Using Elderflowers

[Rabmaxwell]

Hello there are loads of Elderflowers flowering round these parts is anyone using them in beer. :) I have read that people use them in beer are they good in beer Any tips would be welcome on picking storing & quantities to use in beers. Cheers :thumb:

 

[Vossy1]

Any tips would be welcome on picking

There are a couple of types of flower, avoid the one that smells of cat pee :sick:

 

[Rabmaxwell]

Do you have to dry the flowers or can you freeze them. :)

 

[Vossy1]

Dried elderflowers are sold in hbs for wine making, but I've never tried to dry them myself. The dosage rate for dried is lower than that of fresh, typically 50g dry per gallon v 500mls (lightly pressed down) fresh, I assume due to the loss of water through the drying process. I'd be tempted to deep freeze them and then use as fresh.

 

[Rabmaxwell]

Cheers Vossi that will be something like 2.600mils with my brew length. : :thumb:

 

[Rabmaxwell]

I have a load of Elderflower heads i picked earlier does anyone know how you harvest the flowers ?.Do you just try & pick the flowers off leaving as much stem out as possible .Cheers

 

[trunky]

Stick them in a large plastic bag, close it up and leave it for 24-48 hours. The individual flowers then simply fall away from the stem, a little shake helps.

 

[Rabmaxwell]

Cheers :thumb:

 

[Vossy1]

Another way of getting the flowers of the stems really quickly is to use a comb :thumb:

 

[Wez]

Another way of getting the flowers of the stems really quickly is to use a comb :thumb:

V i've met you - there is no way you own a comb - you don't need a comb to keep that hair in order!

 

[tubby_shaw]

Another way of getting the flowers of the stems really quickly is to use a comb :thumb:

V i've met you - there is no way you own a comb - you don't need a comb to keep that hair in order!

Unlike me :grin:

 

[Wez]

You certainly don't need a comb!!!

 

[tubby_shaw]

Do you think I need a comb over :lol:

 

[Vossy1]

:lol:
Do you want a Hamlet cigar for that make over t_s :rofl:

 

[Rabmaxwell]

Stick them in a large plastic bag, close it up and leave it for 24-48 hours. The individual flowers then simply fall away from the stem, a little shake helps.

I have got another load of Elderflowers today & i noticed that that the flowers come off really easy when you rub them when freshly picked in the field.But now that i have them home the heads have been sweating in the bag & it's now hard work with rubbing & with the comb.So if i try the leaving them for 24-48 hours tied up in a bag in this heat will they start to rot. I could put them in my beer chest fridge if they need to be kept cool.Cheers

 

[trunky]

I simply left them in the bag for about 2 days and they fell off, it was quite warm where the bag was ~ 21c, I reckon the less you rub them the more flavour gets through to the final product.

 

[Rabmaxwell]

Cheers trunky nice fast reply there. :thumb:

 

[Vossy1]

It's important to catch the flowers at the right time on the tree/bush. I tend to give them a good shake first, and if the flowers fall off easily, I don't pick that head. Once the flowers have been pollinated they quickly lose condition and fall off. The flowers are at their most fragrant when they're trying to attract pollinating insects...naturally. Really fresh elderflowers are quite difficult to get off the 'stalks'
I've never tried the bag method, will have to give it a go next year

 

[trunky]

I collected rather a lot, got covered in pollen. I have 12 gallons of elderflower wine on the go (white grape juice + some cane sugar to bring up the OG). I intend to drink some young, mature some in bottles and have a corny full of it fizzed up for chrismyth.

 

[Rabmaxwell]

I only left them in the bag for 24 hours as i didn't wan't to be doing them today as i am off back to my work tonight it was still hard work but ended up with 1 1/2 kg of flowers thats about 3 kg in the freezer now.

( Click to enlarge )
I am trying to work out a recipe does this seem ok :) would adding elderflowers as an 80oc steep be a good choice also is 1.000g of elders enough.I am not sure how strong a flavour you get from elderflowers.I am not looking for elderflower in your face but a nice background elderflower flavour & aroma.Cheers