Brewing with elderflower

[Dougal]

Hi all,

A mate and I are doing an elderflower ale at the weekend (similar to Cassels Elder Ale or the excellent Monkey Wizard one). My question is, when is the best time to add the flowers?

I see that Monkey Wizard add theirs in secondary, but I've come across a number of English recipes that use a late boil addition at 10, 5, or flame out.

I'm concerned that whilst adding them to secondary might best preserve the subtlety of the elderflower flavour, it's a big risk for infection in a 4.5% beer.        

[Dave]

 

Hi Dougal

 

I haven't tried either of those beers but if you get a chance to try the Dead Good Golden Ale that uses dried elderflower in the boil .5g/l at 15 and again at 5min to end of boil with a very basic grist of Maris Otter with 15% Wheat malt and bittered to about 25 Ibu with Super Alpha and Kohatu or whatever hops you have on hand.

The elderflower is quite subtle but definitely there.

Hope this helps

 

Dave

[Dougal]

Thanks Dave.

My grist is similar: Pils, Wheat, and Caramalt with Pacifica and Motueka. I'll be using fresh flowers as it's the season. Maybe late in the boil is the way to go.

[David Winter]

Hey Dougal, 

 

I did mine from the flowers in the back of our section a couple of weeks ago. I added a bunch at flame out (along with a little bit of aroma hop) and then another bunch as "dry hops" (i.e. just chucked into the primary frementation). I was worried about infection too, so "steeped" those flowers in a little just boiled water for 10mins or so and added the resulting 'tea' and the flowers to the brew. 

 

FWIW, I did the same thing last year with this recipe:

 

Grain (for 1.045 or so)

--

85%  Golden Promise

10%  Munich

5%    Wheat

Hops

--

0.5g/L Nelson Sauvin @ 60, 15 and flame out

 

And it worked a treat. Did exactly the same thing this year, and it's already in bottles. The elder flavour/aroma was definitely there even with the hop steeping.

 

[Liam Callaghan]

I'd definitely look at adding them like a late hop addition at the end of the boil, never thought of using elder but now I have read it I can't stop thinking about it, will make an awesome lager/pilsner.  Elder is on my list of trees to plant in the garden this autumn so might be a little while before I get any flowers to try it.

 

David, have you tried it as the sole aroma?  You think it would be ok for that or did it need the aroma hop?

 

Let us know how you get on Dougal.

[David Winter]

Hi Liam, 

 

I haven't done elder as the only aroma addition, but I'm sure that it would work. As Dougal says, at least in the South Island, elder is pretty much a weed. Once you know what you are looking for you might well spot some around the place

[Sam]

Sounds good, I was looking for some kind of recipe with elderflowers in it.. There are so many around at the moment!

[Dougal]

Thanks guys.

I think I'll do a big flame out addition of elderflower and some hops, and whirlpool (well... stir) the kettle hot for 5 mins before I start the chiller. I've made elderflower cordial before with that method where you pour boiling syrup with some citric acid over the flowers and steep for a couple of days before straining and bottling, so surely a 5 minute steep at hotter temps will extract a similar level of flavour.

 

Elder is on my list of trees to plant in the garden

Are you sure Liam? Here in Chch elders are a practically a pest species, seeded everywhere by birds. Once you start looking for it you'll find it everywhere by the roadside.  

[Liam Callaghan]

Never seen one in Auckland at all although I do keep my eyes peeled for them.  I'm English so am used to them being like weeds too but now its a valued addition along with the Blackthorn (Sloe berry) for knocking out Gin and Slider (Cider and sloes).  So much you can make from the Elder though, cordial, wine, champagne (or fizzy wine), jams and now beer it seems.  Stoked to have found this thread as Elder has an awesome taste.  No idea why I never thought of it before.

 

I'm clearing all my old stocks of grain this weekend and making a whole heap of random beers, I might see about getting some dried flowers for one of the lagers

[aldee]

Any pointers as to where to look or buy in chch?

[Ralph]

Heaps of Elderberry bushes around. Look at old houses and farms. Most of the flower is now gone tho. A couple of weeks to a month ago was perfect timing.

Usually easiest to find elderberries growing along country roads/streams and on old farms.

[aldee]

yeah I thought my timing was off, thanks

[Dougal]

I'm drinking the result now, and it's nice.

Refreshing and balanced, with a tart fruit note from the Pacifica that's palate cleansing though I'm not sure it's exactly what I was after. The elderflower was added in a mesh bag with the hops at 2 min, and hot stirred for a few minutes after flame out before starting the chiller. It's definitely there at the end of the palate, but you could easily double the addition. It doesn't have the intense elderflower character of that Monkey Wizard beer so I can see why they add to secondary.

Next time I'd use all Sauvin, all Motueka, or a blend of the two.

Recipe below:

Pliny [The Elder]

Batch Volume: 38.00 l

OG: 1.046 SG

FG: 1.009 SG

IBU (Rager): 23.9

Gladfield Pilsener Malt 5.331 kg (61.5 %)

German Munich Malt 1.630 kg (18.8 %)

German Wheat Malt 1.203 kg (13.9 %)

Caramalt 0.251 kg (2.9 %)

Light Crystal 0.251 kg (2.9 %)

Mash @ 66C

Southern Cross (12.5 % alpha) 22 g Bagged Pellet Hops @ 60

Pacifica (4.8 % alpha) 15 g Bagged Pellet Hops @ 10

Motueka (7.8 % alpha) 10 g Bagged Pellet Hops @ 10

Pacifica (4.8 % alpha) 17 g Bagged Pellet Hops @ 5

Motueka (7.8 % alpha) 10 g Bagged Pellet Hops@ 5

Elderflower 200 g flowers stripped from stems (about 30 heads) @ 2

Pacifica (4.8 % alpha) 20 g Bagged Pellet Hops @ 0

Motueka (7.8 % alpha) 20 g Bagged Pellet Hops @ 0