Just tried a heather ale!

[Deege]

At the suggestion of a friend, I tried Fraoch Heather Ale. This beer is a bit different than most beers because the beer uses heather to bitter the beer instead of hops, but no so different that the beer is not familiar. If you're looking for a "hop recession proof" beer, I'd give this one a try. I'm going to try to find a recipe for it too! You can read more about it on my site.

Cheers!

[Deege]

Ah... I thought they were using the seaweed instead of hops.

[Virgil G]

kelpie isn't at all what i expected. it just tastes like... a weak chocolate beer. When i think of seaweed i think of the ocean, salt water, so i was kind of expecting a salty beer. but then it's just beer. the hops are grown with seaweed as fertilizer. it's an interesting concept and they probably sell bottles before people read the label,but it's not as interesting as it first sounds.

[Deege]

I wonder what seaweed ale would taste like?!? I'll have to try to track that beer down. :)

[Rob DeNunzio]

I'm still on the lookout for their seaweed ale - Kelpie! Name kinda sounds like it should refer to some cute little sea vegetable from a children's show, but apparently refers to something far more sinister.

[Rob]

Hmmm, it's been a while since I have had a heather beer...I like it though. Wonder if you can grow it in southern Illinois?

[Deege]

I don't think it does come in pellets. I could be wrong, but I think the only source is from fresh heather.

[Chipper Dave]

Wonder if it's possible to make an IPA-like version this by dry-heathering this ale? Does heather come in pellets?

[Chipper Dave]

I'm all for trying new beers. Never had a heather beer. Just hope my mouth doesn't taste like a spice rack afterwards!

[Eli the Mad Beer Man]

That's a damn good beer. The liquor store down the hill carries it all the time. It's absolutely worth a try.

[BeerGuide]

Sounds interesting, I've been reading lately about Gruit and other older style beers so this is a timely post. Thanks Deege!