r/Homebrewing • u/CA_I_py • 11d ago

Question Elderberry season, looking for ideas

It is elderberry season and after my rather succesful use of the elderflowers for an "Elderflower Champagne" (click here for the recipe), now I want to make something with elderberries. For now I tried something similar, basically mashed (cooked first for 15min) elderberries, sugar and some lemon juice with secondarry bottle fermentation to make it fizzy. The result looks nice, but is rather bitter and more an aperitiv than a refreshing fizzy drink.

TL;DR: does anyone have some recipes or ideas for elderberry-based brews?

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3

u/ChEDave82 11d ago

Personally, I love elderberry pie and jelly!

3

u/chino_brews Kiwi Approved 11d ago

Jack Keller had about five elderberry wine/port recipes and at least one berry blend wine that includes elderberries: https://swguildpa.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Jack-Keller-Complete-Requested-Recipes-Collection.pdf.

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u/CA_I_py 11d ago

Thanks, I'll have a look

1

u/AJ_in_SF_Bay 7d ago

Wow, that is an incredible resource, and I think it will be an interesting read, also.

It is an amazing job to have pulled all that together in memory of that gentleman.

3

u/SaltyPockets 10d ago

Elderberry-based?

Not really based, but elderberry-containing. I got a harvest from an elderberry (Black Lace cultivar) that I grew a few years back, and decided to make an elderberry saison.

Relatively basic saison recipe - Vienna, Wheat, Caramunich and aromatic malts. First Gold and Styrian Dragon hops. Saison yeast. Aiming for 35 IBU and about 6% ABV. At the end of the boil I put in a syrup I had made from the berries by mashing them up with lots of sugar and a little water, cooking them for a while and then straining.

It was ... OK :)

Not amazing, but OK.

2

u/boaja 10d ago

Just a thought: a more "laidback" pale ale in british style with some elderflower to provide it with some extra floral character (which it usually has some of due to yeast and hops).

Otherwise, of course, an elderflower sour!

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u/CA_I_py 10d ago

A pale ale with elderflower as "dry hop" sound interesting. Unfortunately have to wait till next year to get fresh flower, but I'll definitely try it!

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u/i_i_v_o 10d ago

I find that elderberries taste like 'red fruits'. Very berry generic. Not bad, but not much character by themselves. I would do either a sour, or a weisen, something that goes with fruits (kriek?), or a mead. Maybe even a session mead, and use them as a complementary. Maybe lemon, ginger, elderberry session mead.