Today, if a beer relies on other herbs to fill the “hops” role, the beverage is classified as a gruit. Gruit is the German word for herb. Instead of depending on hops, these brews use exotic ...

Viking-style ale was likely made with barley and is said to have a spicy and herbal flavor owed to a blend of botanicals known as "gruit," which ... distinction between beer, ale, and mead here.