Nettle Beer: Where To Buy This Unique Brew

Nettle beer is a unique, refreshing beverage that can be crafted at home or purchased from select breweries. While it may not be alcoholic or sweet, it offers a dry and crisp flavour profile that is well worth exploring. For those interested in acquiring nettle beer, there are a few options available. One may consider brewing it at home, following recipes that utilise easily accessible ingredients and simple equipment. Alternatively, commercial options exist, such as the organic nettle beer offered by Stroud Brewery, providing a convenient way to sample this intriguing drink.

Online

Nettle beer is a popular country drink that can be made at home. However, if you would rather buy it, there are a few online options.

Nettle beer is available on Amazon. You can also find it on specialist websites such as RateBeer, which provides a list of nettle beers.

If you are looking for a low-alcoholic, refreshing beverage, then a traditional 1930s nettle beer recipe by Maude Grieve, a respected herbalist, might be the perfect choice. This recipe produces a dry and crisp drink that is extremely refreshing and can be drunk immediately or left to mature until summer.

For those who enjoy a stronger beverage, there are also options to make nettle beer at home. Homebrewing nettle beer is a simple process that yields a wonderful, gluten-free, IPA-style brew. The basic supplies needed include airlocks with rubber stoppers, wine bottles, corks, a corker or swing-top bottles, and sterilisation solution. The full recipe can be found online.

Local breweries

Nettle beer is a unique beverage with a long history, and while it may not be as common as other types of beer, it is possible to find it at local breweries or make it yourself at home. Here are some details and instructions for seeking out and brewing this interesting drink:

Although nettle beer may not be as widely available as some other craft beers, there are a few local breweries that produce it. For example, High House Farm Brewery in the UK used to brew a Light Golden Ale with wild nettles picked fresh from their farm. This nettle beer was a limited release, only available once a year around May, and it offered a refreshing, sweet taste.

If you're interested in trying nettle beer from a local brewery, it's worth checking specialty beer shops and asking the staff about any nettle beer options they may carry. Additionally, some breweries might be open to experimenting with nettle beer as a limited release, so you could suggest it to them.

Homebrewing Nettle Beer

If you're feeling adventurous and want to try making nettle beer at home, it's definitely doable! Here are the general steps to follow:

• Ingredients and Equipment: You'll need stinging nettles (wear gloves to protect yourself from stings), water, sugar, lemon juice, and yeast. You may also want to add cream of tartar for flavour and to prevent haze in the beer. Basic equipment includes pots for boiling, a large bucket for fermentation, bottles, and tubes for siphoning.
• Preparation and Boiling: Wash the nettle tops thoroughly and give them a quick blanch before boiling them for around 15-20 minutes. You can also add other ingredients like dandelion leaves, cleavers, and ginger root for additional flavour.
• Fermentation: After boiling, strain the mixture and add sugar, lemon juice, and cream of tartar (if using). Let the mixture cool to room temperature, then add your yeast. Cover and let it sit for a few days.
• Bottling and Carbonation: Siphon the beer into sterilised bottles, leaving behind the sediment that has accumulated. Use swing-top bottles or those with a mechanism to release gas, as the beer will continue to ferment and build up pressure. Let the bottles sit at room temperature for a few days, checking periodically to ensure the pressure doesn't build up too much.
• Ageing and Enjoying: After a week or so, move the bottles to the fridge and let the beer age for at least another week before enjoying. The longer you leave it, the better it will taste. Nettle beer is gluten-free and has a unique, IPA-like flavour.

Homebrewing nettle beer can be a fun and rewarding project, and it's a great way to utilise nettles, which are often considered a nuisance. It's important to sterilise all equipment that comes into contact with the brew after boiling, and always be cautious when handling nettles to avoid their sting.

Health food shops

Nettle beer is available at health food shops, but you can also make it at home.

Nettle beer is available at health food shops, and some online retailers. For example, EeBriaTrade sells organic nettle beer by Stroud Brewery.

Home Brewing

If you're interested in making your own nettle beer, there are a few basic items you'll need. These include airlocks with rubber stoppers, bottles, corks, a corker, and a sterilisation solution. You'll also need a large pot for boiling the nettles, a fermentation bucket, and a demijohn.

