Dried Elderberry Mead

[lpsumo]

WVMJack's website says to boil the berries, then keep them in primary for a few days.

Jack Keller's site says to wash off the berries and let them sit in primary until fermentation stops

Is there a noticeable difference between keeping them in for a few days and keeping them in for a month?

Any other tips with this?

 

[WVMJ]

Actually we soak the dried elderberries overnight in warm water, then bring them to a boil and gently simmer then cool overnight and make the must. We only leave them in for a few days, you can make seconds from them if you want, you could also leave them in for as long as you want. If you notice we use more elderberries than in most recipies because we want more elderberry flavor and take them out sooner so we dont get too much tannins, but its all in how you want to make it. I think most storebought dried elders are the european varieties vs North American ones, we try to dry our own, I think ours give a redder color but it could always depend on where you get your berries.

WVMJ