Heather Beer

[Alan H]

So I was rooting around the shelves at the local liquor store last year for Burns Night and I came across a bottle of Scottish Heather Beer. The stuff was named "froeich" I believe.

Since I'm a MacNaughton, and our motto is "froeich eilean!' I had to buy it. It was pretty good.


Dan the Brewer from Devils Canyon Brewery says that sure, you can brew with heather instead of hops. Why, that's going way, way back in history to the beginnings of beer making, if you do that. He also says that some of the new recipes might not work as well with heather instead of hops. Anyway he was keen to try it with the Nor Cal Rabble sometime. I just haven't pursued the matter.

Has anybody here tried making beer with heather tops instead of hops?

[BoldHighlander]

So I was rooting around the shelves at the local liquor store last year for Burns Night and I came across a bottle of Scottish Heather Beer. The stuff was named "froeich" I believe.

Since I'm a MacNaughton, and our motto is "froeich eilean!' I had to buy it. It was pretty good.

Hey Alan, I love Fraoch heather ale! int:

Here's their website: http://www.heatherale.co.uk/

they also brew Alba ale, made with spruce pine needles (I've had it, it's good), and Kelpie seaweed ale, amongst others. I want to try the Kelpie, but their ales are a little bit hard to come by in my neck of the woods.

[cnovack]

Fraoch is great - nice, sweet and heavy ABV content.

However, check out Skullsplitter - Orkney Beer. YOW!!!!

[BoldHighlander]

Fraoch is great - nice, sweet and heavy ABV content.

However, check out Skullsplitter - Orkney Beer. YOW!!!!

Yes indeed, I've heard alot rave reviews of this ale, but like Fraoch it is difficult to find in my area, so I have yet to try it

Here's more info: http://www.legendslimited.com/skull.html

[Arlen]

Fraoch is fantastic. One of my favourites. Diane refers to it is 'Flower beer.'
I'm working on brewing a gluten-free heather ale just now.

Just out of interest, are MacNaughton linked to Clan Donald in a way I am unaware of?
Fraoch Eiliean is the Clan Donald battle cry.

[Freelander Sporrano]

http://www.heatherale.co.uk/

Here is the website. The other beers why brew are also top notch. I love Alba a lot

[Sheep In Wolf's Clothing]

I have never had heather beer, but I have had heather cream, which is much like Irish cream but slightly smoother in my opinion.
Sara

[Jack Daw]

I have yet to try heather beer. Another reason to live!

[Andrew Breecher]

I've brewed a heather beer, and was already planning on brewing a similar batch this week. I used before, and will again use, peat smoked barley, so between that and the heather the beer is a true "taste of Scotland."

Brewing with heather tips is just as easy as any gruit or hop beer, just adjust the amount to your liking!

Andrew.

[BoldHighlander]

I've brewed a heather beer, and was already planning on brewing a similar batch this week. I used before, and will again use, peat smoked barley, so between that and the heather the beer is a true "taste of Scotland."

Brewing with heather tips is just as easy as any gruit or hop beer, just adjust the amount to your liking!

Andrew.

So where does one find a good heather beer recipe, and what part of the heather do you use?

It's packed away somewhere (like everything else from our move) but I have an 18th century colonial American recipe for spruce ale.