Saaz hops

Variety of hops
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Saaz is a "noble" variety of hops. It was named after the then German town of Saaz. This hop is used extensively in Bohemia to flavor beer as the Bohemian pilsner.

Saaz hops accounted for more than +2⁄3 of total 2009 hop production in the Czech Republic.[1] It is the main hop variety used in the production of global beer Stella Artois, a Belgian pilsner.

Characteristics

Saaz has a distinctive flavour. When used in beer, the resultant aroma is very mild, earthy, herbal and spicy. Despite its popularity and noble pedigree, Saaz generally has a very low Alpha acid level and is not very effective as a bittering hop. This hop is generally used for Bohemian style lagers and pilseners.[2]

Another variety of Saaz hops has been propagated in the United States of America. The US variety has a higher Alpha acid content than the original Czech variety.[3]

Acid and oil breakdown

Property Czech variety[3] US variety[4]
Yield (kg/ha) 800–1,200 N/A
Alpha acids (%) 2.5–4.0 6.3–7.0[5]
Beta acids (%) 4.6–6.0 N/A
Alpha/beta ratio 0.6–0.9 N/A
Cohumulone (% of alpha acids): 23–26 N/A
Colupulone (% of alpha acids): 39–43 N/A
Total oils (mls. per 100 grams dried hops) 0.4–1.0 0.6
Myrcene (as % of total oils) 25–40 37
Linalool (as % of total oils) 0.4–0.8 N/A
Caryophyllene (as % of total oils) 6–9 7
Humulene (as % of total oils) 15–25 23
Farnesene (as % of total oils) 14–20 N/A
Selinenes (as % of total oils) 0.5–1.5 N/A
Possible substitutions Centennial, Amarillo, Motueka, Stirling, Summer

References

Wikisource has original text related to this article:
Hop cultivation in Bohemia
  1. ^ "Hop Statistics - Hops Growers Union of the Czech Republic". www.czhops.cz. Retrieved 2010-01-23.
  2. ^ Palmer, John (2006). How to Brew. Boulder, CO: Brewers Publications. pp. Chapter 5 part 3. ISBN 0-937381-88-8.
  3. ^ a b "Saaz (US)". Hopslist. 2014-03-08. Retrieved 2019-11-19.
  4. ^ Daniels, Ray (2000). Designing Great Beers. Boulder, CO: Brewers Publications. pp. 72–106. ISBN 0-937381-50-0.
  5. ^ "Hops Direct - US Saaz growers". www.hopsdirect.com. Retrieved 2010-01-23.