When you think of brewing, an image of a beautiful brick building which houses large, stainless steel equipment might appear. Although this might be a more quintessential visual for craft breweries in the area, it is not where all craft beers are made. Sure, there are set-ups ranging from basic five-gallon basement systems, all the way up to mass-producing factories pumping out thousands of cases a day. But one of the more unique and traditional settings for a brewery is on a farm, using the ingredients produced by the surrounding land.
Botanical brews are just that: farm-produced beers. They specialize in using what is grown on the farm, and they are steadily growing in popularity. You will find some of the more unique varieties from this type of beer, such as mushroom or pumpkin beers. As with many organic varieties, popularity has skyrocketed as health and safety has been sought after in the foods we eat. Go local, eat farm-based and drink botanical—here are a few we recommended trying.
Old Growth Ales || Wy’east Mountain Gruit Ale
This brew fully embodies the botanical spirit. The summer sorghum ale is mixed with herbs harvested on the slopes of Mt. Hood, which include yarrow, St. John’s wort, goldenrod and mugwort. Old Growth Ales is all about finding wild ingredients to harvest and make unique blends out of, so any brew that you find of theirs will truly be one of a kind. || Springfield, OR
Agrarian Ales || Country Common
If there were one beer that captured the spirit of the American pioneer, it would be Agrarian Ale’s Country Common. Those who lived during a time when there was no refrigeration and had to use the ingredients that the land gave inspired this special recipe. Organic corn and barley malt are used to produce this classically unique blend, added with nugget hops grown fresh on the Agrarian farm. || Eugene, OR
Propolis Brewing || Spruce
One of the breweries that started this botanical bonanza, Propolis Brewing has consistently made great tasting beers from great tasting ingredients. Their Spruce, which is made with locally grown wheat, spelt, malt, hops and wild-crafted spruce, is an amazing combination of farm-fresh materials. || Port Townsend, WA
Rogue || Pumpkin Savior
Oh yes, Rogue is back and is still at it. This wild brewer, who is never afraid to try something new, has again, tried something new. Rogue decided to make a wit-style beer out of only pumpkins and wheat. The pumpkins used were grown on their very own farm and have that fresh quality to them. It is definitely a unique combination; so if you are looking for something truly new, look no further. || Various brewing locations in Washington and Oregon
Deschutes Brewery || Botanic Ale
While Deschutes is not located on a farm, the ingredients used in their Botanic Ale came from farms in the surrounding area. This beer features juniper, Persian lime, oak, rye, sumac, citrus and spicy hops. This is a challenging ale to get your hands on, as it is an exclusive to Deschutes’ pub, but if you are in the area, it may be something to look into. || Bend, OR
