Help elderflower champagne

[Chris_sharp]

Hi guys, my first time on a forum!!

I decided to make my first batch of elderflower champs after watching it on river cottage. I followed the instructions, boiled my water with sugar and lemon, topped with cold water, waited for it to cool and then added the flowers and vinager. After 4 days not much was happening so I added a satchel of champagne yeast. I waited 3 more days and I then strained it into 4 x 2 litre bottles, all of which had mineral water just emptied. Looking 2 days later I now have what looks like yeast gloop floating around, it tastes and smells good. Does mean it's going bad or will make me I'll? I've strained off 2 bottles through a sieve to see if it comes back.

Any advice would be amazing.

It's all mega fizzy though already,

Chris

 

[Dutto]

I've just checked the recipe and can't see that you have done anything wrong so if it smells okay and it tastes okay then there is very little chance that you are going to do yourself any harm.

I presume from your description ("yeast gloop floating around") that the brew is cloudy. This is not a problem as the recipe says ...

"Seal and leave to ferment in the bottles for at least a week before serving, chilled."
and
"The champagne should keep in the bottles for several months. Store in a cool, dry place."
​

The brew should slowly clear in the next week or so and like many brews it should get better if it sits on the shelf for at least a month.

My only concern is that you bottled it before the right level of fermentation had been achieved. None of us like to make "bottle bombs" so just to be on the safe side I suggest that you put it in some out of the way place that is nice and cool for a week or so before you even look at it.

So, be patient and then enjoy! :thumb: :thumb:

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Welcome to the forum :

 

[Chris_sharp]

Thanks very much @Dutto, yeah I strained one yesterday to see if the blobs come back and they did. I also let the gas out of the bottles and they are fizzy as hell. In theory they said 7 days before drinking so I'll update on what's happening. Hoping to smash these with my friends at a BBQ on Sunday :)

 

[Dutto]

Thanks very much @Dutto, yeah I strained one yesterday to see if the blobs come back and they did. I also let the gas out of the bottles and they are fizzy as hell. In theory they said 7 days before drinking so I'll update on what's happening. Hoping to smash these with my friends at a BBQ on Sunday :)

Bad News:
Yeast can do funny things to a digestive system so I hope you have laid in a store of toilet rolls. :lol: :lol:

Good News:
The sweetness should disguise the yeast so you can always blame the burgers! :whistle: :whistle:

Enjoy! :thumb: :thumb:

 

[Dutto]

How did the BBQ go? :hmm::hmm:

Or rather, how was the Elder Flower Champagne received?

Hope it went down (and stayed down) okay! :thumb: :thumb: