Home Brew: Elderflower Mock Beer - Cheap, Easy, No-Kit Required

boristbear

Hi There, I’m only a member here for the GIOL board but I saw this thread and thought I’d share my mock beer recipe with you. It’s largely based on a recipe in an old brewing book I used to have. It’s on my mind as I’m making my yearly brew now. This is very easy, much easier than those kits, totally natural and really nice. You can make mock beer with many things but this is my favourite:

Elderflower Mock Beer (1 gallon)

1 Lemon
1 pint elderflowers
1lb sugar
1 gallon water
Yeast
Yeast nutrient

Will also need a bucket, sterilising powder and some bottles.

Put juice of lemon, elderflowers and sugar in bucket, cover with the gallon of boiling water. Cover bucket with a towel (or put the lid on if you have one). Leave for 24 hours. Add yeast and nutrient, re-cover with towel (don’t use tight fitting lid unless you have an air-lock or something to let the gas out). Ferment for about a week in warm room. Strain and bottle.

Obviously sterilise everything before you start. I make 5 gallons in a fermentation container then bottle it in 2 litre plastic pop bottles. I put ½ teaspoon of sugar in each 2 litre bottle before I fill them to keep them fizzy. The book said ready to drink in a week but I always wait at least a month and find it is better after about 2 months. Obviously I always make it around this time of year and it is still good by Christmas if it lasts me that long.

I hope you enjoy. Let me know if you have any questions.