Elderflowers anyone?

[chris]

Does this look like elderflower to you folks?

The leaves are slightly different to Mikey's photos as they seem to have a reddish/purple tinge to them. Not sure why, but it seems so according to books and looking around elsewhere online (unless of course another plant is growing through it).

It doesn't smell like elderflower - but it's been a drizzly day today. It's near a road side, but there are flower heads lower than the road on a bank.







Thanks!

[Finedon.Dandy]

I dont know if that is or not CM but dont you go impaling yourselves on those spikes they look a bit dodgy!

It we are meant to wait for a sunny day and mine are in FULL bloom but its VERY soggy here will I be ok to wait?

[chris]

There's a wooden fence that you can get over to them, so it's all safe !

Picked one, think it is it as it vaguely smells of cat wee - I guess as it's wet. Sunny now mind

[jojo2910]

It looks like elderflower to me. You can get purple leaved varieties, I know Monty Don has lots in his garden. I have never seen one up close and we only have the green ones round here.

[adamhartree]

hi all,
im planning on making my champers this week, just a quick question first though as its my first time making it. can i put them in 2litre pop bottles or are these likely to explode, if not what else do you sugest. and suggestions welcome thank you and happy brewing

[Mikey]

Always use glass, its more robust than plastic, and the pressure can build up quite a bit in the bottle.

I picked up three new buckets from B&Q yesterday, they were 3 for 2, so cost me £2, I always buy new buckets for home brew, every year they seem to end up either being used to wash the car or clean out the chickens.

Oh and chris that is elderflower. The leaves albeit a slightly different are correct, and the flower is non mistakable, they are like flattened out umbrellas.

[chris]

cheers butt!

[Mikey]

No worries mate, I'm making champers and cordial this year, DD loved the champers last year, I had to water it down a lot with lemonade.

[p54jes]

Just a little tip, when you have picked your flowers put them in the freezer for 24hrs. When you come to use them they are much easier to shake from the stems so you only use flowers.

[VirginVegGrower]

I made mine today and you should always pick the creamy coloured flowers (most scented) on a sunny day. I take 10 litres of water to 1 kg of cane sugar, 3 lemons halved and juice squeezed in (throw spent lemons in too), 4 tbspns white wine vinegar and your beheaded elders. I put the whole flower head in, intact. No pulling off individual flowers as you will pull the yeast spores off. A gentle shake gets rid of bugs. Stir whole lot together. Bottle into thick glass bottles. I use Lorina pop bottles with grolsch stoppers on. Strain through muslin as you pour. Wait two weeks before drinking. Keeps well!

[VirginVegGrower]

Is it that time yet??? Anyone picked and started off any elderflower champagne or wine yet???

I'm hoping not to make last years "mistake" again and actually pick Elderflower - not just miscellaneous weed that looks like it!

It's unmistakable if you smell it!

[VirginVegGrower]

Does this look like elderflower to you folks?

The leaves are slightly different to Mikey's photos as they seem to have a reddish/purple tinge to them. Not sure why, but it seems so according to books and looking around elsewhere online (unless of course another plant is growing through it).

It doesn't smell like elderflower - but it's been a drizzly day today. It's near a road side, but there are flower heads lower than the road on a bank.







Thanks!

Bottom picture deffo elderflower. It only gives off it's perfume on a sunny day and that's why you should pick them then. You want that aroma in your pop! Best pick from a hedgerow in a field not by roadside or you will get eldergasoline champagne!

[VirginVegGrower]

hi all,
im planning on making my champers this week, just a quick question first though as its my first time making it. can i put them in 2litre pop bottles or are these likely to explode, if not what else do you sugest. and suggestions welcome thank you and happy brewing

Plastic bottles are not as good as thick glass. It's akin to bottling proper champers. People do use old champagne/cava bottles but you have to buy corks and cages. If anyone buys from Waitrose (don't all shout me down) they sell Lorina pop which has a French flip stopper on it. These work brilliantly and don't need gas release but the plastic do when they start to bulge. Otherwise don't bother. The brew doesn't fizz before you bottle it does it post bottling. That's when its dangerous!

[chris]

Hang on - the flip top bottles don't need to be vented? I thought they'd explode eventually? That's one that that does bother me!

Worst thing Waitrose did was open a store near us (then we moved away - phew! our weekly shopping bill dropped ), but now they've just opned one right next to where I work. Gah! Can't win. I love Waitrose

[chris]

Well, funnily enough we had some elderflower heads delivered in our able & cole delivery!

Best get some bottles in rapid!