Love Potion #9

[knappetak]

If anyone has done any reading on Gruit and Gruit Ale you are made aware that there were two major reasons Hops became the prohibitive favorite for use in beer. First of course is the preservative effect. Without refrigeration, having an additive that can preserve beer for a good amount of time is huge. Second the church felt hops with its ability to at least curb somewhat sexual desire (seemed like a good idea for church going folk). With that the rise of hops and the death, until recently of Gruit beer. With that little background I became inspired, not in this case to try a gruit per se but to create a beer that was light, fruity (something chicks would like too, and incorporated herbs known for their purported aphrodiasical properties. I love wheat beers and that seemed the perfect platform...Like was reported of old with original gruit.... So when it's done and served up will let you know how that goes.

Here's What's in it:

Grains:
1lb. Honey Malt
1lb. Cara Pils
Steep for 25minutes in 2.5 gallon Spring Water. Last 10 minutes steep
1/2 oz. Muira Puana Bark, and 1/2 oz. Yohimbe Bark (read precautions and indications of any of these herbals before trying this.
Bring to Boil add
6.6 Briess Bavarian Wheat LME
1lb. Pilsen Light DME
60 minute boil
1/2 oz. Citra hops @ 60
1/2 oz. US Hallertau @ 60
1/4oz. Citra @ 10
1/4 oz US Hallertau @ 5

Remove from heat, chill wort using 32 oz. Sweet Pineapple/Mango/Strawberry Blend added directly to boiling pot (I found this at kroger and sounded perfect addition for the tropical flavors the Citra hops were going to impart). Once wort chilled added Wyeast 3068 , and away we go.

Will be steeping Damiana and potentially adding another 16 oz of the fruit mixture to the secondary. Will keep you posted. Initially looking at about 6.5% ABV and took a quick uncarbonated swig before fermentation and it seems like it'll be just what I was going for. Cheers.

 

[reggofcal]

Looks good have you tried this beer yet?

 

[knappetak]

Well, after only a week in the keg I gave it a try and all I can say is it's interesting as hell. The mango from the fruit is there in the aroma, definitely catch the the presence of the citra hops in the aroma as well. Going down? Well, I may just rename this beer a "CFIYM" -Cluster F$%K In Your Mouth- There is so much going on here that its hard to describe. It's very tasty and finishes very smoothly. It's just getting through the undescribable flavors in the middle that actually makes this beer kind of fun in its own way. I've let it chill out a bit more with about another week of conditioning, so will update again soon.