Be cute, rebrew it

A promise of botanicals is where I left my last visit to Open Gate Brewery, and that materialised in late February as a beer called Ancient Gruit. Details of what they've used instead of hops would be nice, but as usual, there's no mechanism for finding that out once they've decided not to put it on the menu card. It's 5.2% ABV and a cloudy yellow-gold, the paleness suggesting the malting techniques are very modern indeed. It doesn't taste like other gruits I've had. They tend to be spicy and herbal, usually with a strong sweet side due to the lack of hops. This is bitter, centred on a raw vegetal effect, like the thick white stem of a red cabbage leaf. A rasping acidity and weedy, dandelion tang give it a medicinal quality: it feels like something you drink for solely health reasons. I quite liked the oddness, but it won't be for everyone. Some darker malt and some brighter flavours might make it more accessible.There was also another flavoured stout, following on from the pistachio…