Dandelion beer

 

Dandelions

lawn full of dandelions

 

Dandelion beer

This is the time when the lawn is covered with dandelions, bright yellow flower heads, really a mood lifting view. They are good for pollinating insects to get spring nectar.

As there are so many, dandelion is good for cleansing the liver, and I just saw this beer recipe.... so I gathered some to try. In no time I picked a hundred flowers and the lawn is still full of them.

The beer is ready to drink in 5 days, fizzy and still mildly sweet, with the distinct mild bitterness of dandelion, like an ale. I used brown sugar and hence the dark colour and a rich flavor, quite similar to stout. White sugar will give light colour and milder taste.

 

1. Collect 100 flowers, simmer in 1.5L of water for 15 minutes.

2. Filter flowers out into a preserving jar, add 100gm of sugar.

3. When cool to around 30˚C, add a pinch of wine yeast, give it a stir, cover lightly with tissue paper, leave in a warm place for 5 days.