OnTap Magazine

What is International Gruit Day? H&R: Since 2013, craft brewers with an interest in making gruit ales have banded together to mark February 1st as International Gruit Day. The day is intended to pay homage to the historical traditions of brewing with herbs and spices in lieu of hops. How did you get involved with International Gruit Day? H&R: We had brewed a gruit for the Clarens Beer Festival, so when we saw IGD, we felt that we had to use the opportunity to be part of the initiative. Why did you want to take part? H&R: We love the history (or sometimes the mythology) of beer. Gruit is such an old and almost forgotten style of beer that was in use long before hops were discovered and used in beer and we couldn’t resist the opportunity to bring it to the South African beer drinking community. It is the absolute romance of making a beer-style from the 10th Century. February 1st marked International Gruit Day, when beer lovers around the world honour ale’s roots by ditching the hops in favour of a bag of mixed herbs. This year more than 60 breweries participated, brewing up batches of gruit in time for the big day. Representing South Africa was Jo’burg-based Two Okes Brewery. We chatted to Hennie and Ruth Kloppers about their brand new historical beer. Which herbs did you use? H&R: We used wormwood, tulsi basil, stevia, elderberry and clove, with all the fresh herbs coming from a fellow brewer’s garden. We felt it was the best combination of herbs to show people what a gruit beer can be without pushing people away. The herbs were all added during the last 10 minutes of the boil What was the base beer? H&R: It’s a basic pale ale recipe, with a small portion of hops to assist in the bittering base and a little dry- hopping to keep the herbs in balance. When and where will the beer be available? H&R: The Two Okes Merlin’s Ale will be launched at Clarens Beer Festival 2018 and then depending on how much we come back with, we will put it on tap at Craft Beer Library, Craft Exchange, Beerhouse Fourways and Capital Craft Menlo. BREWER Hennie from Two Okes Brewery enjoying the 'fruits' of his labour