Gruit Beers - Your opinion

I'm pretty sure the original idea behind gruit was to act as a preservative before hops were common. That being said, the idea of gruit being used in conjunction with a hop-forward recipe is probably not far away.

 

If brewers start making gruits with hops then they're not exactly making gruits anymore. I've only ever had the Prof Fritz Briem version but I found it to be refreshingly funky and unique.

 

Haven't had one since Heavyweight's, of which I bought several 4 packs. It was fun to share with others, but ultimately, i'm thankful for the cultivation of hops.

 

I've only had the Williams Brothers' Fraoch Heather Ale. I recall it being bland and not too flavorful. I'll try it again though since it was a while ago.

 

Isn't the idea of gruit to have no hops?

 

Always enjoy gruit when done well, the cask versions by Williams Bros are real enjoyable.

This beer here is also real fantastic I really enjoy it:

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/12142/89034

 

I predict the IPG to be the next big thing.

 

This is why I still come to this site to see what's up! Wtf is gruit??? I need to investigate now. It sounds expensive lol

 

and rare

 

In that case...I'm in! Haha.

 

haha, only one I ever had was Sixpoint's and honestly I don't think I knew what I was having that day. And as far as I remember - yes it was expensive.

 

Everyone should become aware of Scratch Brewing in southern Illinois, they make a gruit stout that is absolutely fantastic

 

Recently had the Prof. Fritz Briem version, and that's the only take on the style I've *ever* had. I thought it tasted a bit like bay leaf and rosemary tea, but with the fermented grain element you expect from any beer. The smell was strange and interesting in a good way, but the taste was just a little bit lifeless.

I will say this--the PFB Gruit had some characteristics in common with Sam Adams' Norse Legend sahti beer. Both are beers that were around before hops were really a thing and so used other plant materials to impart flavor and bitterness. Sahti uses juniper berries/branches compared to the cocktail of herbs--bay leaves, rosemary, thyme, anise, coriander--that can be in a gruit.

 

The two that I've had, Fraoch Heather Ale and Posca Rustica, I found to be pretty great and look forward to trying more.

 

It's some sort of spice blend that was used before hopping beers became common. It acted as a preservative, but was largely controlled by either the local church or local government as a form of taxation. I have never had a gruit beer before, so I can't say how they taste, in comparison to hopped beers. I also don't know what makes up the spice blend.

 

CCB did one at the bar in their brewery, I was not a fan. and it was a free 3-4oz taste...

 

The guys at Earth Eagle brewing up in Portsmouth NH make some good gruits