[majorvices]

Anyone ever used them? What do they taste like?

[Hokerer]

"Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries."  Let the Monty Python jokes begin

Oh, and I have no idea what they taste like

[a10t2]

I've only had them in pie, but they taste pretty much like blackberries from what I remember, maybe a little more tart. It's been several years.

[yugamrap]

I love elderberry pie!  Elderberries are definitely more tart than a blackberry, and have a drier sweetness.  They don't seem to have as concentrated a flavor as a red raspberry - they're somewhere between a blackberry and a red raspberry in that regard.

[akr71]

I have nothing to add, except that I'm glad this thread was started.  I plan to secondary my mead on elderberries - its good to know what the flavor might add.

PS - Just introduced my 7 year old daughter to Monty Python's 'Quest for the Holy Grail' this weekend - she didn't find it as amusing as my wife & I (but she didn't hate it).

[brew-witch]

Elderberries can acually get a little sweet, I don't know if this is due to fermentation though, so your experience adding them to beer may be different than your standard berry pie.  As an herbalist I make elderberry tincture by soaking them in alcohol (50% vodka or 40% brandy) and it comes out like an elderberry wine with almost a sticky sweetness to it (not like syrup, but more like a strong fruity wine).  I would be curious as well to find out about the taste when added to beer.  Either way, you'll end up with a beer that's good for colds and flu! 

[majorvices]

I consulted the best resource I have on using fruits and odd ingredients - Mosher's Radical Brewing - and the only thing he has to say about them is that some belgian brewers use them to "intensify color without adding any detectable flavor."

[alikocho]

Never used them in beer, but I have made wine with them. The wine, when properly aged (elderberries are very high in tannins) has a port like quality to it. Elderberries were once used to beef up port, before it was banned by the British, and Elderberry wine is occasionally refered to as "English Port", hence the Monty Python insult from the French.

One thing to be aware of is that you need to add them in the boil as they have a toxin in them that needs to be broken down with heat.

[Hokerer]

PS - Just introduced my 7 year old daughter to Monty Python's 'Quest for the Holy Grail' this weekend - she didn't find it as amusing as my wife & I (but she didn't hate it).

Maybe it's an age/gender thing.  My youngest was 11 or 12 when we introduced him and he still quotes it to this day.

[yugamrap]

PS - Just introduced my 7 year old daughter to Monty Python's 'Quest for the Holy Grail' this weekend - she didn't find it as amusing as my wife & I (but she didn't hate it).

Maybe it's an age/gender thing.  My youngest was 11 or 12 when we introduced him and he still quotes it to this day.

What did they think of the Castle Anthrax?     That scene can lead to some awkward moments and back-pedaling explanations when viewing with youngsters.  I think younger kids sometimes don't quite get sarcasm or irony - both of which are key elements of Python humor.

[majorvices]

Hey! You bums get your own thread!! 

[Hokerer]

Hey! You bums get your own thread!! 

No, now go away or I shall taunt you a second time

[akr71]

PS - Just introduced my 7 year old daughter to Monty Python's 'Quest for the Holy Grail' this weekend - she didn't find it as amusing as my wife & I (but she didn't hate it).

Maybe it's an age/gender thing.  My youngest was 11 or 12 when we introduced him and he still quotes it to this day.

What did they think of the Castle Anthrax?     That scene can lead to some awkward moments and back-pedaling explanations when viewing with youngsters.  I think younger kids sometimes don't quite get sarcasm or irony - both of which are key elements of Python humor.

My wife fastforwarded the movie right about there - until Sir Lancelot came to resuce Sir Galahad. 
Yep - the sarcasm and dry humor went completely over her head, but she did think the coconuts and killer rabbit were funny.  The Black Knight and Kinights who say Ni were mildy amusing for her.

[1vertical]

Where do you get elderberries? Not out here for sure.

[akr71]

Where do you get elderberries? Not out here for sure.

Don't know about Major, but my LHBS sells dried elderberries.