A River Runs Gruit
Rock Art Brewery

 

 

 

 

This beer pours with the color and appearance of raw apple cider. It is pretty heavy on the floaters, which eventually settle to the bottom of the glass. A brief flash of white foam when the can was popped, otherwise no head.

The smell is strong on the herbal components. Lavender pops immediately, but as the beer warms cinnamon shows up, a bit of clove, and apple fruit, elderberry. The take on herbal tea is obvious, mild chamomile. Overall it is surprisingly pleasant especially as the lavender backs off.

Yep it is beer tea. It is bright and mild and the flavors actually work very well together. Fruity, floral, herbal. The berry notes are stronger than expected. Cinnamon seems to be a constant feature, but there is some clove-like note as well. Lavender is well behaved. Certainly a chamomile tea character. A bit of sweetness, virtually no bitterness. Fun to drink.

The feel is thin and watery. Maybe it is supposed to be for the style. It is dry, slight spice burn.

Overall? Well, I think I could see some ancient time where you'd be sitting around a fire drinking lots of this while telling tales of valor. I think it is a fair representation of the style, but not everybody's "cup of tea".

 

 

12 oz can poured into a willybecher glass canned on 3/27.

A: Almost no head as it’s poured. Body is a murky reddish tan color with some floaters.

S: Lots of honey, lavander, Lots of rose hips as well. light cinnamon and some rosemary.

T: Honey and lavender with some cinnamon and honey.

M: Medoum bodied with almost no carbonation a touch thin.

O: This beer is so different. A friend mentioned it almost tastes like a mulled cider. I don’t disagree. It is quite unique and not a bad drinking beer at all.

12oz Can

Thanks for this one Dave! Love trying oddballs. A River Runs Gruit is a murky beverage. It looks like a dense, unfiltered apple cider. A fingers worth of sudsy, soapy bubbles form on the pour and crackle down to a thin ring around the glass. Large bubbles pop to the surface here and there. It's not the prettiest of libations.

I could smell this stuff the second the can was cracked. It's savory and comforting. Rose hips and lavender bring about floral qualities, naturally, while chamomile and elderberry bring soothing comfort. There's a flash of cinnamon and even nutmeg. A little pencil lead pops here and there. Green apple and a drizzle of caramel round out the malt profile. This stuff smells as if there was a pot of apple cider mulling on the stovetop which is perfect for a snow covered morning like this one.

The flavor isn't quite as vivid as the nose but it's still comforting. It's very tea like off the bat with chamomile taking center stage. The lavender and rose hips bring their floral quality to the finish. The baking spices are present from front to back, complementary. Again, this beer brings to mind green apples and a touch of caramel sweetness. There's a nice play between tart & sweet, both of which are mild, and savory & bright. This is a complex beer if a little muddled in flavor. The lines aren't quite as clean as the nose led on.

The body is on the lighter side of moderate with a carbonation that's a little flaccid. This guy could probably use a touch more body and a little tighter bubbles. The finish leaves behind a nice numbing effect like you get from cinnamon at times, almost tannic. This beer is fun to drink and that boosts the drinkability quite a bit.

A River Runs Gruit is an interesting beer. Every gruit I have ever had has been miles apart from the last. This one leans heavily toward a mulled cider and like I mentioned, that's perfect on a snowy morning like today. There's a lot of character in this beer and none of it is usually related to what we think of as beer characteristics. If this was available in my area I would pick it up from time to time, when the season is right. Thanks again, Dave!

 

If you are a fan of this style, or spiced beer check it out.

Fruit punch color with a 1/2 head served in a Orval Chalice.
This is the same glass I used for the Alba Gruit which I highly recommend.
The head quickly dissipates.

Great aroma of an array of spices: elderberry, lavender and other spices.

The taste is more of the same but is a bit overshadowed by the sharp bitter finish.

Overall, interesting approach to the style. Quite enjoyable.

 

 

 

 

 

canned 08/08/2017

L- The ale pours the color of apple cider. The head is minimal, and what's there quickly disappears. This may be the ugliest beer I've consumed. It looks like the water your kid cleaned their paint brushes in those old paint with water books I had as a child.
S- As ugly as the beer is, the nose really shines. This is coming from someone who doesn't drink tea, or even like the smell of candles that use flowery scents. The chamomile really shines here. The lavender is detectable but thankfully not overpowering. Overall its just a really nice sweet flowery scent that doesn't stray into harsh. Really unique in my experience.
T- Rock art describes this as herbal tea-like and I can't really dispute that with my limited experience. If I were a tea drinker I would enjoy this quite a bit.
F- Mouthfeel is medium. Carbonation is very light, but by no means flat.
O- Overall the beer is not really to my personal liking. If you are a fan of herbal teas and things of that nature, this may very well be your jam. My wife raved about it so take the scoring with a grain of salt.

 

 

Hazy, ruby red color. Fizzy white head disappears right away. Apple butter, mulled cider flavor - might be good served at room temperature on a cold day. First impression is that it is sweet - nuts just the nutmeg and cinnamon flavors. A cool idea.