Brew UK Forum | General Brewing Discussions
elderflowers
Hi there, Just made up some elderflower champagne two days ago, it's in the bucket and looking good.This is the first time i have done any brewing.Do i Leave the elderflowers in the bucket for the full two weeks as per recipe or do they get removed before.They are going brown and I would hate to mess it up.Any advice would be welcome
Responses
Posted 11 months ago by Member
I don't know about the recipe, but I tend to leave them in for around 4-5 days and then leave it to ferment out.
Fermenting: Damson pale
Conditioning: Morello Cherry Lambic 2
Drinking: Schneider Weisse Tap 7 clone, Morello Cherry Lambic 1, Rauchbier
Posted 11 months ago by Member
Thanks Steve,It's the recipe on this site sold with the elderflower kit.I will remove the flowers soon though .
Posted 11 months ago by Member
Hi Scrambler and Steve.
Im a new member, having just concocted the elderflower ingredients last night, am wanting to exchange info on the process in the hope to avoid any mishaps or correct them as they happen. Can you help? So far my 'brew' is looking and smelling mighty fine but am very nervous about timing and understanding the correct fermentation stages - all comes with experience I guess. Im really excited about this and cant wait to find out what it tastes like. Please let me know if anything happens to yours and vice versa.
Cheers Kiki x
Posted 11 months ago by Moderator
Hi Kiki,
Why not start your own thread with loads a details (and piccys) so you can document your brew? This makes it easier for us to help you and also great for you to help others!
Plannin'-
Loads a beer after an upgrade!
nathbrew@gmail.com
Posted 11 months ago by Member
Hi Kiki, my brew is 5 days old now,flowers are still in and it's bubbling,Can't really say if there is any scum appearing.assume the fermentation is causing the bubbles.the mix looks alittle cloudy,it still smells really nice though.I must say i can't wait to try it.Might look in to starting a thread(if i knew what what that was..will ask the kids!!) update in a couple of days
Posted 11 months ago by Member
Hi Scrambler, your brew sounds all good. Maybe you could find out about 'filings' a product that clears cloudy liquid and to your question about starting a thread, well I think this is your thread, seeing as you started it! Anyway my brew is still quiet (3 days)and no bubbles as yet - nail biting stuff. I have taken a pic of it but unsure how to load.
Kiki
Posted 11 months ago by Member
Hi All.I took out my flowers yesterday,now I'm not sure if i should have.it's not bubbling nearly as much and is very cloudy.I'm going to keep my nerve and leave it for another week until i bottle it.I've ordered some finings that clear wine,will that help or ruin the brew? I've seen piccys on some sites of cloudy champagne and others of clear
Posted 11 months ago by Member
HI. Well done. My brew still hadnt shown any sign of fermentation, added wine yeast and started bubbling gently. Today, I removed all the flowers etc - I could not hold my nerve - I bottled it! Im relieved that its success or failure is now up to fate, my work is done. I just have the fun bit to do now - avoid explosions and drink it. Im not sure about finings scrambler, but whatever you decide, dont add 'filings'!
Kiki
Posted 11 months ago by Admin
Its mean't to be quite cloudy, well hazy at least. I will clear a bit in the bottle but its not supposed to be crystal clear.
I wouldn't add any finnings.
Posted 11 months ago by Member
Anyone know the shelflife after bottling?
Posted 11 months ago by Moderator
If the bottles are glass and sealed, that co2 layer that is produced when adding sugar to the bottle will keep the stuff for a good year me thinks (and probably more).
Plannin'-
Loads a beer after an upgrade!
nathbrew@gmail.com
Posted 11 months ago by Member
It will be in PET bottles as per site recipe (elderflower champagne) on another note just found some Eldeflower wine date 1993 the last time i was brewing.
Posted 11 months ago by Moderator
plastic bottles will leech out co2 over time so I would act on the safe side and say 6months or so, but its a guess/estimate/guestimate (hate that word)
Plannin'-
Loads a beer after an upgrade!
nathbrew@gmail.com
Posted 11 months ago by Member
Thanks for that at least it will last through the summer, maybe
Posted 11 months ago by Member
Hi thanks for the tip re: storage times for using PET bottles and 6 months sounds about right. I had a crafty taste today(hope ok after one week and not poisenous or anything) - delicious (and alcoholic), the fizz was perfect, and although cloudy that didnt worry me at all. Thinking seriously about doing another batch.
