If you’re looking for a unique and flavorful beer recipe, try making Elderflower Ale Recipe. This tawny colored ale is brewed with dried elderflowers, which give it a subtle yet unmistakably fruity finish, with a hint of peach. With a moderate ABV and bitterness, it’s a perfect beer for sipping on a warm day.
Elderflower Ale
Equipment
- 1 Large brewing pot (at least 8-10 gallons)
- 1 Fermenting bucket or carboy (at least 6 gallons)
- 1 Airlock and stopper
- 1 Thermometer
- 1 Hydrometer
- 1 Auto-siphon
- 1 Bottling bucket
- 1 Bottles (preferably brown glass)
- 1 Bottle capper
- 1 Bottle caps
- 1 Cleaning and sanitizing solution
- 1 Funnel
- 1 Muslin or cheesecloth (for steeping and straining ingredients)
- 1 Mash tun (optional, for all-grain brewing)
- 1 Propane burner (optional, for outdoor brewing)
Ingredients
For the Mash – Liquor 11.2 Litres (20 Pints) – Mash Time 1 hr – Temperature 65°C (149°F)
- 9 lb Pale malt Quantity 4.3 kg
- 3 1/2 oz Medium crystal malt Quantity 100 g
- 1/2 oz Chocolate malt Quantity 16 g
For the Boil – 27 Litres (47 1/2 Pints) – Boil Time 1 hr – 15 mins
- 2 oz (Hops) Challenger 7% When to add – At start of boil (IBU 31.5)
- 1/2 oz (Hops) Dried elderflowers When to add – For last 15 mins (IBU 0.0)
- 1 oz (Hops) Fuggle 4.5% When to add – For last 10 mins (IBU 5.1 )
- 2/3 oz (Hops) Challenger 7% When to add – At turn off (IBU 0.0)
- 1 tsp Protofloc Other – When to add – For last 15 mins of boil
To Ferment – 20°C (68°F) – Conditioning 4 weeks at 12°C (54°F)
- 1 Wyeast 1275 Thames Valley Ale Yeast
Instructions
Mash:
- Heat 11.2 liters of water to 65°C (149°F). Mix in the Pale malt, Medium crystal malt, and Chocolate malt. Stir well to combine, and let it rest for 1 hour. Then, drain the wort from the grains into the boiling pot. Sparge the grains with 16 liters of hot water to rinse off the residual sugar. Collect the wort in the boiling pot.
Boil:
- Bring the wort to a boil. Add 2 oz of Challenger hops and boil for 45 minutes. Then add 1/2 oz of dried elderflowers and continue boiling for another 15 minutes. Add 1 oz of Fuggle hops and 2/3 oz of Challenger hops at the last 10 minutes of boiling. Add 1 tsp of Protofloc at the last 15 minutes of boiling. Boil the wort for a total of 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Chill:
- After boiling, quickly cool the wort to 20°C (68°F) using a wort chiller or an ice bath.
Ferment:
- Transfer the cooled wort to a fermentation bucket or carboy. Add the yeast and mix well. Seal the container with an airlock and ferment at 20°C (68°F) for 4 weeks.
Condition:
- After fermentation, transfer the beer to a secondary fermenter (optional) or directly to bottles or keg. If you are bottling, add priming sugar according to the instructions for carbonation. Condition the beer for another 4 weeks at 12°C (54°F) to let it mature.
Enjoy:
- After conditioning, the beer is ready to drink! Chill and serve.
Makes 🍻 | Ready to Drink 🍺 | Estimated ABV | Bitterness Rating | Color Rating |
23 Litres (40 Pints) | 5 Weeks | 4.5% | 36.6 IBU | 13.5 EBC |
Unique and Flavorful Beer
If you’re looking for a beer recipe that stands out from the crowd, look no further than Elderflower Ale. The addition of dried elderflowers to this recipe gives the ale a unique fruity finish with a hint of peach, making it a great choice for those who want to try something different.
Easy to Make
Despite its unique flavor profile, Elderflower Ale is relatively easy to make with a few key ingredients such as pale malt, crystal malt, chocolate malt, and hops. The addition of dried elderflowers during the boil is a simple step that adds a lot of complexity to the final product.
Perfect for Warm Days
With its moderate ABV and bitterness, Elderflower Ale is a great beer to enjoy on a warm day. The fruity finish and refreshing quality make it an excellent choice for sipping outside or enjoying with friends at a BBQ.
Impress Your Friends
If you’re looking to impress your friends with a homemade beer that they’ve likely never tried before, Elderflower Ale is a great choice. With its unique flavor profile and easy-to-make recipe, you can be sure that your friends will be impressed with your brewing skills.
FAQ on Making this Elderflower Ale Recipe
What type of hops and yeast are used in this recipe?
Elderflower Ale is brewed using Challenger and Fuggle hops, and Wyeast 1275 Thames Valley Ale Yeast.
What is the mash time and temperature for this beer?
The mash time is 1 hour at a temperature of 65°C, and the total time to make the beer is 28 days and 2 hours.
How long does it take to make Elderflower Ale?
Protofloc is not necessary but can help clarify the beer by causing proteins and other materials to coagulate and settle out of the wort.
Can I make this beer using a different brewing method, such as extract brewing?
The ABV of the beer is 4.5%, and the estimated bitterness rating is 36.6 IBU. The dried elderflowers give the beer a fruity finish with a hint of peach.
Is it necessary to add Protofloc to this recipe, and what does it do?
The color rating of the beer is 13.5 EBC, which is a tawny color.