Na Zdravi !: Golden State of Mind Gruit Ale

Friday, December 22, 2017

Golden State of Mind Gruit Ale

"Golden State of Mind is a unique creation. We have called it a "California Tea Beer" due to its construction using local California ingredients, from the oats, barley, and wheat to the fresh coriander, chamomile, and sweet orange peel. This gives Golden State of Mind its smooth, dry, bready malt character with earthy, spice notes and hints of citrus."

Technically this is a Gruit in that it was brewed without hops. Apparently, this is how they flavored ales in the Middle Ages (as early as the 10th century), using herbs for flavoring instead of hops.
While it looks like beer, it certainly doesn't smell like "beer", and the taste is unique. Fresh, crisp, sweet with some spiciness and absolutely delicious.
I will definitely be seeking out more gruits.

4.4% IBU, 0 IBU

Na Zdravi!

A 10-second take.
Not really reviews, just my way to keep track of the beers I've tried.

My mother's family is Czech. They emigrated from Bohemia and settled in Nebraska in the mid-1800s.
They were from the region that included the town Pilzen (Pilsen) where a brewery called Měšťanský pivovar Plzeň, now Pilsner Urquell (Plzeňský Prazdroj in Czech), started brewing a uniquely Bohemian-style beer we now know as pilsner.
So, as I raise a glass in honor of my Bohemian roots ...

Na Zdravi! (to your health).

Hops?

A "hop" is the cone shaped resinous flower of the female hop plant. It is used in brewing to add bitterness, flavor, aroma, and stability depending on when it is added.

Hops are one of the 4 basic ingredients of beer although they are not esential in the brewing process. The are used simply to add flavor and complexity to the brew.
Double and even triple IPA's feature an extreme amount of hops, and an ABV to match.
Noble Hops - The traditional varieties of hops that were used to make early European beers. Medieval brewers used Hallertau, Saaz, Spalt, and/or Tettnang hops. All are from Germany except Saaz from the Czech Republic (Žatec in Czech). All are still used today.