Saaz (US) Hop
| Purpose: | Aroma |
|---|---|
| Country: | United States of America (USA) |
| International Code: | SAZ |
| Comparison | Compare with other hops |
Purchase Saaz (US) Hops
Saaz (US) hops are available to be purchased at multiple suppliers. We've conveniently linked to the most popular hop suppliers as well as Amazon.com. Every supplier may have different prices, harvest years and amounts available for purchase.
Origin and Geneology of the Saaz (US) Hop
Saaz hops were bred from the original centuries-old Czech Republic landrace variety. Czech Saaz hops are of the same lineage, but are grown in the Czech Republic, whereas this variety is grown in the US. The name Saaz is based on the Czech city of Žatec.
US hops begin to be harvested in mid-to-late August for most aroma varieties.
Flavor & Aroma Profile of Saaz (US) Hops
Saaz (US) is an aroma hop that is typically used in only late boil additions, including dry hopping.
Saaz is a noble hop variety, and is considered one of the oldest known. Saaz hops have aromas that include earthiness with a mild spicy flavor to it. Saaz hops - regardless of the country they are grown in - are mostly only used for its aromas due to its low alpha acid content, which results in a delicate bitterness when added at the end of the boil.
Noble hops like Saaz, are aroma varieties that have an extensive history behind them. The term ‘noble’ has been used since the 1980’s and refers to hops that have been used in brewing beer for centuries.
Read More: All About Noble Hops
Tags: #slightly_spicy #earthy #noble
Brewing Values for Saaz (US) Hops
These are the common ranges that we've seen with Saaz (US) hops over the years. Each year's crop can yield hops that have slightly different qualities, so these number ranges are based on history.
| Alpha Acid % (AA) Alpha acids are the main source of bitterness in beer. Longer boil times will result in isomerization of more alpha acids leading to increased bitterness. Learn more » | 3-4.5%3.8% avg |
|---|---|
| Beta Acid %Beta acids are a component of hop resins responsible for contributing volatile aromatic and flavor properties. Beta acids contribute no bitterness. | 3-4.5%3.8% avg |
| Alpha-Beta RatioThe ratio of alpha to beta acids dictates the degree to which bitterness fades during aging. 1:1 ratios are common in aroma varieties. | 1:1 - 2:11:1 avg |
| Hop Storage Index (HSI)The HSI indicates the percent of alpha and beta acids lost after 6 months of storage at room temperature (68°F or 20°C). The freshest hops will always be the best. | 25% (Good) 0.25 |
| Co-Humulone as % of AlphaLow cohumulone hops may impart a smoother bitterness when added to the boil as opposed to higher ones that add a sharper bitterness to the final beer. Learn more » | 24-28%26% avg |
| Total Oils (mL/100g)These highly volatile, not very soluble oils are easily boiled off, but add flavor and aroma to the finished beer when added very late in the boil or during fermentation. Learn more » | 0.5-1 mL0.8mL avg |
| Total Oil Breakdown: | |
| › MyrceneFlavors: resinous, citrus, fruity (β-myrcene) | 25-30%27.5% avg |
| › HumuleneFlavors: woody, noble, spicy (α-caryophyllene) | 35-40%37.5% avg |
| › CaryophylleneFlavors: pepper, woody, herbal (β-caryophyllene) | 9-11%10% avg. |
| › FarneseneFlavors: fresh, green, floral (β-farnesene) | 9-13%11% avg |
| › All OthersIncluding β-pinene, linalool, geranoil & selinene | 6-22% |
Beer Styles using Saaz (US) Hops
Some popular beer styles that make use of the Saaz (US) hop include Pilsner, Lager, Wheat & Belgian Ale.
Saaz (US) Hop Substitutions
If the Saaz (US) hop is hard to find or if you are simply out of it on brew day, you can try to substitute it with a similar hop. The old way of choosing replacement hops was done by experience and "feel". There is nothing wrong with that way. However, we wanted to build a data-driven tool to find your Saaz (US) substitutions.
Experienced brewers have chosen the following hop varieties as substitutions of Saaz (US):
Is Saaz (US) available in lupulin powder?
Unfortunately, there is no lupulin powder version of the Saaz (US) hop. Neither Yakima Chief Hops (Cryo/LupuLN2), Haas (Lupomax) or Hopsteiner have created versions of this hop variety in lupulin powder form yet. Too bad too - it is pure hop lupulin powder, which leads to huge, concentrated flavor when used in the whirlpool or dry hop additions.
Saaz (US) Hop Statistics
We love statistics. We've analyzed hundreds of IPAs, dug into the Hop Growers of America's annual reports[2] and researched the history behind some of the most popular beer ingredients. Here are a few of the things we've found interesting about the Saaz (US) hop:
- Saaz hops accounted for more than two thirds of total 2009 hop production in the Czech Republic.
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