Solstice Gruit
Zero Gravity Craft Brewery

On tap at the brewpub. Clear amber body. Smells sweet, like honey. Some herbal and tea aromas. Tastes much more of tea. Sweet caramel malt and tea. Almost maple in its sugar profile. Herbal and lightly bitter back end. Medium heavy. It's interesting but too sugary for me to enjoy.

 

 

On tap the Pine Street location.
The appearance was a murky dark yellow to orange color. Head quickly fell off to leave some sly concave lace running here and there.
The aroma started with some lemon sweetness up front and then quickly settled upon some herbal sweet to mellow earthy and grassy smooth tones. Light heather tips to a sly floral quality slide in to steadily play with a fashionable sort of black tea-like quality.
The flavor was moderately sweet and floral. Ample amount of herbal rode in nicely just before it caved into a smooth floral/herbal aftertaste.
The mouthfeel was between light and medium bodied with a fair sessionability about it. Carbonation was nice and low as it should be for the style. ABV felt just a touch under than what was projected, but I wasn't bothered by that.
Overall, I liked this take on a Scottish Gruit, somewhat Americanized with that initial "lemon"-like quality about it, but it did open up appropriately as the style suggested.

 

 

Now I have to admit I am totally inexperienced when it comes to Gruit. This was my firs,t but I have to say it has opened my eyes to a whole style and flavor profile that I have never imagined in beer before. It was deliciously mellow and it had that earthy taste to it and the herbs really gave it an awesome sweet flavor. It was a while ago that I tried this beer but it has had a lasting impact and I have been experimenting with home brewed Gruit now since this first encounter. Can't wait to have this again and explore more style and variations!

On cask at the GBBF.

Pours cloudy brown-orange with no head. A bit of tar and mulch on the nose. Bright apple juice and summer fruit up front with grainy, anise sting and mild spice to end. Light, clean, some chew.

Bright and fruity - could stay on this all night and never realize... there's no hops!
Something of a revelation.
(Thanks, Impy!)

Rusty amber, copper and translucent. Honey, rosemary, thyme, juniper, nettles, lemon peel, baked apple, clove, allspice, and sage dominate the nose - really quite Medieval, earthy, homey, and autumnal. The flavor is sweet, fresh, full of sourdough bread, honey, rosemary, coriander, and lavender; floral and herbal but far from bitter. For this level of sweetness it is too flat and warm, and would benefit from a snappier temperature and texture. Unusual and intriguing, complex and fun, but a touch too sweet and heavy.

8oz pour on tap into a small glass.

Pours a very clear ruby amber with no head at all. Nose is very spicy and herbal very nice.

Taste is also super herbal taste with a light bitterness. Very unique without the hops but still really drinkable and crisp. Worth trying for a unique beer.