Soft spice, herbs and a whisper of flowers: the smell of a proper Czech pilsner. Žatecký poloraný červeňák, known to the world as Saaz, is the landrace hop that helped define the style.
Alpha 2.5–5.5 % · Beta 2.5–5 % · Mid & late boil · Fine, noble aroma · T90 pellets · Crop 2025 · 100 g or 1 kg
What it does in your beer
Saaz is a Czech landrace, selected in the Žatec and Úštěk regions. Its aroma is fine and mild, with pleasant noble-hop notes: spicy and woody (tarragon, lavender, cedarwood) alongside floral, sweeter tones of elderberry, rose, camomile and honey.
Low alpha, high expectations. It isn't a bittering hop — it belongs in the second and third additions, where it gives Czech pilsners their gentle, hoppy finish. Cold hopping works too.
At a glance
| Variety | Saaz (Žatecký poloraný červeňák) |
| Type | Czech landrace aroma hop, Žatec and Úštěk regions |
| Origin | Czech Republic |
| Crop year | 2025 |
| Form | T90 pellets |
| Pack size | 100 g or 1 kg |
| Alpha acids | 2.5–5.5 % |
| Beta acids | 2.5–5.0 % |
| Co-humulone | 23–26 % of alpha (variety typical) |
| Total oil | 0.4–0.8 g/100 g (variety typical) |
| Oil breakdown | Myrcene 25–40 %, humulene 15–30 %, farnesene 14–20 %, caryophyllene 6–9 % (variety typical) |
| Purpose | Aroma |
| Aroma | Fine, mild, noble: spicy, woody, herbal, floral, honey |
| Storage stability | Fair (variety data) |
What 10 g does in 20 L
| Added at | IBU from 10 g in 20 L |
| 60 min | ≈5 |
| 30 min | ≈4 |
| 15 min | ≈2 |
| 5 min | ≈1 |
Approx., Tinseth formula, OG 1.050, mid alpha 4.0 %. Recalculate with the alpha on your pack.
How to use
- Second addition, mid-boil: soft hop flavour.
- Third addition, late in the boil: the classic Czech pilsner finish.
- Cold hopping: a recognised use when you want more aroma.
- Bittering: 10 g for 60 minutes gives only about 5 IBU in 20 L, so set the bitterness with a higher-alpha hop such as Vital.
Pairs well with
Brewing a Czech pilsner? Czech Pilsner Malt with a little Weyermann CARAHELL, SafLager S-189 and Vital to set the bitterness — then Saaz, late and generous.
Storage & shelf life
- Keep it sealed, cold, dry and dark.
- The T90 pellet guideline is −3 to 5 °C, somewhere dry and odour-free.
- Variety data rates Saaz's storage stability as only fair, so use opened packs promptly.
Food information
- Name: Hop pellets, Saaz (Žatecký poloraný červeňák)
- Ingredients: hop pellets (Humulus lupulus)
- Allergens: hops are not among the substances listed in Annex II of EU Regulation 1169/2011
- Net quantity: 100 g or 1 kg, according to the pack you choose
- Country of origin: Czech Republic
- Storage: sealed, cold, dry and dark
Good to know
- Crop 2025, grown in the Czech Republic; the alpha and beta ranges above are for this crop.
- T90 pellets in a 100 g pack or a 1 kg bag.
- Fittingly, it ships from our partner warehouse in the Czech Republic — separately from any equipment you order.
FAQ
Is Žatecký poloraný červeňák the same as Saaz?
Yes. It's the Czech name of the variety known internationally as Saaz.
Can I bitter with Saaz?
Technically yes, but 10 g boiled for 60 minutes gives only about 5 IBU in 20 L (approx., Tinseth, OG 1.050, mid alpha 4.0 %). Bitter with a higher-alpha hop and keep Saaz for flavour and aroma.
When do I add Saaz to a Czech pilsner?
In the second (mid-boil) and third (late) additions. Cold hopping is an option too.
What does Saaz smell like?
Fine and mild: spicy, woody and herbal, with floral and honey-like notes.