14th Century Gruit recipe

Umbo · 04-10-09, 22:11

GRUIT ALE

Gruit or sometimes grut was primarily a combination of three mildly narcotic herbs sweet gale (myrica gale) yarrow, (Achillea millefolium) and wild rosemary (ledum palustre). Gruit varied somewhat, each gruit producer adding additional herbs to produce unique tastes flavors and effects. other adjunct herbs were juniper berry, caraway seed, aniseed, ginger nutmeg and cinnamon.

Its important to keep in mind the characteristics of gruit ale, it is highly intoxicating- narcotic, aphrodisiacal, and psychotropic when consumed in sufficent quantities. Gruit ale stimulates the mind, creates euphoria, and enhances sexual drive. The hopped ale that took its place is quite different. Its effects are sedating and anaphrodisiacal. in other words it puts the drinker to sleep and dulls sexual desire. That two so widely differing brews should be the accepted standard of ales and beers, brings up the question of why such a a marked change should happen in such a historically short time.

Gruit ale was the ale of europe for at least 700 years, much as hopped ale or beer is throughout the world today. Hops were simply one of many plants that could be used, or elese were unknown to local brewers, and they were a fairly late addition.

Recipe by John Harrison and members of the
Durden Park beer club 14th c. England

GRUIT ALE
1 gallon water
1 3/4 lbs. pale malt
1 1/2 lbs. carapils or crystal malt
1 1/2 grams Myrica gale
1 1/2 grams marsh rosemary
1 1/2 grams yarrow
yeast

Heat water to 170F, pour onto malt, enough water to make a stiff mash. Let stand, covered, for three hours. Sparge slowly with 170F water until one gallon total liquid is aquired. Boil wort and herbs for 1 1/2 hours. Cool to 70F and strain. Pour into fermenter and add yeast. Ferment until completion. Prime bottles, siphon, cap. store four months before drinking.

Never tried it myself but supposedly its from the 14th century, and I think thats pretty cool. And everything above was copied from a book FYI.

roc · 04-11-09, 08:00

Thanks so much!

I now will have to procure and proceed to join in on the brewing club of 'topia!

Hot damn that sounds just like what I need to drink with the old lady.

Hippie3 · 04-12-09, 19:51

interesting, learned something new here today
thx

http://www.gruitale.com/intro_en.htm

roc · 04-12-09, 20:20

Simply awesome...

Party like it's 999!

I am loving this...

Hippie3 · 04-12-09, 20:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hippie3

interesting, learned something new here today
thx

http://www.gruitale.com/intro_en.htm

Quote:

the laws that eventually passed in the sixteenth to the eighteenth centuries restricting the number of herbal additives used in brewing are actually the first drug control laws ever passed.

Umbo · 04-12-09, 21:10

Yeah I think I might have to
try to brew a Gruit now, I spent an
hour checking out that link
you gave Hip..found some
even better looking recipes.

Umbo · 04-12-09, 21:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by roc

Simply awesome...

Party like it's 999!

I am loving this...

HA! That's friggin great.

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04-10-09, 22:11	#1 (permalink)
Umbo Mycology is Yourcology Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 200	14th Century Gruit recipe GRUIT ALE Gruit or sometimes grut was primarily a combination of three mildly narcotic herbs sweet gale (myrica gale) yarrow, (Achillea millefolium) and wild rosemary (ledum palustre). Gruit varied somewhat, each gruit producer adding additional herbs to produce unique tastes flavors and effects. other adjunct herbs were juniper berry, caraway seed, aniseed, ginger nutmeg and cinnamon. Its important to keep in mind the characteristics of gruit ale, it is highly intoxicating- narcotic, aphrodisiacal, and psychotropic when consumed in sufficent quantities. Gruit ale stimulates the mind, creates euphoria, and enhances sexual drive. The hopped ale that took its place is quite different. Its effects are sedating and anaphrodisiacal. in other words it puts the drinker to sleep and dulls sexual desire. That two so widely differing brews should be the accepted standard of ales and beers, brings up the question of why such a a marked change should happen in such a historically short time. Gruit ale was the ale of europe for at least 700 years, much as hopped ale or beer is throughout the world today. Hops were simply one of many plants that could be used, or elese were unknown to local brewers, and they were a fairly late addition. Recipe by John Harrison and members of the Durden Park beer club 14th c. England GRUIT ALE 1 gallon water 1 3/4 lbs. pale malt 1 1/2 lbs. carapils or crystal malt 1 1/2 grams Myrica gale 1 1/2 grams marsh rosemary 1 1/2 grams yarrow yeast Heat water to 170F, pour onto malt, enough water to make a stiff mash. Let stand, covered, for three hours. Sparge slowly with 170F water until one gallon total liquid is aquired. Boil wort and herbs for 1 1/2 hours. Cool to 70F and strain. Pour into fermenter and add yeast. Ferment until completion. Prime bottles, siphon, cap. store four months before drinking. Never tried it myself but supposedly its from the 14th century, and I think thats pretty cool. And everything above was copied from a book FYI. __________________ Screw it. Brew it.

04-11-09, 08:00	#2 (permalink)
roc Old Man Join Date: Mar 1970 Posts: 4,296	Thanks so much! I now will have to procure and proceed to join in on the brewing club of 'topia! Hot damn that sounds just like what I need to drink with the old lady. __________________ ubuntu! Member of Native Geekaho Tribe. "Think for yourself and question authority"

04-12-09, 19:51	#3 (permalink)
Hippie3 DUNG DEALER Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 43,277	interesting, learned something new here today thx http://www.gruitale.com/intro_en.htm __________________ visit dial-a-hippie .

04-12-09, 20:20	#4 (permalink)
roc Old Man Join Date: Mar 1970 Posts: 4,296	Simply awesome... Party like it's 999! I am loving this... Attached Thumbnails __________________ ubuntu! Member of Native Geekaho Tribe. "Think for yourself and question authority"

04-12-09, 21:10	#6 (permalink)
Umbo Mycology is Yourcology Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 200	Yeah I think I might have to try to brew a Gruit now, I spent an hour checking out that link you gave Hip..found some even better looking recipes. __________________ Screw it. Brew it.

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