Piss-off 2007!

[Kharybdis]

Hey, Urgon...

I've tried some of those herb-based ales from Scotland (heather, pine, elderberry, etc.) and they were fantastic.

Excellent! I recently tried one called 'Froach', which is flavored with Scottish heather ... very enjoyable!

I scored an old copy of Culpepper's Herbal guide a few years back, and have been reading up on *properties* of suggested herbs. I think I can work up a real relaxing & mellow induced gruit recipe from all that. Just need to try out a few batches with different quantities of the herbs. When they overpower the beer, it is not as enjoyable.

n.b. My 2nd gruit recipe I'm trying to theme upon Olde British Isles. Picking a good scottish ale recipe for the malty sweetness, and herbals from around the Isles... May call is something like Grand Druid Gruit ... will use an Edinburgh style yeast strain too..!

Will keep you posted!
--Urgon

p.s. American Amber is fermenting nicely! Should be a good one!

Yes, Froach is the heather ale I tried. That brewing company has a sampler pack that I forced upon Lil and Turc... It's a damn shame that my local liquor store doesn't carry anything other than the Froach (in 4-packs).

[Urgon]

Hey all,

Just a quick update on the new gruit ale. It came out fantastic! I have the brewing recipe posted on my brewlog as 'Ye Olde Gruit Ale'.

I scaled back the bog myrtle & wormwood by 50%, and used that scottish 'old ale' recipe to give it a sweet malt backbone. It has aged a few months now, and is really enjoyable, albeit very different than the traditional beers around.

Additionally, I got some Yarrow seeds online and have little plants growing in the backyard. Hope to have some flowers to harvest in late spring, and will use those to finish out that recipe.

My other brews from that Olde Ale forward have really been the best beers I've ever made. I joined a local homebrew club and have been learning a lot. Lots of refinement to my technique and equipment.

Anyways, hope everyone is having a great Turkey Day in the US, and otherwise a good week elsewhere in the world!

Cheers!
--Urgon