Gruit (Gruit, grut, gruyt, translated from the Germanic languages uXNUMXbuXNUMXb- “herbs”) – herbal beer that preceded modern hop beer, the herbal collection itself, which replaces hops, is also called gruit. Such beer appeared on the territory of Europe and was popular in the lands that are now occupied by Great Britain, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany.
The composition of the herbal collection usually included: marsh myrtle, mugwort, yarrow, catnip, chamomile, heather, and the brewer added ingredients according to his own recipe, so each beer had a unique taste. Other popular ingredients: juniper berries, ginger, cumin, anise, nutmeg, cinnamon, mint, sage, rosemary. Interestingly, sometimes even hops were added to the drink, but it was far from being a leader.
History
The first mention of gruit dates back to the 400th century. Apparently, the drink dominated Europe for 500-XNUMX years, until it was replaced by hop-based beer in the XNUMXth century, although in some regions (for example, in Westphalia) gruit was brewed until the XNUMXth century.
Finland had its own herbal beer – sahti, made with the addition of juniper and twigs.
Over time, the hop drink began to be called beer, and the herbal drink was called ale, then the meaning of the term changed, and now ale is simply a top-fermented beer.
Hops have supplanted herbs for a variety of reasons:
- It’s cheaper.
- Keeps beer better, doesn’t let it sour longer.
- It has a more “structured” bitterness that creates the perfect balance with the sweetish malt.
- Gruit production was often monopolized by the state and the church, and hoppy beer could be brewed without restrictions for a time.
In Germany, the official date for the end of the gruit era can be considered 1516, when the famous “purity” law came out, requiring that beer be brewed only from barley, water and hops (later yeast was added to this list).
In the 1990s, the boom of craft brewing and the development of microbreweries began, and gruite was remembered again. It turned out that aromatic herbal beer is very popular, and since 2013, on February 1, a special holiday “Gruyt Day” has been celebrated.
Harrod Buhner’s Sacred and Herbal Healing Beers: The Secrets of Ancient Fermentation claims that true gruit contained only three herbal ingredients: marsh myrtle, yarrow, and wild rosemary. Everything else depended solely on the whim of the brewer.
Use
Gruit was a low-alcohol drink, but it was much more loved for the effect of herbs. Some components were medicinal, while others had an almost narcotic effect, contained psychotropic substances and turned the drink into a powerful aphrodisiac.
Since the beer was often exceptionally bitter, it was drunk with honey.
Modern well-known brands
For the past 7 years, gruit producers from all over the world have been gathering on February 1st and competing for the best product. Among them: Willimantic Brewing Company, Cambridge Brewing, Alma Brewing, De Garde Fleur Desay, Dupont Cervesia, Kvasir from Dogfish Head and others.