Fruit/Elderflower in ale

[kestlemill]

Hi, I made a load of elderflower cordial this week and someone else on here as inspired me to make an elderflower ale. My question is, when do I put in the cordial syrup (I've never made a fruit beer)? Should i put it in pre-boil or post-boil? if latter, what temperature?

Thanks for your help!!

 

[Sean_Mc]

I did a two pale ales last year using flower heads. The tastiest one I used 30g of flower heads boiled for the last five min, then a couple more steeped at 80c for 20min
Haven't made any cordial yet, but think 5min both ending the boil would be okay.

 

[kestlemill]

Thanks for the reply, yes i reckon it's got to be boil cos of infections from the flowerheads (and insects hiding in them!)

 

[SamWise72]

When you made the cordial, surely you used boiling water over the sugar and elderflowers? I'd perhaps add a campden tablet to the cordial 24 hours before adding it, as a precaution, and if I was going to boil it at all, I'd add it 1 min before flame out. Too much boiling will lose you the aroma.

 

[kestlemill]

No we didn't use boiling water, just very warm water (perhaps 80) and we bunged a load of citric acid in to try to guard against infection. This is another concern i have, weather the citric acid is going to do the yeast in. Perhaps I do need new elderflowers... Hmmm