International Gruit Day 2017

International Gruit Day 2017

What is Gruit Ale?

Centuries ago it would have seemed odd to consider using only one herb to spice beer. Dozens of plants, such as bog myrtle, yarrow, mugwort, heather, and juniper were commonly used in ancient brewing, providing beer makers with a wide array of aromatic and flavourful options. These beers were known as Gruit or Grut (German for herb), and a brewers’ spice blend was a proprietary and carefully guarded secret. However, after the Reinheitsgebot (Bavarian Purity Act of 1516) ordered that only hops were to be used to spice beer, and the Bavarian style of brewing took hold in most of Europe, the Gruit Ale gradually faded into obscurity.

Luckily, several craft breweries have rediscovered this ancient form of brewing. Craft brewing is based on the notion that beer should not be limited by the conventional norm – that beer should be about discovery and experimentation, and Gruit Ales are one of the best examples of this pioneering spirit.

What is International Gruit Day?

“Beau’s has made a name for itself with gruits since the brewery introduced Bog Water in 2008, which is made with bog myrtle harvested by an Algonquin native from the wilds of northern Quebec instead of hops.” The Ottawa Citizen, Jan. 30, 2014

“In a craft-beer market quickly exhausting the model of bolder, boozier brews, some breweries are setting themselves apart by getting old-fashioned.” The Grid Magazine Toronto, Feb. 8, 2013

Since 2013, craft brewers with an interest in making gruit ales have banded together to mark February 1 as International Gruit Day. The day is intended to raise awareness of and pay homage to the historical traditions of brewing with botanicals. We want to make IGD 2016 the biggest and best yet!

In addition to Beau’s All Natural, past participants in International Gruit Day have included Alma Brewing, Arbor Brewing Co., Cambridge Brewing, Cassel Brewery,Church Key Brewing, Country Boy Brewing, Dry Dock Brewing Co., Earth Eagle Brewings, Earth Bread + Brewery,F&M Brewing, Kamala Brewing at the Whip In, Magnolia Brewery, Manantler Craft Brewing, Mountain Town Brewing Co., The Mystic Brewery, New Belgium Brewing, Odyssey Beerwerks, Refined Fool Brewing, Rock Art Brewery, Schlafly Beer,Schmohz Brewing, soLArc Brewing, Unity Vibration, Vintage Brewing Co., and Zero Gravity.

I’m a brewer, how can I participate in IGD (International Gruit Day)?

We would love for your brewery to join our band of botanical brewers and brew up a gruit for February 1, 2016 to celebrate International Gruit Day. Email us to confirm your participation: we will be updating this website with confirmed participants.

We will promote your brewery’s participation on our social and traditional media leading up to IGD 2016, as well as supply you with a) IGD poster art, b) IGD digital logo, and c) a template of a letter to send to your local government asking them to recognize Feb 1 as International Gruit Day in your region (we were successful in making this request ourselves!)

We may also be able to help you source some herbs through our supplier connections. Drop us a line atinfo@gruitday.com if you’d like to participate!

Download & Print the Poster! (PDF)

More Information…
Gruit at Wikipedia
Gruitale.com
Gruit Day Facebook Page

http://www.gruitday.com/