Gruit / Ancient Herbed Ale
Gruit or Ancient Herbed Ale is a historical beer style that predates the widespread use of hops, instead using a mixture of herbs, spices, and botanicals (called gruit) for bittering and flavoring. These ales typically display herbal, spicy, and sometimes floral characteristics with varying sweetness levels depending on the specific herb blend, which might include yarrow, bog myrtle, heather, juniper berries, and other local botanicals. Originating in medieval Europe, particularly in Germanic and Celtic regions before the 1500s, these ales represent brewing traditions that were largely replaced by hopped beers due to the preservative qualities of hops and changing regulations.