Grut Bier - Ale Brewed with Spices

Last night, I had my first taste of beer — beer that did not taste like any ordinary beer. What I mean is, I had Grut Bier and yes, it took me by surprise. Sachin at Five Points Bottle Shop, the walking library on beer, said take it home. He filled me in on the history and off I went, intrigued, but I had no idea what he was talking about.

So the story goes, 13th Century Grut Bier is brewed according to the recipes dating back to before the German Purity Law in 1516. The Purity Law stipulated that only water, barley and hops could be used. Prior to then, it was common practice to use any kind of different spices, herbs, fruits and plants for bittering and flavor. (Hops was not well know at the time.)

Part of the Historic Signature Series by Dr. Fritz Briem, Grut Bier is brewed according to historic recipes rooted in various cultures and 'special ingredients'.

Immediately, after pouring the cloudy, straw colored concoction in my Terrapin tulip glass, I noticed herbs and spices; when I took a sip it had a surprising, taste of bay leaf, ginger and lavender. What's this? Bay leaf, Ginger? It was a strange sensation, but I have to say after a few sips, I found it as intriguing is it's roots, refreshing, and appetizing.

Grab a bottle and share this unique, modern interpretation of beer history with ye ole best friend.

Firefly Sweet Tea Y'all

Sweet tea has always been the table wine of the South, but it's quickly becoming the spirit of the South with the release of Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka, an infusion that is proving irresistible to local palates.

Distilled in South Carolina and already distributed in Nevada and Colorado and cleared for Georgia and New York in August, Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka has finally reach Five Points Bottle Shop.

Part of the larger Infusion trend like brands Van Gogh and Absolut, Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka is created by adding a tea concentrate, sweetened with cane sugar, to the alcohol.

Every aspect of Firefly Sweet Tea's production, from distilling the vodka and brewing the tea, to bottling, labeling and packaging, is done at the Irvin~House Vineyard, in buildings that used to maintain a carriage company.

Firefly uses only all-natural ingredients, including tea from the Charleston Tea Plantation only a few miles down the road from the vineyard.

Read the whole story from The Charleston City Paper.