Elderflower Ale - What do you think of this?

[Wez]

Firstly apologies for all of the question's i've been asking lately, i'm getting ready to move to my first AG on Friday.

I'm planning on making an Elderflower ale and wanted to list what i'm planning to do to see if anyone with more experience has anything to add / advice to give.

It's based on this by Andy:

viewtopic.php?t=2680&highlight=elderflower

Bit of info that may help my first mini mash about 2 weeks ago resulted in 66 % eff although i hope to get 70 % - 75 % this time by slower sparging and checking / adjusting mash PH.

25 L Batch
5 KG Pale Malt M.O
250g Crystal Malt
Mash Liquor 13L (based on 2.5L per KG)
Mash Time 90 mins
Mash Temp 65 degrees

Boil Time 90 mins
30g Northern Brewer (full boil)
25g Challenger (full boil)
10g Challenger (last 15 mins)
50g Dried Elderflower (last 15 mins)
1 tsp irish moss (last 15 mins)

Gervin English Ale Yeast (11g)

What do you think?

[Andy]

My mini-mash was too elderflowery at bottling time so I'm letting the bottles sit for a few months to see if it mellows.... But I think you've reduced the dried elderflower content in your scaled up recipe ?

[Wez]

Andy, yeah read the threads and gone for your advice = 10g per 5L i want background taste not a mouthfull of the Chelsea flower show

[Andy]

Cool

[notassuch]

I want background taste not a mouthfull of the Chelsea flower show.

[louthepoo]

I'd put in a bit less than that if you just want a mild aftertaste, mine had around that and its a prominant flavour nota mild aftertaste. It may depend what type of elderflower you use though, mine were dried and packed in the HB shop, if you've picked them yourself they may not be as strong.

[Wez]

Andy, Lou - how much dried Elderflower do you recon per 5l then

[louthepoo]

sorry Wez i amde a cock up with my calculations, i used around 15g/5 Litres and its a reasonably prominant taste, if i were to do it again i'd go for 10g/5 Litres

I've tried mine and although the taste is stronger than what i wanted and added to that the cock ups that happened during the brewing, i like it

Good luck and let us know how it turns out, i'll be trying this one again soon (After the Hob Goblin clone i'm making at the weekend)

[Wez]

Thanks Lou, 10g it is and i'll report back, i'm sure with some tweaking we can get it right. Good luck with your weekend brew, i'm getting a few things set up then i'll be up early to kick it off!