Elderflower beer

[Tim_Crowhurst]

Not being someone who'll waste an opportunity, I wondered about possible making elderflower beer, since it's in bloom where I am at the moment and it looks like there'll be a particularly heavy crop - enough for at least a gallon of cordial on top of the 3 gallons of wine I'm already making, and enough left over to be turned into elderberries for port and wine this autumn. So I'm thinking I'll fork & freeze a couple of litres now and turn it into beer in a few months, once I've collected enough bottles and all my wines are in DJs.

I'm a complete novice when it comes to making beer, so since it'll be my first attempt I thought I'd get a kit, preferably something with a fairly mild, lightly-hopped, slightly sweet/citrus taste that will work well with elderflower. I'm thinking subtle for the elderflower since it can be overpowering! There's such a huge selection to choose from though, even if you exclude the obvious (stouts, porters, etc.) so for those of you with more extensive experience of kit beers, is there a kit that you would recommend as being particularly well-suited?

 

[anthonyUK]

I think the Coopers APA would work well with an elderflower addition or maybe the Mexican Cervesa which is very light flavoured.

 

[graysalchemy]

If I was doing elderflower beer I wouldn't want big brassy american APA hops to over power the elderflowers, I would do a straight forward english IPA. If after brewing you felt it needed a little more hop aroma you could dry hop afterwards with some cascade or something similar. :thumb: :thumb:

 

[Tim_Crowhurst]

I want minimal hops as I want a fairly subtle level of elderflower - it needs to be drinkable - so that suggestion sounds good GA.

Are there any particular kits you'd recommend?

 

[graysalchemy]

Sorry not brewed a kit in 20 yrs. I would go with an english IPA. :thumb:

 

[Kevin Wood]

I have brewed a few variations on this with good results: http://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=25491

Not sure how it would translate to a kit brew and I used dried elderflowers, of course but hopefully it'll give you some ideas.

I have tried it with a few more strident hops and the result was not as good, so I would say stick to something light without too dominant a hop and see how you get on. It really is a nice tipple for the summer!

 

[anthonyUK]

I'll second that Kevin having tasted your elderflower ale. It was very drinkable.

GA - Coopers APA is Australian pale ale and is a fairly low IBU (22-25ish) :thumb:
The Coopers IPA would be over twice that IBU wise and I'd expect most kit IPAs to be on the hoppy side.

 

[Rukula]

It makes sence to brew a Saison with it. Back in the day, when Saison was "the" beer for the farmers, they used the ingredients they had by hand. Elderflower can somewhat replace hops, allot like the way people use heather flower in beer.

I used it in a beer a while ago. I don´t think elderflower works well in darker ales.... But hey, its all about taste, so im guessing that some people will dissagree with me :)

Edit: Its probably difficult to get your hands on a Saison kit, so go with a Pale ale/ipa/apa. Coopers got decent kits for beginners.

 

[Kinleycat]

I agree with the Coopers APA kit, it certainly is lacking in flavour and would benefit from anything additional.
I thought initially that the Wilko Golden Ale might be a good shout but to be fair it already has the hoopy flowery fragrance in bundles.
I have a Wilko hoopy copper bitter kit which i havent my self used but others say it is somewhat lacking in flavour, maybe that would be a decent shout???

 

[graysalchemy]

GA - Coopers APA is Australian pale ale and is a fairly low IBU (22-25ish) :thumb:
The Coopers IPA would be over twice that IBU wise and I'd expect most kit IPAs to be on the hoppy side.

Personally I would want a bit more bitterness 30-35, Badger Golden Glory is about 35 IBU's. Its aroma and the pronounced flavours you don't want ie from American hops.

 

[Tim_Crowhurst]

GA - Coopers APA is Australian pale ale and is a fairly low IBU (22-25ish) :thumb:
The Coopers IPA would be over twice that IBU wise and I'd expect most kit IPAs to be on the hoppy side.

Personally I would want a bit more bitterness 30-35, Badger Golden Glory is about 35 IBU's. Its aroma and the pronounced flavours you don't want ie from American hops.

I want a more subtle level of elderflower compared to the peach you get in Golden Glory though, so dialling back the bitterness is pretty much what I want as otherwise the elderflower could end up being swamped. Golden Glory is a very nice beer, but I never drink more than one bottle.

My LHBS has coopers APA on special offer atm, so I'll toddle down there later this week I think. Do people think it's worth paying extra for beer enhancer?

 

[Kinleycat]

GA - Coopers APA is Australian pale ale and is a fairly low IBU (22-25ish) :thumb:
The Coopers IPA would be over twice that IBU wise and I'd expect most kit IPAs to be on the hoppy side.

Personally I would want a bit more bitterness 30-35, Badger Golden Glory is about 35 IBU's. Its aroma and the pronounced flavours you don't want ie from American hops.

I want a more subtle level of elderflower compared to the peach you get in Golden Glory though, so dialling back the bitterness is pretty much what I want as otherwise the elderflower could end up being swamped. Golden Glory is a very nice beer, but I never drink more than one bottle.

My LHBS has coopers APA on special offer atm, so I'll toddle down there later this week I think. Do people think it's worth paying extra for beer enhancer?

Most definately!! :thumb:

 

[Kinleycat]

Maybe even the full kilo in extra light or light spray malt??

 

[Tim_Crowhurst]

Maybe even the full kilo in extra light or light spray malt??

I've decided to go for the light spray malt (my LHBS didn't have extra light) so now I only have one problem: I just bottled a batch of turbocider, and I have no bottles left!