Gruit Ale

[Steve_5618]

Hi fellow Homebrewers I've been brewing for just over two years, and started all grain brewing about 6 months ago. Since the beginning I've brewed Gruit Ales. For those who don't know what Gruit Ale is I'll explain. Gruit ales are an ancient brew in Europe, that was just about the only malt beverage from about 700 AD to about 1200 AD, thats when hops started to be used in beer, in fact they started calling it beer to differentiate it from Gruit. Griut Ale is made without hops (I think I almost just said that) instead you use herbs such as Yarrow, Marsh Rosemary aka Wild Rosemary, and Myrica Gale aka Sweet Gale among many others. These herbs cause a different effect on the imbiber, unlike hops that have a sedative effect (they can make you sleepy) the Gruit herbs have a stimulating and more intoxicating effect. Trust me I've made 8 Gruits over the last two years (some good some not so good but all were drinkable) and it definately has a unique effect.
Now with all that said I was interested if anyone eles had brewed any Gruits and what their experiance was and to share recipies. Sorry about the history lesson, I just wanted everybody to know what I was talking about.
Hope to hear from ya-all
Steve

[Glarus]

Hey Steve. I'm not really a homebrewer, (can't afford it, though I have helped some friends brew), but I have heard of gruit before. I've never had the pleasure of tasting any either (it's not easy to find!), but I do know a little about it.

I believe that some people in the Society for Creative Anachronism (http://www.sca.org/) brew some gruits . . . I'm pretty sure I've found some recipes there among the various brewing guilds, though you might really have to look around the site. They also have an unofficial library about historical brewing (including gruit) at www.homestead.com/sca_brew/files/library.html
Make sure to check out the link to the Drunk Monk's Cookbook there for more Gruit links & recipes.

I also know there is a historical brewing archive with info on Gruits at http://www.pbm.com/~lindahl/brewing.html

Sorry I don't have any personal experience to share, but maybe you can find some people to contact at some of the above links.

[Beer Nazi]

Sounds interesting Steve.

I am not yet brewing all grain (hopefully soon). I am still using DME and specialty grains on the stove-top. I hope to have the all grain system up in a month or two.

Would you share any gruit recipies? Either partial grain or all grain recipies?

Sounds interesting and I'm willing to be a Guinnie Pig.