Melting Stream Spring Saison

Brewed: 4/13/2025 Kegged: 5/1/2024


You may know about the SheppyBrew Seasonal Saison series of beers.

meltingstream.jpgThe first time I brewed a Saison was in the late Winter of 2014, Arctic Vortex Winter Saison. Then, I brewed a Summer Saison with Hail Storm Summer Saison. My most recent beer in the series was this past Autumn with Falling Leaves Harvest Saison.

It was between my Summer brew and my Autumn brew that I realized I was doing a Seasonal Series. Alas, I had skipped Spring.

Early in 2015, I started my second Seasonal Saison cycle with a second batch of Arctic Vortex, and this time I was ready for a Spring Saison when Winter was over.

Like all my saisons, I wanted it to finish dry and derive any of its spiciness from the 3711 ("The Real Super Yeast") and noble hops. No spices added, just beer ingredients. I decided to go a little lighter than a traditional saison in color.

I decided to load this beer up on noble hops, using the hop schedule from Ello Poppet as a template. It does use more hops than Ello Poppet. I might be hoppier than the style calls for.

I spent a fair amount of time trying to come up with a good name. The more clever names I came up with were taken by other beers on untappd. Finally, I decided on Melting Stream. Spring in Colorado is when mountain snow starts to melt and fills up the creeks and streams. The image of rushing water from snow melt is something that says Spring to me. I thought "Melting Stream" conveyed that image. And, no one else had a beer with that name on untappd.

I changed up the recipe for batch 3. I reduced the OG and ABV. I also decided to finally try the Lemon Drop hop. 

Batch 7 was modified slightly to fit in my Anvil Foundry.

Stream_temp.jpg

For more about SheppyBrew's Seasonal Saisons on my blog see Sheppy's Blog: Seasonal Saisons.

For more specifically about this beer see Sheppy's Blog: Melting Stream.

Melting Stream Spring Saison --- Batch 11 (374)

Style Saison Batch Size 5.50 gal
Type All Grain Boil Size   6.57 gal
Brewhouse Efficiency   68.00   Boil Time   60 minutes

Recipe Characteristics

Recipe Gravity 1.049 SG Estimated FG 1.004 SG
Recipe Bitterness 24.1 IBUs (Rager) Alcohol by Volume 5.9 %
BU : GU   0.491        
Recipe Color 3.7 SRM
Color
   
Measured OG:   1.049    Measured FG:    
ADF:       Measured ABV:    

Ingredients

Ingredients
Amt Name Type # %/IBU Volume
7.36 gal Denver, Colorado Water 1 - -
9.00 g Gypsum (Calcium Sulfate) (Mash) Water Agent 2 - -
8 lbs 12.0 oz Pilsner (2 Row) Bel (2.0 SRM) Grain 3 81.4 % 0.68 gal
2 lbs White Wheat Malt (2.4 SRM) Grain 4 18.6 % 0.16 gal
0.500 oz Magnum [12.60 %] - Boil 40.0 min Hop 5 20.2 IBUs -
1.00 Items Whirlfloc Tablet (Boil 15.0 mins) Fining 6 - -
1.00 tsp Yeast Nutrient (Boil 15.0 mins) Other 7 - -
0.500 oz Lemondrop [4.60 %] - Boil 5.0 min Hop 8 1.6 IBUs -
1.000 oz Lemondrop [4.60 %] - Steep/Whirlpool 5.0 min, 194.4 F Hop 9 1.6 IBUs -
1.000 oz Saaz [2.00 %] - Steep/Whirlpool 5.0 min, 194.4 F Hop 10 0.7 IBUs -
1.0 pkg French Saison Ale (White Labs #WLP590) Yeast 11 - -
1.500 oz Lemondrop [4.60 %] - 3.0 Days Before Bottling for 5.0 Days Hop 12 0.0 IBUs -
1.000 oz Saaz [2.00 %] - 3.0 Days Before Bottling for 5.0 Days Hop 13 0.0 IBUs -

Mash Profile

Mash Steps
Name Description Step Temperature Step Time
Saccharification Add 29.44 qt of water at 156.6 F 150.0 F 240 min


If steeping, remove grains, and prepare to boil wort

Recipe Notes
Make 6 cup starter a few days before brew day.
From Denver water, gypsum puts my water profile at
Ca=107,Mg=8,Na=21,SO4=231,Cl=23,HCO3=104
Overnight mash if desired.

Brewing Record

Brew Date:   Strike Temp:  
Mash Temps:  
Pre-boil OG   (1.044 SG)   Pre-boil Vol   (6.57 gal)
Actual Mash Efficiency   Pitch Temp    
Fermentation            
Day 1: 
Day ... 
Day ... 

Click here to see previous recipes

Brewing Notes
3/29/2025 Bought ingredients for 2025 batch.
4/6/2025 On brewing schedule to brew next Sunday.
4/13/2025 Brew day today. Up a little after 5:30am. Had the mash going by 6am. Set the Anvil to heat up to 195 while heading to church. Pre-boil gravity and volume both low. When I returned, I adjusted with table sugar. Boil went pretty good. More hops than I generally add, but I got them all in. 1.049 og …right on target. Yeast pitched before 11:30 am.
4/14/2025 Fermentation was going strong before bedtime. Very active today. Tilt says 1.029 at 71 degrees.
4/16/2025 Still bubbling pretty good, but has slowed down quite a bit. Love the aroma coming off the air lock. Really looking forward to drinking this. Tilt says .996 at 69 degress.
4/23/2025 Adding a comment from the new SheppyBrew Site. This is really ready to keg any time. Tilt says .992 at 67 degrees.