(Courtesy Gruitday)

The beer biz never sleeps at American Craft Beer. And here’s just some of what’s been happening in the beer world while you were enjoying the weekend

Best Gruit Beer Brewery Of 2025

In America, we celebrate the important holidays – Groundhog Day (say good-bye to winter, because our furry weatherman saw no shadow this year), Valentine’s Day (an excuse to overcharge for roses) and our favorite, International Stout Day . But on February 1^st  fans all over the world celebrated 13th International Gruitday. And this year for the first time an international jury awarded a Gruit beer brewery of the year!

So, what the hell is a Gruit Ale anyway?

Gruit or Grut (German for herb) Ale is essentially any brew that uses an herbal mixture as a flavoring or bittering agent in place of hops. Many of the original herbs used are more or less unfamiliar in name, such as sweet gale, yarrow, ground ivy, horehound, and heather, while other adjuncts, such as juniper berries, ginger, caraway seed, and aniseed, can be more easily discerned by today’s drinkers.

And on February 1^st, international journey of eight judges out of five countries named the best “gruiteries” (Gruit beer breweries) of 2025. First place went to Brauerei Napf in Walterswil, Switzerland for its Wild Man Gruit, a 7.5% ABV Strong Ale  that was spiced with a 13ft spruce tree.

Brauerei Napf was founded by Martin Silvio Bühler in 2005, close to the Swiss capital, Bern. They brew classical beers like lager as well as experimental beers like Gruit Ales with different kinds of herbs.

Words to Drink By

“Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe.” – Albert Einstein, German-born theoretical physicist who is best known for developing the theory of relativity

New England Craft Brew Summit Returns

On Friday, March 7, the New England Craft Brew Summit will return to Portland, Maine with more than 500 500 brewers, brewery owners and industry professionals s in attendance.

This year’s summit will feature Sam Calagione, founder of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery in Milton, Delaware, as its keynote speaker.

Dogfish Head, Maine, is the spiritual home of our Dogfish Head brand, even though our physical home is in coastal Delaware,” said Calagione…

“The craft beer community has always thrived on collaboration and creativity, and this summit gives us the space to explore new ways to adapt and innovate. I’m looking forward to connecting with brewers from across New England and diving into conversations that will help shape the future of craft beer. Together, we are heavy!”

Reflecting a difficult period of transformation in the craft brewing industry, this year’s theme, The Fermentation of Change: Redefining Craft Beer’s Future reasserts the summit’s commitment to providing brewers with tools and strategies to navigate these changes.

###

Got Something We Need To Know About? Send Your Press Releases to: pr@AmericanCraftBeer.com