Chucky Mama Posted June 12, 2011 Share Posted June 12, 2011 It does, I may add a few more head next time as I do wonder if it is a little less strong. Having said that the blooms on the tree that I usually use are not as good this year. I am going to take my next batch from a different tree. I certainly don't think you can taste demerara. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 Mines a week old and keep releasing tops a little but no fizz yet - is it too early? Am a EC maker virgin so not in the know. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 Alis girls...... sounds like you might have to restart this. Make up a yeast starter and add a little to each bottle together with a desertspoon of sugar (I find it easier to dissolve this in a little water first and add the syrup). As an afterthought..........did it ferment in your bucket before you bottled it and did you add any yeast to start with? Sometimes there is not enough wild yeast in the flowers to get it going and sometimes the fermentation is so vigorous that it ferments out before you bottle it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 Er no no and no! How much yeast (do you mean the easy cook stuff you use in breadmakers?) sorry to be nice but dim. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 Right....It sounds as if it didn't start. Taste it. If it tastes OK and sweet put it back in your bucket or whatever you started it in. Make up a yeast starter. Half a teaspoon of yeast (The baking kind will do) stir into a half pint glass half filled with lukewarm water into which you have put a teaspoon of sugar. Cover with clingfilm and leave somewhere warm for an hour after which it should be bubbling nicely. Tip this starter into your brew and start again. If it tastes odd then you'll have to throw it. Did you wash the flowers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasperaliceuk Posted June 13, 2011 Share Posted June 13, 2011 I've never made the Champagne but the cordial has been a staple for several years. I always freeze it to ensure it keeps - I just buy packs of 50cl water bottles, empty and fill with cordial immediately. This year I have experimented. It always seems a waste to throw away the lemon slices which have been soaking in the sugar syrup. They taste delicious in themselves but I have just chopped up probably the equivalent of a whole lemon's worth and put them in an almond cake. It was lovely. Next time I might throw in a slug of the cordial too. Or slice and put elderflower cream in. Sue Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 Yup I washed the flowers (see other thread) I will try this - many thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 Are you making cordial or champagne? You shouldn't really was the flowers for champagne and you get rid of off the good stuff that helps it fizz. I don't was the flowers for cordial either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted June 14, 2011 Share Posted June 14, 2011 Am making Champers = will give yeast thing a go. I think recipe should be edited to say dont wash flowers if not already. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted June 19, 2011 Share Posted June 19, 2011 Had a mini disaster today when I realised that I hadn't released the gasses on some of my bottles. As I unscrewed the metal lid on a strong glass bottle, it went boom The lid disappeared and remarkably the bottle did not break. A huge fountain of froth shot upwards, all over the wallpaper in my downstairs loo I held the bottle over the wash basin and it just frothed and frothed until the bottle was empty. My hand was sore but not cut by the lid, which I found later, completely folded in half and with all the screw thread ridges blown out I grabbed the rest of the bottles of the same date (now thankful that I date my different batches) which were all plastic, and put them outside, and managed to de-fizz them later on. Take care folks, this is a dangerous past time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted June 20, 2011 Share Posted June 20, 2011 Eek! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted June 20, 2011 Share Posted June 20, 2011 Suspect wont have that problem Flat as a pancake mine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted June 20, 2011 Share Posted June 20, 2011 Suspect wont have that problem Flat as a pancake mine Oh that's such a pity. Go out buy some elderflower cordial and use that to make some fizz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted June 21, 2011 Share Posted June 21, 2011 when I get round to it will add the yeast someone suggested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted June 27, 2011 Share Posted June 27, 2011 Update - a slight fizzz when poured - decided to mix with a smirgen of lemonade and it was lovely - rather than ruin I decided next yr will make more and not wash flowers - delish!!! Thanks Folks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted July 2, 2011 Share Posted July 2, 2011 Cracked open a bottle today at our annual picnic in the park. It was brother and sisters birthday yesterday so we celebrated today. It was fizzy and very tasty. Everyone loved it All gone though But luckily we have another 2L in the fridge Will make it again next year, but much, much more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted July 10, 2011 Share Posted July 10, 2011 YS loves it despite fizz - next yr will make loads and not wash flowers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted June 7, 2012 Share Posted June 7, 2012 First lot on the go and not washed the flowers - BIG mistake last year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted June 7, 2012 Share Posted June 7, 2012 First lot on the go and not washed the flowers - BIG mistake last year. There are masses of blooms here this year but rain is washing away all the nectar and pollen Grrrrrrrrrrrrr AND all my stuff is packed in storage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted June 7, 2012 Share Posted June 7, 2012 Yes did wonder if it would be flat cos of rain. Hey ho - will add a bit of Lemonade if so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rachel19 Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 Just chuck a bit of yeast in and it will be nice and fizzy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncan08 Posted June 8, 2012 Share Posted June 8, 2012 How long do you all leave it before bottling? On the website the comments suggest leaving it for three weeks to avoid explosions then adding a teaspoon of sugar to the bottle before bottling. Any tips for tried and tested methods on here? Mine has been brewing for 10 days now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted June 10, 2012 Share Posted June 10, 2012 I use the recipe on this thread and it stands for two days before bottling. When you bottle it, it is flat but starts fizzing quite soon after, without the aid of yeast as the flower pollen does the same thing. Bottles need checking and gas releasing every day, or they go boom, like one of mine did last year. Mine is now very fizzy, it was picked on 27th May and bottled on 29th. We have loads of flowers round here so I am hoping to pick some more this week for another batch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted June 14, 2012 Share Posted June 14, 2012 Our elderflowers are ready now so off to do some picking Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted June 26, 2012 Share Posted June 26, 2012 Have you got any on the go yet, CM? I'm drinking mine as the bottles are fairly clear now. Also found a couple of bottles from last year, which are crystal clear and have a lovely bubblyness to them, like a fine wine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
