A long, long time ago, beer contained no hops. Instead, its malty sweetness was balanced with other herbs and it was known as “gruit”. The herbs used for bittering and flavor were usually a combination of wild rosemary, sweet gale and yarrow, herbs that became controversial in the Middle Ages due to their supposed stimulant and aphrodisiacal properties. Hops, known for more of a relaxing, sedative effect, replaced the gruit herbs by law during the 15th Century and modern beer was created, leaving even the name gruit behind except for the most obscure of tomes.