Hi from Cork City

[CattyBB]

Hello all,
I'm based in Cork city, and I've just started brewing my own country wines after experimenting last Summer.
I'll miss Friday's meeting but am looking forward to catching up with locals in the future (by which time I'll have some tipple to share).
Best,
Catherine

[wallacebiy]

Welcome along !!

[LordEoin]

HI there Catty!
You going out tapping any birch trees for that wine? It's about the right time for it

[CattyBB]

I did last year, when I was in rural Finland and had access to forests worth of birch.
I'm not too sure how I would be able to do this here, drill into a public tree and not get in trouble? Noone I know has any on their property and I don't drive so looking further out's a bit of a hassle.

I was actually given half a dozen young birches recently (2yrs, about four foot each) and as I have no outdoor space they're growing in my attic in pots which isn't ideal.

I've got some hibiscus and orange wine on the go (using dried hibiscus, really just to test equipment... and to have that satisfying air lock bubbling in the background), next up dandelion and then elder when they're blossoming.

Thanks for your reply!

[TheSumOfAllBeers]

You didn't post a question, but I am guessing that you are looking for mature birch trees to make birch sap wine?

I wouldn't go the route of tapping public trees, even if you are extracting sap within reason, somebody will complain. You also risk having your tapping gear interfered with, which could do more damage to the tree.

Keep asking around to find more people with private birch trees, and convince them to get tapping rights over a few bottles of your best

[CattyBB]

Thanks TheSumOfAllBeers for your advice, will keep up my inquiries!

[Will_D]

Hi CattyBB,

Welcome,

Have a read though this forum:

http://www.nationalhomebrewclub.com/forum/index.php/board,2.0.html

There are some great recipes for Furze(Gorse), Dandelion, Elder Flowere/Berry and all sorts of country wines (and Ciders)

Furze is already flowering!

Made 2 gallons last year - delicious - just wear thick gloves!

[CattyBB]

Oh nice, thanks Will_D.

I saw there was a lot of gorse out, went for a wander through Rochestown Woods on Friday but didn't like the look of the thorns with no gloves. There's a recipe in Andy Hamilton's "Booze for Free" which looks good. Although I wouldn't say no if you would be kind enough to PM me your own recipe!

I was actually in the woods looking for wild garlic for pesto and maybe to make wild garlic vodka. Which could be either amazing (in a Bloody Mary?)... or disgusting.

[Dr Horrible]

It's a bit early for wild garlic yet, wouldn't expect to see much until it warms up a bit then you won't be able to avoid it. Can guarantee it makes a good pesto but as for a vodka, well, let us know how that goes!

[Dr Horrible]

Me and my big mouth - went for a walk today and saw wild garlic everywhere!   

[TheSumOfAllBeers]

It is close to dandelion season now and that often makes a good hooch.

May is for elderflower. Brew it fresh and it is amazing. Made an elderflower saison last year that is really powerful on it (swamped the beer tbh, but some like that). Will remake that again this year, with less flowers.

If you can keep the birds off of it, then you have elderberries for other wines and dark beers

[CattyBB]

Yeah, my dandelion wine was pretty good last year, like a sweetish white wine. But super boozy.

I've heard there are heaps of elders at Fota (need to confirm, also whether it's the house, zoo, somewhere around the estuary), so I was planning on making the flower wine but elderberry sounds amazing too. I prefer red wine as a rule, too many hangovers from cheap white wine back in Australia as a teenager. So it'd be nice to do both. Thanks for another sweet tip TheSumOfAllBeers!

[TheSumOfAllBeers]

By May and June the country will be awash in elderflower.

You won't have to go far to find  it in Ireland. I live in London very centrally, and there is elder everywhere

[CattyBB]

Just tasted my gorse wine, it's lovely! I put a teaspoon on mixed spice in with it.

My hibiscus wine on the other hand... kinda moonshiney and I think I put too much citrus peel in. I've named it "Agent Orange" if that's any indication.

[Rossa]

Just tasted my gorse wine, it's lovely! I put a teaspoon on mixed spice in with it.

My hibiscus wine on the other hand... kinda moonshiney and I think I put too much citrus peel in. I've named it "Agent Orange" if that's any indication.

Does the gorse taste like coconut or anything odd? I'm thinking of a gorse Saison soon.