Looking at brewing a Saison including Ginger, Star Anise

[SilenusFollower]

I really want to make a Saison, I've read it's a thirst quenching dry ale, historically drank by farmers during harvest. Sounds like a perfect summer ale. The first recipe I've looked at includes Honey, Ginger, Star Anise and black Pepper Corns. Problem is I haven't seen anyone brew with these ingredients, I've looked around youtube with no joy. Side note, I searched the 'Beer Recipes' forum for Saison and got nothing!

How do I add these. Does the ginger root need to be chopped, grated, whole etc?

Here's the link to the recipe http://www.beersmith.com/Recipes2/recipe_325.htm

I'm open to suggestion if anyone has a good Saison recipe.

Thanks in advance

[jmc]

My post Saison #2 - AG78 (+ pics) has a recipe listed - inspired by Lugsy. Sample bottles of this are now going down a treat
BTW: You'll find quite a few references to Saison in the Brewdays section.

The above brew has grains of paradise in it (an aromatic spice similar to pepper), but no ginger or star anise.

If I did add ginger & star anise.
- To prepare I'd remove outer-peel from ginger and then continue to use peeler to turn inside into shavings.
I'd crush star anise with any pepper corns, but not grind to dust.
- I'd add ginger shavings and crushed spices in the last 5-10mins of the boil.

Personally I wouldn't overdo the ginger or star anise otherwise you'll miss the lovely mix of flavours you get from the rye, wheat and the saison yeast.

When adding spices to brews like this I think its better to taste / smell a hint of something, but not so much that its obvious what it is.

Your choice of course, so if you want a Ginger ale just go for it, but I think you may be missing a trick if you do.

[SilenusFollower]

My post Saison #2 - AG78 (+ pics) has a recipe listed - inspired by Lugsy. Sample bottles of this are now going down a treat
BTW: You'll find quite a few references to Saison in the Brewdays section.

Your Saison looks awesome and thanks for the reference in Brewdays.

Whilst I definitely don't want a ginger ale,just a hint. I'm also thinking this will be my first stepped mash so maybe keeping a more regular recipe might be better. In fact the more I look at Saisons the more the one I was looking at seems weird.

back to the drawing board for me.

[jmc]

My post Saison #2 - AG78 (+ pics) has a recipe listed - inspired by Lugsy. Sample bottles of this are now going down a treat
BTW: You'll find quite a few references to Saison in the Brewdays section.

Your Saison looks awesome and thanks for the reference in Brewdays.

Whilst I definitely don't want a ginger ale,just a hint. I'm also thinking this will be my first stepped mash so maybe keeping a more regular recipe might be better. In fact the more I look at Saisons the more the one I was looking at seems weird.

back to the drawing board for me.

The 40C step does most of the work breaking down the sticky glucans in the Rye and flaked wheat, but if it's you're 1st stepped mash you might want to increase the % of Pilsner/lager malt and maybe replace flaked wheat with wheat malt.
Up to you of course.

I had another sample of the Saison # 2 brew over the weekend. Pic here. Saisons are really refreshing and dangerously drinkable.

[Barley Water]

I generally make a Saison every year, it's a fun beer to make because there is quite a bit of leeway from a formulation perspective. I would caution you about Star Anise however, that stuff can easily take over a beer, it's very agressive tasting. A few year ago, several members of our beer club used that stuff in several beers and they just could not get rid of the stuff; it just kept showing up to parties and nobody would touch it. I'll probably do one this summer and I was toying with the idea of adding a touch of ginger this time myself. Having never messed with it, I will be very interested to hear about your experience.