Here's a simple recipe for nettle beer:

• Wash the nettle leaves thoroughly, wearing gloves to protect your hands.
• Put two pots of water on the stove to boil. One pot should have a generous four litres of (preferably filtered) water.
• With tongs, quickly blanch the nettles in the first pot, then drop them into the second pot.
• Once all the nettles are in the second pot, boil them for 15-20 minutes to make the wort.
• Add the lemon juice and brown sugar to the wort, and let it cool.
• Pour the mixture into a sterilised fermentation bucket.
• Let it sit in the fermentation bucket for 2-3 days, then pour it into sterilised demijohns, leaving the sediment in the bottom of the bucket.
• Add the yeast or yeast culture, and top with airlocks.
• Let the nettle beer sit in the demijohns in a place that's not too cold and drafty.
• In 3-4 days, it's time to "rack" the nettle beer, siphoning it into another sterilised demijohn and again leaving the sediment behind.
• After about a week, when it's no longer sweet, it's time to decant into bottles. Using swing-top bottles is important as there needs to be a mechanism for letting gas escape.
• Let the bottles sit at room temperature for 2-3 days, then try one to check the flavour and carbonation. If it's still sweet and under-carbonated, give it another day and test again.
• Once your nettle beer is ready, move the bottles to the fridge and enjoy!

Home-grown

If you're looking to make nettle beer at home, there are a few methods you can try. Here is a guide on how to make homemade nettle beer:

Firstly, you will need to forage for nettles. It is recommended to wear thick clothing, rubber gloves, and good footwear to protect yourself from stinging nettles. Only pick the young nettle tops, as the older leaves tend to be bitter. Give the nettles a thorough wash in the sink and then drain them. If you have a salad spinner, this can be useful for removing any insects.

For this recipe, you will need:

• A large pot
• Sterilised brewing bucket
• Sterilised bottles (swing-top or plastic screw-top)
• Muslin cloth or tea towel
• Airlocks with rubber stoppers (optional)
• Sterilisation solution
• Yeast (wild or commercial)
• Water
• Sugar (brown or unrefined)
• Lemon juice
• Cream of tartar
• Ginger (optional)
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
• Add the nettle tops to the boiling water and blanch them for about 30 seconds to a minute.
• Remove the nettles from the heat and let them infuse for about an hour.
• Using a colander lined with muslin, strain the infused liquid into a sterilised brewing bucket.
• Add sugar to the liquid and stir until dissolved.
• Optionally, you can add lemon juice, cream of tartar, and/or ginger to the mixture.
• Allow the mixture to cool to room temperature.
• Add the yeast. If using wild yeast, you may need to activate it first.
• Cover the bucket with a muslin cloth or tea towel and leave it to sit at room temperature for at least three days.
• After three days, remove any scum from the top of the mixture and siphon it into sterilised bottles.
• The nettle beer can be drunk after a couple of days, but it is recommended to leave it to mature for a week or more to improve the flavour.

It is important to note that the equipment and bottles must be thoroughly cleaned and sterilised to prevent contamination and ensure the safety of your brew.

There are variations to this recipe that you can experiment with. For example, you can adjust the amount of sugar to control the sweetness and dryness of the beer. Additionally, you can add other ingredients like dandelion leaves, cleavers, and bruised ginger root for additional flavour.

Bakeries

Nettle beer, also known as stinging nettle beer, is a traditional English countryside brew. It is a tangy and mineral-rich fermented beverage with a flavour similar to hard cider.

Nettle beer can be made at home, but it can also be purchased from select bakeries and breweries. Here are some bakeries that may sell nettle beer:

• Bakeries that specialise in artisanal breads and pastries may occasionally offer nettle beer, especially if they have a focus on local and seasonal ingredients.
• Bakeries with an attached cafe or restaurant may also be worth exploring, as they sometimes offer unique beverages like nettle beer to pair with their baked goods.
• If you're in the United Kingdom, keep an eye out for bakeries located near nettle-rich areas, such as shady spots or riverbanks. These bakeries may source local nettles and incorporate them into their offerings.
• Some bakeries with a strong focus on sustainability and foraging may also experiment with nettle beer, especially if they already use nettles in their baking.

When visiting or contacting bakeries, it's worth inquiring about their beverage offerings and expressing your interest in nettle beer. They may have nettle beer available or be open to creating a batch if there is sufficient demand.

In addition to bakeries, you can also explore breweries and beverage shops that specialise in craft beers and ciders. These establishments often carry unique and experimental drinks, including nettle beer. Online retailers and craft beer subscription services are another option to consider, as they sometimes feature nettle beer among their rotating selections.

Lastly, some regions have dedicated nettle beer producers, such as the shop in Heysham, near Morecambe, that was mentioned in one source. Local farmers' markets and food festivals can also be great places to discover small-batch nettle beers from local producers.

Remember to enjoy nettle beer responsibly, as it can have a stronger alcoholic content than regular beer.

Frequently asked questions