A deep, complex melomel built on wildflower honey and dried elderberries. Elderberries contribute intense color, earthy tannins, and a distinctive dark-fruit character. Dried elderberries are used for consistent flavor and year-round availability. Targets 13% ABV with a semi-sweet finish. 5-gallon batch.
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Batch size
5 gallons
Target ABV
13%
Fermentation
4–6 weeks
Conditioning
4–8 months
Responsible use: These recipes produce alcoholic beverages. Ferment and consume responsibly. Verify all quantities, equipment, and safety procedures before beginning. Consult local regulations regarding home fermentation.
Must be dried, not fresh — raw elderberries can cause nausea. Simmer in water before adding.
Yeast
Lalvin Lalvin EC-1118 — 1 packets
Robust strain; handles tannin-rich must.
| Timing | Nutrient | Qty | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 0 (pitch) | Fermaid-O | 2.5 g | |
| 24 hours | Fermaid-O | 2.5 g | |
| 48 hours | Fermaid-O | 2.5 g | |
| 1/3 sugar break | Fermaid-O | 2.5 g | |
| Day 0 (pitch) | Fermaid-K | 5 g |
Prepare no-rinse sanitizer. Sanitize all vessels and tools.
Simmer dried elderberries in 1 quart of water for 15 minutes. Strain and cool.
Simmering deactivates any residual compounds in dried elderberries.
Dissolve honey in 1 gallon of warm water. Cool. Add to fermenter with elderberry tea and remaining water to 5.5 gallons.
Record original gravity. Target approximately 1.098.
Pitch EC-1118. Add Day 0 nutrients. Ferment at 65–72°F.
Follow TOSNA schedule. Degas before each addition.
Check gravity every few days. Fermentation typically completes in 4–6 weeks.
Rack off lees.
Condition for 4–8 months.
Bottle or keg.
Ensure fermentation is fully complete before packaging.
Honey, water, and elderberries scale linearly. Nutrient additions do NOT scale linearly.
Enter your desired finished batch size to scale ingredient quantities. Press Enter or tap away to apply.
Target ABV
13%
Original gravity
1.098
Final gravity
1.005
Sweetness
semi sweet
Finished volume
5 gallons
Gross starting volume
5.5 gallons
Expected loss
0.5 gallons(9%)
| Ingredient | Quantity | Unit | Scaling notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wildflower honey | 13 | lbs | |
| Filtered water | 4.5 | gallons | |
| Dried elderberries | 1 | lbs | |
| Fermaid-O | 10 | g | ⚠ review |
| Fermaid-K | 5 | g | ⚠ review |
⚠ Ingredients requiring review
Initial record. Phase 4C Batch 3.
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