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Gruit

Dr. Fritz Briem
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🌍 Germany · Gruitbier · One of 1 Gruitbiers in hopIQ

A recreation of a 13th-century herbed ale brewed before hops became standard — flavoured with a traditional gruit blend of herbs instead of hops. A rare living link to medieval brewing, earthy and herbal with a soft body.

ABV
4.6%
Bitterness
Noticeably bitter
Herbal, floral bitterness
SRM
amber12
How it drinks· Its pace, balance and relationship to the style.
Pace
sessionsipper
Balance
malt-ledhop-led
Style expression
textbookdistinctive
Taste structure· The backbone of the beer, regardless of style.
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
hopIQ take

Very crisp and dry.

A direct pour that closes clean — trim and sharp, working together to keep things moving.

Wider bands mean we're less certain about the exact position.
Character· What makes this beer itself — not just another Gruitbier.
Hop character
earthy
herbal
Malt character
bready
wheat
Fermentation & yeast
yeasty
clean
Distinctive notes
spicy
coriander
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Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Gruit

Appearance

Light amber hue with a soft, pale golden glow characteristic of low-kilned malts. The beer presents moderate clarity with a fine, delicate head that settles into a thin collar of lace. Carbonation is restrained, creating a gentle mousse rather than vigorous effervescence.

light ambersoft headfine lacinggently carbonated

Aroma

The nose opens with distinctly earthy and herbal notes from the traditional gruit blend, evoking dried herbs and garden botanicals rather than the bright citrus of hops. Subtle spice notes—hints of coriander and warming pepper—interweave with soft wheat and a faint yeasty undertone. The overall impression is one of medieval simplicity and careful herb selection.

earthy herbsspiced botanicalssoft wheatyeasty undertone

Taste

The palate opens cleanly with a light, smooth body that allows the herbal and earthy character to unfold without heaviness. Coriander and gentle spice develop in the mid-palate, supported by bready malt notes and a whisper of wheat. The modest bitterness (28 IBU) arrives late and restrained, providing balance without the aggressive bite of hopped ales.

smooth bodyherbal spiceearthy finishmild bitterness

Finish

The finish is clean and medium in length, with herbal notes persisting gently into the aftertaste. No harsh tannins or astringency linger; instead, a soft, slightly peppery warmth fades gracefully.

clean aftertasteherbal fade
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
77
Appearance
76
Finish
77
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Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Gruit

Serve at 6–9°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

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

Pint glass
Recommended for this style

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

Store in a cool, dark place. Check the best-before date on the label for guidance.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Gruit

About Gruitbier

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Gruitbier?

Gruitbier 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 Gruitbier

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

WHERE TO BUY

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