Hop replacements

[BKmyWAY]

I was reading an interesting article recently about pre-reinheitsgebot beers, and how there used to be many different bittering/preserving herbs besides hops, but only dandelions were listed.

Has anyone used something besides hops with any success?

Thanks!

-BK

 

[bovineblitz]

I have an ethiopian friend who makes t'ej and tella (ethiopian mead and beer, respectively) with gesho, a native plant to ethiopia. They actually call it hops there. It has a really nice bittering quality.

 

[shamrockdoc]

Juniper berries are used for bittering.

 

[GoodRatsBrew]

Not yet... but all evening I've been reading about Gruit Ales. The primary herbs are sweet gale, yarrow, and wild rosemary... I'm tinkering w/ a Scottish Red recipe now and planning a trip to a local herb farm for tomorrow.

 

[starrfish]

I've used heather, mugwort, sweet gale, juniper berries, yarrow,lemon balm herb and coriander seed all with good results. mugwort is very bitter, as can be the juniper berries. sweet gale imparts a strong flavor so go light. I've gone as High as 1.5 oz at various stages on corindader... but I like coriander... start with an ounce spaced over last 15 min. if you like that dry hop with another half oz (coriander was hand crushed in mortis & pestle). heather is very mild I'd start with at least an ounce and work up from there. found 2 oz is right for me at flame out. never dry hopped with it but will go there next up to another ounce. there is a book called the home brewers garden:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1580170102/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

great book I have a copy.