Saaz Hops
The original Czech noble hop. Spicy and herbal, never aggressive. The hop character of Bohemian Pilsner and a quiet partner in pale Belgian ales.
| SKU | HW-H-SAA |
|---|---|
| Price | £4.95 / 100 g pellets |
| In stock | Yes |
| Origin | Žatec, Czech Republic |
| type | noble aroma hop |
| alpha acid percent | 3.5 |
| beta acid percent | 4.5 |
| cohumulone percent | 25 |
| total oil ml per100g | 0.7 |
| flavour descriptors | spicy, herbal, mild earth, light floral |
Saaz is one of the four traditional noble hops (alongside Hallertau Mittelfrüh, Tettnang and Spalt). It produces a soft, spicy-herbal aroma with almost no harsh edges — which is exactly what a Bohemian Pilsner needs, since there’s nowhere for off-flavours to hide in such a clean beer.
Use it like a noble
Saaz rewards traditional Continental hopping schedules:
- First-wort and 60-min for clean, low-cohumulone bitterness
- Late additions at 30, 15 and flame-out to layer the spicy aroma
- Long boils (90 minutes for Pilsner) drive off DMS without destroying Saaz’s character
Substitutions
If you’re out of Saaz, Sterling is the closest American-grown approximation. Tettnang is the closest other-noble substitute, leaning a touch more floral.