Sage Ale

arachnyd · 01-06-2005, 12:57 PM

Ever try subsituting other herbs for the hops in a batch of beer? After reading Sacred and Herbal Healing Beers by Buhner, I thought I would give it a try. Since he reports claims that culinary sage makes a more inebriating beer, and because I had it in my garden, I tried a one-gallon batch using 23 grams of sage and no hops. It made a very interesting, very drinkable beverage - though in no way mistakable for any traditional beer I have tasted - more like the gruit beer I tasted at Wynkoop's during the last GABF than anything else I have tasted.

Is there anyone else here who has tried this kind of experiment? Please let us know about it - what you did and what the results were like.

my recipe is available here: David's Sage Ale

rightwingnut · 01-07-2005, 01:33 AM

Will be brewing my first batch of pale ale Sunday. I like the idea of trying new things. I plan to experiment with all kinds of different ingredients, but I have to get a couple regular beers under my belt first. I'm thinking of a cilantro brew, not in place of hops, but in addition. Might be horrible, but cilantro in food is excellent, so...

arachnyd · 01-07-2005, 03:58 PM

Let us know how that works out when you get to it -
as long as you are making it texmex maybe you want to drop some chipotles into the brew, too

Tomico · 02-22-2006, 05:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arachnyd

Ever try subsituting other herbs for the hops in a batch of beer? After reading Sacred and Herbal Healing Beers by Buhner, I thought I would give it a try. Since he reports claims that culinary sage makes a more inebriating beer, and because I had it in my garden, I tried a one-gallon batch using 23 grams of sage and no hops. It made a very interesting, very drinkable beverage - though in no way mistakable for any traditional beer I have tasted - more like the gruit beer I tasted at Wynkoop's during the last GABF than anything else I have tasted.

Is there anyone else here who has tried this kind of experiment? Please let us know about it - what you did and what the results were like.

my recipe is available here: David's Sage Ale

It is so ironic that you say it doesn't taste like a "traditional" beer.

it was used before any hops recipe in Europe. We are planning to make some gruit. I too just bought and read "Sacred and Herbal Healing Beers." I first have to order the different herbs before we can start a batch. It takes 4 months to brew! Well I figured we could enter into the "Arts and Sciences" contest at Pennsic if it turns out well. Sorry not to have much info on how it turned out but I'll let you know. Meanwhile, maybe we could try some other weird out of vogue recipe.
Tomico