Mr. Bryce Bowman reports

A KINDLER OF FORBIDDEN PASSIONS, A BUBBLY SYNTHESIS OF ANCIENT ART

Big Rock Brewery Inc. is promoting its first "alchemist edition" release of 2014, Monk's Misery. Big Rock's brewmaster, Paul Gautreau, reached deep into the history books to create this gruit, a fragrant beer style that predates the use of hops.

The ancient art of gruit craftsmanship employs a dynamic blend of exotic ingredients like wormwood, mugwort, lavender and heather tips. These unique ingredients were combined with a blend of four malts (plus a single hop cone so this brew could be labelled as a beer). Mr. Gautreau explained: "The rare and ancient gruit style has piqued my curiosity since I first learned of these beers. Replacing hops with exotic ingredients like mugwort and wormwood produced an unusual but very pleasurable complexity of flavour."

Only 2,850 numbered bottles are being produced, making this brew one of Big Rock's most limited releases. Monk's Misery will be available in a 650-millilitre bomber bottle and makes its appearance on March 21, 2014, in Alberta.

What is the alchemist edition?

In brewing, as in life, you have to take risks to reap rewards. For the alchemist edition, Mr. Gautreau ventures deep into uncharted brewing territory to craft bold, small-batch beers that pay no heed to the rules of what came before. Adventurous and experimental, these risky brews are their own reward.