Herbal Beer?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by hatebreed9, Nov 4, 2016.

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  1. hatebreed9

    hatebreed9 Initiate (0) Nov 4, 2016 New York

    Hi,

    I'm curious for a list of beers that are rather high in Herbal content. Most specifically, out-of-the-ordinary herbs would be best- also "medicinal beer".

    Thanks!
     
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  2. DrMindbender

    DrMindbender Initiate (0) Jul 13, 2014 South Carolina

    You should start looking for Gruits...tons of herbs are the calling card of the style, but next to nobody brews them. I've had a handful at various beer festivals, but haven't really seen one distributed before.
     
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  3. JouerAvecLeFeu

    JouerAvecLeFeu Pooh-Bah (2,032) Apr 17, 2015 Washington
    Pooh-Bah

  4. Nicolas_James

    Nicolas_James Initiate (0) Nov 8, 2012 Illinois

    Not sure where you are, but Scratch Brewing in southern Illinois makes some killer ones.
     
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  5. drtth

    drtth Initiate (0) Nov 25, 2007 Pennsylvania
    In Memoriam

    As @DrMindbender points out, the Gruits described in the Beer Styles listing on here, will be a good place to start. For example, don't know about the medicinal qualities, but depending on where you live, you may be able to find something from the Williams Brothers in Scotland who do a few nice ones as part of their regular line up.

    e.g.: https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/12142/245/

    Also, while it's not a regular offering, the Kvasir from Dogfish Head and possibly even the rest of their series of Ancient Ales might show up in your area of the country (wherever that is). (But again, no idea about whether or not the herbs used have any real or perceived medicinal qualities.)
     
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  6. Shanex

    Shanex Grand Pooh-Bah (4,960) Dec 10, 2015 France
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    La verte du mont blanc:

    https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/10004/19313/

    Not too well rated here but I think some people were unsettled to try an herbal beer, which is very different from anything most people usually drink.

    It's only informative as I have no idea if you can get this where you are.
     
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  7. MostlyNorwegian

    MostlyNorwegian Pooh-Bah (2,236) Feb 5, 2013 Illinois
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    Dogfish Head has done herbal and infused beers. Around my neck of the woods. Forbidden Root, Around the Bend, Moody Tongue all get into herbs, etc to varying degree's as does 5 rabbit.
    Indeed over in Minneapolis do a fair amount of work with them as well.
    Scratch down in Ava did all mushroom based beers this year for GABF. Lickcreek Brewery also had some impressively odd but delicious tasting offerings as well.
     
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  8. LeRose

    LeRose Grand Pooh-Bah (4,423) Nov 24, 2011 Massachusetts
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Do the Google for the term "foraged beers". No pun intended, but finding beers like this is probably a huge challenge, but you can get an idea of some of the more exotic, experimental brews that are being created.
     
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  9. Ranbot

    Ranbot Pooh-Bah (2,463) Nov 27, 2006 Pennsylvania
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    Beers with herbal flavor additives, fine, but "medicinal" herbal beer... Are we really going there? What's next... Homeopathic beer? Astrologically auspicious beer? Anti-candida beer? Beer made with healing crystals? There's probably a fortune to made by building a brewery at a mystical vortex in Sedona...
     
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  10. FBarber

    FBarber Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,325) Mar 5, 2016 Illinois
    Mod Team BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

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  11. donspublic

    donspublic Grand Pooh-Bah (3,552) Aug 4, 2014 Texas
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  12. zid

    zid Grand Pooh-Bah (3,132) Feb 15, 2010 New York
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    I think if you were more specific about what you are looking for and why, you'd get more useful suggestions.
     
  13. hatebreed9

    hatebreed9 Initiate (0) Nov 4, 2016 New York

    All these answers are exactly what i wanted, thanks!!!
     
  14. donspublic

    donspublic Grand Pooh-Bah (3,552) Aug 4, 2014 Texas
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    And all this time I spent replying, I thought was to help get a kick-start beer herb kit off the ground
     
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  15. rgordon

    rgordon Pooh-Bah (2,701) Apr 26, 2012 North Carolina
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    @Ranbot, I know of a few beers with mushrooms that are known anti-oxidants. I'm not so sure of beer as a good delivery system, but I do know that the shrooms are very "healthy".
     
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  16. drtth

    drtth Initiate (0) Nov 25, 2007 Pennsylvania
    In Memoriam

    Really? Somehow I hadn't noticed that. :-)
     
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  17. Ranbot

    Ranbot Pooh-Bah (2,463) Nov 27, 2006 Pennsylvania
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    There's the rub.
     
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  18. IannG

    IannG Initiate (0) Feb 28, 2011 Connecticut

    Everyone is going to think I'm crazy but Not Your Father's Vanilla Cream Ale might be something to look at. More of a hard cream soda than beer but it's supposed to be brewed in gruit tradition with a variety of botanicals. I couldn't really find any detailed info on it but it tastes like a slightly more herbal cream soda.
     
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  19. BMBCLT

    BMBCLT Grand Pooh-Bah (3,427) May 9, 2014 South Carolina
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  20. SFACRKnight

    SFACRKnight Grand Pooh-Bah (3,348) Jan 20, 2012 Colorado
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I am just gonna go out on a limb here and say that hops pretty much cover aseveral benefits that herbs have.
     
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