hist-brewing: Gruit Ale

[ALBATRS890 at aol.com]

I hope this helps

This is an ale that predates hops.  In the sale of the griut was controlled 
by the Catholic church.  And you paid them dearly for its use.  Their use was 
outlawed in Germany.  To denying the church revenue from their sale. From 
that time forward, hops was the only legal addition

The exact components were guarded as fiercely as the Coca-Cola formula.  
Gruit is a combination of the 3 herbs sweeet gale,yarrow, and rosemary. Their 
Latin names are respectivelymyrica gale, Achillea millefolium, andLedum 
palustre. The proportions of  these herbs  varied.

See John Arnold.  "A region and history of the year and brewing"

Additional herbs used were juniper berries, ginger, caraway seed, aniseseed, 
nutmeg and cinnamon

Gallon recipe

1 3/4 # Pale. Malt
1 1/2 # Crystal Malt

1 1/2 Gram Myrica Gale
1 1/2 Gram Marsh Rosemary
1 1/2 Gram Yarrow
Yeast  (Double pitch) Gruit impeads the yeast

See American Brewer July 99,p27

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