Paddy Here

[Paddy]

Hey guys

I'm obviously new here.  Just thought I'd say hi.  Been brewing AG a while now but always interested in finding out whats going on on the local HB scene.

Cheers,
Paddy

[sub82]

Hi Paddy - welcome! Good to have another brewer on board - I take it you're Belfast based? What do you brew.

[Paddy]

Hi sub.  And thanks!

Living in Dunmurry at the minute but I do work in the big smoke

Two Saisons on at the minute (one dry hopping in secondary the other bottle conditioning), got an ESB and Porter on the way and a Pils in the pipeline when winter really hits

I also brew various wines and meads on the side.  What about yourself?

[sub82]

Sounds good! I'd love to get into saisons - at the minute we've been making single hop pale ales trying different grain bills and hops but planning some ruby ales/bitters next.

[matthewdick23]

would love to venture into saison world too. thats a beer id love to bring to the pro world in n.ireland

we should do a saison comp in belfast...

[Paddy]

Haven't tried a ruby myself.  Would like to give that a go sometime.  I highly recommend checking out brewing a Saison at some point.  We used the WLP565 strain which is really tricky to work with but a lot of fun.  Learned a lot brewing the Saison...hence the fact we have two lol

Hadn't even tried one until we visited the Oast brewery in the Niagra-On-The-Lake region this Summer.  They make a great Saison.

[sub82]

Matthew - sounds good! Would that be for the new year? Would be good to have to work to a particular style.

Paddy - Will check it out then! I've tried the Partizan - Saison. Would it be typical of a saison?

[Paddy]

Can't say I'v tried it sub82 but from what I've read it seems to fit the bill of a typical Saison (peppery, dry, pours clear golden, nice head retention, subtle citrussy flavours). 

I guess there's no such thing as a "correct" Saison especially since modern Saisons are so far moved from the traditional variety and even the traditional Saisons were brewed on many French and Belgian farms thus creating such a variety that it's hard to pin the Style.  I'd be interested in knowing how it's judged in competitions.  I should probably look into that.  Pity there isn't much of a competition scene here...unless you guys know of one

[matthewdick23]

we can chat about a saison comp at nxt meet- that been confirmed chris?

partizan do each saison differently- some are better than others i think

[sub82]

Nice one Paddy - would be good to sample one of yours if possible! We'll have to get something on the go!

Yep Matthew - I'll chase that up this evening. There seems to be a decent enough response to the date.

What about yourself Paddy? If you're free Friday 15th you are more than welcome.

[Paddy]

Aye I'd be up for that.  Free at the minute on that date so count me in.  Any competition would be great.  Aye I can probably donate a few bottles of the practice Saison and the actual Saison thought that's still being bottled sometime this coming week so don't know how much "actual Saison" it's gonna be  :