Curious to know what 1993 Elderflower wine tastes like - wow!
Posted 11 months ago by Member
Thanks Greg.not going to add finings,sounds like it needs to go in the bottle.the sooner thats done the sooner i can sample it.I seem to notice elderflower trees everywhere now,making a mental note for next harvest!! .if the brew is delicious i will kick myself if i don't brew some more while the flowers are good.
Posted 11 months ago by Member
Very syruppy like a dessert wine good taste drinkable shame only 3 Bottles left well 2 now
Posted 11 months ago by Member
Very mellow pear drop
Posted 11 months ago by Moderator
Hehe - love it - its all to easy to do! And your last post
was that written whilst sampling? Or was it just a random post!Ive still gota do a counrty wine. Im gonna make it my weekend with the kids - find some elderflowers with daddy.
Plannin'-
Loads a beer after an upgrade!
nathbrew@gmail.com
Posted 11 months ago by Member
Hi All ,Just bottled 23 litres of elderflower bubbley)How's yours Kiki now it been in the bottles a few days? any sign of expansion??
Posted 11 months ago by Member
Hi yes the PET bottles have bulged dramatically at the top like torpedos, so I have religously been opening and letting out the gas. Unfortunately it now tastes quite bitter - not sure why. Perhaps bottled too late. I hope once its chilled, and poured over ice, it will be just fine.
Posted 11 months ago by Member
Nath, the pear drop thing was trying to give a decent description of the flavour but it didnt work did it so maybe i should pretend it was random post.
Posted 11 months ago by Moderator
Like the sweets? Yummy!
Plannin'-
Loads a beer after an upgrade!
nathbrew@gmail.com
Posted 11 months ago by Member
My elderflower bubbley isn't very bubbley!! it's been bottled two days and not much pressure at all,I opened one and just a small release of pressure,Hardly anything at all.Reading all the entries about the risk of exploding bottles I was expecting a little more activity by now...do i need to be a little more patient or is my brew defective!!. can i save it if it is?
Posted 11 months ago by Moderator
I would leave it for a few more days and try to make sure its kept at room temp for the first week.
Plannin'-
Loads a beer after an upgrade!
nathbrew@gmail.com
Posted 11 months ago by Member
My elderflower brew has been bottled a week now, there is a little pressure in the bottles but not enough to need to open them.Is this a good sign.Can i do something to give them a kickstart?? or should i still be patient.
Posted 11 months ago by Member
Hi Guys, please help....
I'm going to go pick my elderflowers tomorrow. I tried this recipe last year but it was a big FAIL! When I opened my recycled champagne bottles they contained exactly the same liquid as they did when I filled them! Boo.
I'm going to attempt it again this year. I think my main fail was a lack of fermentation. Do I wait until it is actually bubbling?
Also, when it says add flower heads-does this mean stems and all or do I just pick the little flowers off! I'm definately a visual learner!!-Does any one know of any step by step instructions that include pictures??
Ta Sal xx
Posted 11 months ago by Member
Give us a few more clues.
What yeast did you use, did you see/hear fermentation in progress, how long did you leave it before bottling?
The aim is to catch it as fermentation is almost complete, then bottle.
Too early, you get bottle bombs or volcanoes on opening, too late you won't have enough bottle fermentation to give 'POp FiZz'.
I've seen recipes that go four days before bottling, they will explode. This site says two weeks, which I think is over cautious.
There are many variables, so you need to use your instinct to a certain extent.
Whole flower heads will be fine but it's best to hold the bloom in one hand and tear off the stems with the other, As they don't contribute anything positive flavour wise, and may bring bitterness.
Posted 11 months ago by Member
I have just finished a brew recipe that I took from River Cottage site... sorry not this one... and it had a week in the bucket. it has now been bottled after 7 days in total and it is still bubbling in the bottles. have I bottled it too early?
Posted 11 months ago by Member
just bottled my Elderflower "Champagne" after 12 days but it appears as flat as a pancake think if i bother next year it will be bottled after a week not 2 and its certainly not the sweet summer drink I was expecting its very dry and really quite strong 1070 OG to 1010 at bottling. would it be ok to open the bottles and add some brewing sugar to get the fizz I was expecting.
Reply
You must log in to post.