Summer Gruit Ale
Zero Gravity Craft Brewery

 

 

 

 

 

a beer without hops? well, well, well... this is surprisingly good, herbal and bright, and the mix of botanicals make up for the lack of hops with a nice combination of bitter and floral, I can really see the appeal here. they had this version and a casked with strawberries version on, and both were excellent. this has a pale golden color to it without much head. it smells like a diverse combination of herbs and grasses, slightly polleny, but more summer than spring, with its use of light wheat malt and its relative sessionability. I am perhaps most impressed by the depth achieved here, without the mighty hop. I might not notice in a blind tasting, so that is the real takeaway for me here. I could drink this all day, with superb carbonation and a refreshing finish. they have achieved something special with this beer, unlike anything ive ever had. worth a go anytime.

Always an interesting experience this location and type of beer. Their version (sampled July '08) was a copper color with a very short lived head that was barely a skim by the time it got to me. No lacing either. The aroma was nice, but very herbal with a piney hops behind the spices and general greenery. The flavors were similar, rosemary, lemongrass, lemon balm, and citrus hops. Lacked malt backbone, however. The mouthfeel was great, the carbonation high which helped to make the herbs effervescent and the body medium. Refreshing and unusual.

on tap at Flatbread in Burlington VT

Poured ito an imperial pint glass
A-- pours a nice copper color no head to speak of light carbonation
S-- wonderful herb aroma hard to pick them out. has a nice tea aroma
T-- very light clean taste with earthy body and herbs not heavy but nice season/spice
M-- very light and clean with no lingering flavors
D-- exeptional light beer that goes great with the many flatbread to have at the pub

This is a great beer and I wish they sold growlers or bottled this one

"Midevil style herbed brew"
Served in a pint glass.

I've only had one other Gruit before and this one was head and shoulders above.

Poured a light copper color with a small white head, no lacing. Very herbacious and floral notes. Rosemary, sage, lemon-thyme flavors with a dry balanced malty finish. Lightly carbonated with a smooth mouthfeel. Would love to try this as a braising liquid.

Pours a rich copper with no head.

The smell is herbal/medicinal. Tea-like. Expected, considering five different herbs are here - they compliment each other fairly well.

The taste is of minty/medicinal/earthy herbs. Tea-like. As herbal as it is, it doesn't carry through much on the finish, which is fine as it would be herb overload, but could use more malt, IMO, as it's tied together more with water than anything. Rather abrupt finish.

An interesting attempt at a rare style. Can't say it competes so well with the gruits I've had from Scotland, though it takes a decent stab at it. Worth trying for its uniqueness.

This is American Flatbread's take on Gruit. Pours with no head. Deep amber color with an aroma of spices. Mildly fruity. I honestly don't know what to expect from a Gruit so I'm describing it as is. The taste is somewhat spicy in a subdued manner and pretty straightforward. No hops in this ale as per the style. I urge you to try it for yourself.