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Mayday Hills Gruit

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Mayday Hills Gruit revives a way of brewing that predates hops, using botanicals as the bittering agent instead. The herb bill comes from a local maker of small-batch amari and cocktail bitters, so the bitterness reads as root and wormwood rather than resin, layered with dried orange peel and a warm spice note. At 3.9 per cent the body stays light, barrel time adds a dry oak edge, and the finish is herbal and cleanly bitter.

ABV
3.9%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
golden6
PaceSession
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
herbaloakorange
herbal
oak
orange
spicy
clean
Aroma
The nose leads with earthy herbal notes and subtle wormwood, characteristic of the gruit botanical blend.
not found:hoppy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Mayday Hills Gruit

◎ Appearance

Pale golden in color with excellent clarity and a fine, persistent head that leaves delicate lacing on the glass. The carbonation is moderate and well-integrated, creating a refined visual presentation that reflects the beer's restrained ABV and careful construction.

pale goldenclearfine head lacingmoderate carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose leads with earthy herbal notes and subtle wormwood, characteristic of the gruit botanical blend. Dried orange peel provides a bright citrus thread, while warm spice and a light oak undertone from barrel aging create a complex, aromatic profile that avoids aggressive hop resin entirely.

earthy herbswormwooddried citruswarm spicebarrel oak

◐ Taste

Entry is light and clean, with herbal bitterness that reads as root and botanical rather than piney or resinous. Mid-palate develops orange zest and a dry spice character, while barrel contact adds a subtle wood edge that frames the finish without overpowering the delicate balance of adjuncts.

herbal bitternessbotanicalorange zestdry oak edge

◑ Finish

The finish is crisp and herbal, with a lingering dry bitterness that feels cleansing rather than harsh. The aftertaste fades gently, leaving behind wormwood and a whisper of oak that encourages reflection on the beer's revival of pre-hop brewing tradition.

herbal drynessclean bitterlingering finish
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
79
Appearance
78
Finish
76
Serve at 6–9°C

Serve at 6–9°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Pint glass

The classic — versatile, comfortable to hold and keeps the beer cool. No frills, no distractions: just the beer.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with Mayday Hills Gruit

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About Gruit

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Gruit?

Gruit is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Gruit

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same herbal, light, bitter character as Mayday Hills Gruit will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Gruits in hopIQ

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