are these elderberries?

I pass a huge tree/bush everyday at the bottom of my street and noticed that they look like elderberries shown in one of my brewing books.

Are these elderberries? - want to be sure before picking them. Also discovered we have a cherry tree too (yay!).

they look like them any chance of a photo of the leaves

[oldbloke]

Look exactly like elderberries to me

[graysalchemy]

Definately elders.

Best way to get them of the stalks is to freeze them as is and then put them in a bucket and snuggle them with your hand in the bucket. The fruit breaks off but leaves a mass of stalks on the top which you can pick out.

I've been waiting for these to come round as I have been eyeing making a certain stout for the last year

Thanks everyone - just wanted to be sure. We have bloody loads of them round here (now that I'm aware of what they are).

I know elderberry wine is popular, but I prefer beer. Any recipe suggestions? - that elderberry stout sounds interesting.

E/berries have a 5 leaf configuration, you'll easily be able to tell them.

[graysalchemy]

This is my elderberry stout recipe
elizium Stout 2011

Date:

Gyle Number:

Fermentable Colour lb: oz Grams Ratio
Pale Malt 5 EBC 22 lbs. 5.9 oz 10150 grams 59.7%
Flaked Barley 0 EBC 1 lbs. 14.4 oz 860 grams 5.1%
Flaked Oats 0 EBC 1 lbs. 14.4 oz 860 grams 5.1%
Roasted Barley 1350 EBC 1 lbs. 0.3 oz 460 grams 2.7%
Crystal Malt 130 EBC 1 lbs. 4.3 oz 575 grams 3.4%
Brown Malt 150 EBC 1 lbs. 4.3 oz 575 grams 3.4%
Elderberry 0 EBC 7 lbs. 11.4 oz 3500 grams 20.6%


Hop Variety Type Alpha Time lb: oz grams Ratio
Bramling Cross Whole 6.3 % 90 mins 0 lbs. 6.8 oz 195 grams 100%


Final Volume: 40 Litres
Original Gravity: 1.075
Final Gravity: 1.018
Alcohol Content: 7.4% ABV
Total Liquor: 64 Litres
Mash Liquor: 42.5 Litres
Mash Efficiency: 75 %
Bitterness: 61 EBU
Colour: 156 EBC


You need to add the elderberries to the boil. The best way to do this I found was to stew the elderberries first for 10 minutes and then crush and squeeze them to extract the juice. Then add this in the last 10 minutes of the boil.

The flaked oats are just porrige oats but need toasting in a dry frying pan on on a tray in the oven to colour them up. They also require a glucan rest to get the best out of them which is very easy. On a stove in a big pan heat up some water and the oats with 10% of the oats weight in pale malt to 35c and cover and leave for 30 minutes. Then this can be heated up to stike temp and added to the main mash at the start.

This elderberry stout will require a good 12 months if not longer of conditioning.

Careful with the cherries, some varieties are no good for you!

Any leftover berries make an excellent cordial BTW

Yep that was the stout I was referring to, it does look amazing.

[graysalchemy]

If you have any elders left and any other fruit you could make elderberry port, my recipe for that is on herd somewhere. Again that does need to be left. I have a bottle that is 23 yes old.

[Dennis King]

[graysalchemy]

Elderberry port is the dogs danglies when it comes to elderberry based drinks.

[graysalchemy]

[Dennis King]

I can get some lovely blue cheese from work (check out Shepherds Purse Cheeses).

[graysalchemy]

oh they look good.

Anyone used elderberries in secondary?

[graysalchemy]

Elders are best in the boil they are rather harsh. They are better if they ferment through and take on a more wine like flavour.