Elderflower beer and high SG

[hill1649]

Hi there,

I've just brewed a beer and added 7.5g elderflowers (in a 15l brew) 10 minutes before end of boil. What I'm surprised by is how high the SG is - should have been 1051 but actually achieved 1064 at 22c. So what I would like to know is whether the elderflowers push up the SG or whether I did actually achieve 88% efficiency. I was hoping to brew a 5% beer - looks like it's going to be over 6%

Recipe:
3530g Pale malt (Maris Otter)
100g Crystal Malt (120)

Galaxy Hops
9g 60 mins
9g 30 mins
9g 10 mins
30g at Flame Off steeped for 20 mins

7.5g Elderflower added 10 mins before end of boil

SG 1064
EBU 42

[Secla]

I'm pretty sure elderflower add no significant sugars just flavour.

My wife makes elderflower champagne and table sugar is the main fermentable

[hill1649]

Thanks - that's what i thought, just really surprised to get such a high SG.

[alix101]

Possibly not related more the sugar than the elderflower but the one time I made elderflower wine they were literally hand grenades
The glass bottles exploded.
I had to throw them one at a time into the wheelie bin and slam the lid while they exploded.
I'm sure yours will be more successful

[hill1649]

I shall be very sad if my beer does the same!