The practice of adding Woodruff Syrup to a tart German-style beer may have been happening for hundreds of years. But we had our first sample on a hot day at Troubled Waters Brewing in Safety Harbor, Florida.
Woodruff?
Woodruff, known as sweet Woodruff’ in the United States or “Waldmeister” in Germany, is a perennial herbaceous plant. The plant is boiled with sugar to create a bright green syrup to sweeten beers and cocktails.
Our trio was on a mission to visit as many breweries as possible during our short stay in St. Petersburg and Tampa, Florida. We were staying in a historic rental cottage in the heart of downtown Safety Harbor. We were lucky to be included in this trip.
With a craft beer connoisseur, a fledgling lover of all things related to beer, and another who prefers wine, nitro-coffee blends, and sour variations, our tastebuds led us to curious and extensive variations of beer.
We had a great starting point in this area because of the abundance of breweries and flavors available.
We’d already visited almost a dozen breweries during our week-long stay before going to Troubled Waters.
We saved the local brewery for the end of a busy day of exploration when we could take a leisurely walk downtown.
We were looking for something refreshing but not punishingly tart or funky.
In the craft brewing beer scene, the bartenders are vital in orchestrating the perfect experience for the individual customer, and a good bartender asks questions. That’s how we discovered Woodruff and raspberry syrups.
Two of us needed something lighter than the heavy stouts and porters. We wanted to try something less bold than an IPA or another fruity sour.
A Weisse beer always seems like a good call in this situation. It mixes wheat and barley malt for a sour taste and a light yellow color.
With or Without
We purchased two Hefe’s and two Fun Police beers and tried each with and without adding Woodruff. The bright green syrup was sweet and changed the mouth feel. We were intrigued.
We learned that Woodruff is a plant that grows close to the ground with small white flowers. The herb imparts a sense of cinnamon or nutmeg, and the fragrance intensifies when the leaves are dried. You can make simple syrup if you can find the herb.
Since our stop at Troubled Waters, we’ve been reminded that many brewers use Woodruff, raspberry, and other fruits or herbs in brewing.
We’ve also located other brewers that offer the simple sweetener to the beer in the taproom. Still, we must credit Troubled Waters Brewing for educating us about a flavoring that shouldn’t be lost in the mix of additions that elevate the beers.
I like the refined version of traditional German or Florida Weisse beers without the sweetener added in the brewing process, and I don’t prefer the syrup poured into the beer. Still, my traveling counterpart did, and that’s the point.
Trust Your Bartender
Breweries continue to expand our perception of what excellent craft beer should taste, look, feel, or smell when you drink it. The brewer has a vision. The customer wants a flavor and experience. And sometimes, two worlds collide where the brewers’ concept brings old-world experiences to capture a new audience.
Capturing a new audience sometimes happens through education.
If you can try the seemingly glowing green syrup or even the red tones of raspberry as a suggested addition to your next Weisse, try it.
A word of caution: Woodruff should only be sampled in small doses, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, because even though it has health benefits, the plant has a mildly toxic compound called coumarin, which may cause liver damage if ingested in high levels or over long periods.
Finding green-tinged Woodruff Syrup through online retailers and specialty grocers is possible. You can try it with your next Belgian- or German-style beer.
Let us know what you think by emailing Editor@BrewsTravelingWomen.com.
For information about Troubled Waters Brewing and Woodruff Syrup, click here.
Cheers!