Saaz (Žatecký poloraný červeňák) Hop Pellets T90

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

What 10 g does in 20 L

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

• Food business operator: Radek Milota – BO PIVO, Hlavní 35, 742 83 Olbramice, Czech Republic
• 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

Údaje o potravině (CZ)

• Název: Chmelové granule, Saaz (Žatecký poloraný červeňák)
• Složení: chmelové granule (Humulus lupulus)
• Alergeny: neobsahuje – chmel nepatří mezi 14 alergenů uvedených v příloze II nařízení (EU) č. 1169/2011
• Čisté množství: 100 g nebo 1 kg podle zvoleného balení
• Země původu: Česká republika
• Skladování: uzavřené, v chladu, suchu a temnu
• Provozovatel potravinářského podniku: Radek Milota – BO PIVO, Hlavní 35, 742 83 Olbramice, Czech Republic

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.