Sleepytime Beer
Hops, valerian, and chamomile to sedate and mint to aid digestion.
Recent Posts
Sassafras-Black Birch Beer
Sassafras and black birch (i.e. wintergreen, more or less) are the dominant notes here; the other flavors blend into a citrusy background. This is a refreshing, summery drink, a bit acidic — imagine a cross between unsweetened herb tea and a nice mild ale.
Juniper-Yarrow ESB (Extra Scandinavian Bitter)
Is there such a thing as a juniper head (like a hop head)? I think I could become one.
New “ancient ale” from Dogfish Head revives hybrid Scandinavian grog
Fascinating to see yarrow already in use as a brewing herb 3500 years ago. Here, it’s in combination with several bog plants: sweet gale, meadowsweet, cranberries and lingonberries.
All-grain homebrewing for lazy cheapskates
Our very ability to experiment with things like gruit blends without worrying too much about the yeast and the malts is a direct result of the precision and predictability achieved by industrial brewers over the past 200 years.
Mugwort Spicebush Stout
Mugwort and Indian sarsaparilla are an excellent combination; that’s why I brew with them so often.
Sweet flag
The aroma was unmistakable, musky and strong, with hints of nutmeg, ginger, cinnamon—the quintessence of spice.
Meadow in a bottle
Up until that moment, I’d been intending to make some kind of very standard beer style—an IPA or a porter—and simply substitute yarrow for the usual hops.
Summer Meadow Ale
My idea was to flavor a summer ale with a mix of common meadow plants, all gathered at the time of brewing, and thereby to try and capture the essence of a midsummer meadow. Much to my own surprise, I seem to have succeeded on the first attempt!
Ground Ivy Gruit Ale
I’ve never found ground ivy to be anywhere near as bitter as the books say, but it could be the wild stuff I use tastes different from British or cultivated varieties.
Mugwort Chamomile Oatmeal Stout
My tasting notes say only “very tasty and strong,” but the fact that I still remember how good it was five years later ought to tell you something.
