Eastern Ontario Gruit

Winter • Out of Season!

The inspiration for Bog•Water came from the Alfred Bog, a 10,000 year old peat bog located in Eastern Ontario that is home to many rare or endangered plants and animals. Like its namesake, the gruit style of beer is rare as well. Bog•Water’s malt and yeast profile is that of a Belgian Dubbel, with spice and fruit notes, and we add an interesting twist: instead of hops we use wild harvested bog myrtle (also known as sweet gale). The result is a beer style we can claim is truly our own: an Eastern Ontario Gruit.

History & Style

Before the introduction of the Bavarian Purity Act of 1516, many herbs and spices were used to flavour and preserve beer. Bog myrtle (sweet gale) and hops were two of the most dominant herbs, and in parts of Europe bog myrtle was so extensively used that you could pay your taxes with it! While on the whole, the purity act was a very good thing for health and quality of beer, it had the unfortunate consequence of destroying many excellent interpretations of beer that used herbs other than hops as an aromatic and preservative. Because of this, there are no longer any recognized styles or recipes for a brewer to rely on for reference. This is both challenging and freeing — we are free to invent as we brew with this forgotten herb.

Tasting Notes

Malty, with a plum-like fruitiness that is offset by spicy, earthy bitterness.

Food Pairings

Banana Split, Kielbasa, Roquefort.

Recipes

Send us your recipes!

Technical Specs

• Alc./Vol.: 6.6%
• Malts: Munich, Pilsner, Caramunich, Carafa
• Hops: None. Instead, Bog Myrtle is used as the aromatic.
• IBU's: N/A
• OG: 15°P
• FG: 3°P

Available at...

• Out of season, but it'll be back next winter!