Hi guys,
Looking urgently for all you best elderflower tips and recipes.
Dean.
Elderflower brewing
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dean_wales
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WalesAles
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Re: Elderflower brewing
Take a look in here,
WA
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dean_wales
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Re: Elderflower brewing
OK So I went a bit off piste and may end up with drainwater but I made this and I reckon this could be nice!
In all honest the Mrs is very understanding of my beer brewing so I thought it would be nice to make her something pink fizzy and boozy for her birthday in the autumn.
PINK ELDERFLOWER CHAMPAGNE
INGREDIENTS
3 Pint glasses of Elderflower petals
3kg Regular white sugar
900g Tin of Young's Zinfandel blush concentrated grape juice
4 Organic lemons (juice and zest)
2 Organic limes (juice and zest)
METHOD
Done so far...
Sterilize fermenter.
Picked the Elderflowers late afternoon on a sunny but windy day. Not ideal but that or nothing. Removed petals from stalks into a bowl so left only with white fine confetti. Place in bucket.
Add the lemon and lime juice/zest.
Pour over 3 gallons of boiling water.
Leave to stand for 24 hours to infuse and cool.
Add sugar and pink grape juice concentrate. Stir very well.
Checked specific gravity and came out at 1.094.
Will do next...
Cover and leave to ferment out for one to two weeks in fermentation bucket. Hopefully get down to around 1.000 gravity.
Rack to three demi johns and top up with a little sugar water and some fresh champagne yeast if needed.
Age for 30-60 days in demi
Transfer to champagne bottles
Prime as you would with beer (regular sugar) to achieve approximate 3vols of C02
Bottle condition for a further 30-60 days
Drink, enjoy and get man points!
What do you guys reckon?
Dean.
In all honest the Mrs is very understanding of my beer brewing so I thought it would be nice to make her something pink fizzy and boozy for her birthday in the autumn.
PINK ELDERFLOWER CHAMPAGNE
INGREDIENTS
3 Pint glasses of Elderflower petals
3kg Regular white sugar
900g Tin of Young's Zinfandel blush concentrated grape juice
4 Organic lemons (juice and zest)
2 Organic limes (juice and zest)
METHOD
Done so far...
Sterilize fermenter.
Picked the Elderflowers late afternoon on a sunny but windy day. Not ideal but that or nothing. Removed petals from stalks into a bowl so left only with white fine confetti. Place in bucket.
Add the lemon and lime juice/zest.
Pour over 3 gallons of boiling water.
Leave to stand for 24 hours to infuse and cool.
Add sugar and pink grape juice concentrate. Stir very well.
Checked specific gravity and came out at 1.094.
Will do next...
Cover and leave to ferment out for one to two weeks in fermentation bucket. Hopefully get down to around 1.000 gravity.
Rack to three demi johns and top up with a little sugar water and some fresh champagne yeast if needed.
Age for 30-60 days in demi
Transfer to champagne bottles
Prime as you would with beer (regular sugar) to achieve approximate 3vols of C02
Bottle condition for a further 30-60 days
Drink, enjoy and get man points!
What do you guys reckon?
Dean.
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shazza
Re: Elderflower brewing
You killed the natural yeasts on the flowers with the boiling water and have created a fertile environment for the nasties to multiply.If you cottoned on to this and quickly added Champagne yeast you should be alright.
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timbo41
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Re: Elderflower brewing
With shazza there. Other than that looks.nice. I got.a.similar on with a bunch of pulped red grapes....a delicate rose colour at mo. Was just a spur of moment knock up
Just like trying new ideas!
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Dr. Dextrin
Re: Elderflower brewing
I think elderflowers are better if you don't use boiling water. Completely fresh and natural is best, although frozen is a good second. I generally let the fermentation get going, then add them after about 2 days and leave them in for a day or two before racking into a demijohn. This lets the yeast get going first so any nasties on the flowers don't get a look in.