The Homebrew Company

Last week on the Ray Darcy show there was a report on alcohol consumption in Ireland. it seems it has gone down in traditional consumption. However like the way allotments and vegetable growing has seen an upsurge in interest, so too has homebrewing.

I have been interested in Homebrewing for awhile. I bought all the equipment for making elderberry wine some years ago. I just never got round to it. So listening to the section on the Ray Darcy show inspired me to get a Kit from the The Homebrew Company.

I ordered it at lunchtime on Tuesday the 15th of June and it was delivered the next day before 10.00am. Now that is great service. Also 7€ delivery countryside.

I also sent them an email about their Kriek Brewferm kits which are currently out of stock. I received a reply promptly informing when they would be back in stock and telling me they would email me when it arrives.

Great prompt service that I would use again.

Elderflower Sparkle Update

Bottle 1
Opened by my mother after 3 days. She said it was flat and overly sweet. However she found the flavour and aroma of Elderflower to be really interesting and very pleasant.


Bottle 2
Opened the first bottle of Elderflower Sparkler about 5 days after bottling. I had read some alarmist story about screw-top bottles bursting all over someone's hot press so I decided to try one out. It had a light level of bubbles but again it had a very sweet taste. Too much for me.


Bottle 3
Opened last night 1 week after bottling. Beautiful amount of bubbles - fizzed beautifully on the tongue. A little less sweet but still cloying in the after-taste.

I will leave the last bottle for a few weeks. I am going to make another batch up and use less sugar.

Elderflower Sparkle Drink

Ingredients:

5-6 Elderflower Heads, in bloom

600gs of Granulated Sugar

4 Litres of Water

2 lemons, juice and zest

2 tablespoons of White Wine Vinegar

Equipment:

Large Bowl - Jug - Funnel - Sieve - Muslin

Method:

1. In one large bowl place all the ingredients and leave covered over night.

2. Strain through sieve and muslin and place in sanitised bottles.

3. Leave for 3 days, open and enjoy.
Makes about 5 wine bottles full.

Tip 1: If you can't get you hands on muslin, line a sieve with two sheets of unscented kitchen roll and change for each bottle.

Tip 2: Don't fill the bottles to the top, leave some space at the top for the collecting gas.

Check out Elderflower Sparkle Update to find out how the drinking went