Hopless beer?

[FungusBrew]

Ahhhemm...So as I was reading through Papazian's The Joy of Homebrewing, and happened to stumble upon his yarrow beer recipe. This concoction utilizes the roadside invasive (in my area at least) yarrow, in place of hops.

This got the wheels turning. What else is out there you can use to substitute hops with? Are there any other backyard "weeds" that you guys use? How about a hopeless beer, with no bittering agent whatsoever?

 

[FungusBrew]

I see now there's already an extensive thread that answers some of these questions

 

[lumpher]

How about a hopeless beer, with no bittering agent whatsoever?

that's a decent answer to me. hopless=hopeless

 

[FungusBrew]

Hehe, right?!

 

[Nurmey]

There are lots of things that can be substituted for hops. Do a search for gruit and you will find many old and new recipes.

 

[lumpher]

i know lots of things can be used, including birch bark, but why make it more difficult ( and less tasty)? by the way, i love hops

 

[malkore]

spruce tips, juniper berries are popular gruit ingredients.