make our own.

Stirplated at 18c the calculated amount of 2nd culture Coopers yeast for only 3 hours when it showed a growing krausen. 6 hours it had a nice fluffy head. Pitched into wort at 18c. Only 12 hours later (next morning) airlock was bubbling strong. 24 hours later was vigorous ferment with 2+ inch thick Krausen. By the second day its crept from 18c to 23c on its own. No temp control just a insulation jacket on the fermenter. The room/ house has a fruit salad with Banana smell. B) Re - like nothing I've brewed before.

 

[crowmanz]

Sounds pretty good. Go for it guys. I might even try it sometime.

 

[mosto]

Haven't made it yet, will wait for it to warm up a bit. What grain bill and hops did you go with?

 

[Danscraftbeer]

My newbie concoction is on the first page. As for waiting for it to warm up to brew this thing its winter here in Victoria and it worked out better as to plan. This brew got to 23c on its own in winter. So I'm thinking temp control to cool it will be necessary in the warmer months (for me).

Eg. A full fermenter in my (heated) house at Winter will sit at 15-18c. That's Ale temp. The vigorous ferment raises another ~4c. It seems winter is the best time for no temp control.
Temp control cooling will be needed by late spring. Or, try this wild thing up to whatever temps it reaches in Aus. 30 Degree C. ?
I'm In Vic but that's no escape from extreme heats of any state. Let the experiments begin it sounds like a needed Australian Brew to me anyhow. :chug: