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Saaz
aroma · Czech Republic
The classic Bohemian noble hop from the Žatec (Saaz) region. Spicy, earthy, and herbal with exceptional smoothness; the benchmark for clean European-style bitterness and aroma.
10 brews
About
The classic Czech noble hop, grown around Žatec (German: Saaz) in Bohemia and fundamental to Czech Pilsner and many European lagers. It is spicy, earthy and herbal with exceptional smoothness, and its beta-acid content is notably high relative to alpha. It is GI-protected (true Saaz comes from Žatec), and like other noble hops it fades relatively quickly, so store it cold and verify alpha on each crop for IBU accuracy.
Specs
- Alpha acids
- 2.5–4.5%
- Beta acids
- 4.0–6.0%
- Co-humulone
- 23–26%
- Total oil
- 0.4–0.8 ml/100g
Oil composition
Use rates
- Bittering
- Very inefficient at low alpha; smooth when used in quantity
- Flavour
- 1–3 g/L at 15–20 min
- Whirlpool
- 1–3 g/L
- Dry hop
- 1–2 g/L for a restrained herbal note; 3–8 g/L total in traditional styles
Pairings
- Grains
- Pilsner malt, wheat malt; classic with Bohemian Pilsner bills
- Other hops
- Hallertau Mittelfrüh, Styrian Goldings
- Styles
- Czech Pilsner, Bohemian Lager, Farmhouse Ale, Belgian Single, Saison
Substitutes
In your brews
Used in 10 brews 2020-05-03 → 2026-05-30
Total used 543 g ~54 g/batch
Most used at Boil
Usage by stage
Styles brewed
Used in
- Belgian Hoppy Blonde 21B Specialty IPA: Belgian IPA
- Farmhouse Ale 25B Saison
- Dubbel 26B Belgian Dubbel
- Belgian Blonde 25A 25A Belgian Blonde Ale
- Belgian Blonde 25A Belgian Blonde Ale
- January Saison – 25B 25B Saison
- November Saison (Wild) 28C Wild Specialty Beer
- G&T Saison 25B Saison
- League Casa Cerveza (II) 2B International Amber Lager
- League Casa Cerveza 2B International Amber Lager