Elderflower any one ???

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Not yet, but I use fresh elderflower for a brew each year - that beautiful smell of spring every time a bottle gets opened. I've had a pack of dried elderflowers in my brewing drawer for a couple of years, but haven't got around to doing an out-of-season version yet.

I use around half a pint of flowers (stripped off the stems and nicely packed into a glass to measure) in a 5 gallon batch. This gives a full on elderflower hit - if you just want a hint then half of that would probably do it.
 
Yes. In a Saison, I used 15g in the last 5 minutes of the boil, in a 10L batch. I also plan to use them in a Belgian Blond soon.

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Yes. In a Saison, I used 15g in the last 5 minutes of the boil, in a 10L batch. I also plan to use them in a Belgian Blond soon.

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I've got loads of elderflowers in stock ( for the missus' wine ) and I'm tempted to chuck some in a brew. They put me in mind of the more 'catty' US hops! How do you think they'd fare in a stout?
 
I've got loads of elderflowers in stock ( for the missus' wine ) and I'm tempted to chuck some in a brew. They put me in mind of the more 'catty' US hops! How do you think they'd fare in a stout?
I suppose they'd work, in the same way a late addition of a floral hop would. I've heard they can go catty. Elderflower is definitely one of those, a little goes a long way, ingredients.



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Having picked some elderflower heads a few years back and added far too many to a kit beer, I would endorse Sadfield's observation about a little going a very long way.

It is more of a curiosity than an improvement on adding a late or dry hop.
 
I've brewed a couple of Elderflower pale ales and will probably do another this year for summer.
The last brew was a variation on the Greg Hughes recipe where instead of adding the dried elderflowers into the boil, I added them as a elderflower and hop tea into the FV after primary fermentation. I used 50g of dried elderflowers with the zest of two lemons (approx 10g) into 1.5ltr of water and simmered for 10mins before adding 20g Cascade & 20g Amarillo hops. Left to cool/steep for an hour before adding to the FV. It turned out really well.
 
One of Yonnys recipes at Copperkettle home brewing uses dried elderflower. It was based on a Badger Breweries beer that now uses Peach as the flavour. It was the first recipe I brewed on my grainfather. Very pleasant summer beer. It didn't use much but was very noticeable, it gave the beer a pleasant floral hint.
 
Lovely in the summer. Some commercial favourites are Darkstar Hylder, Saison Cazeau and Cantillon Mamouche.

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I've brewed a couple of Elderflower pale ales and will probably do another this year for summer.
The last brew was a variation on the Greg Hughes recipe where instead of adding the dried elderflowers into the boil, I added them as a elderflower and hop tea into the FV after primary fermentation. I used 50g of dried elderflowers with the zest of two lemons (approx 10g) into 1.5ltr of water and simmered for 10mins before adding 20g Cascade & 20g Amarillo hops. Left to cool/steep for an hour before adding to the FV. It turned out really well.
now that sounds really nice....
 
We made elderflower syrup a couple of years ago (still in the freezer) and I use this as adjunct in wheat beer.
 
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