Beer will make You Soft in More Than One Way

Did You Know Beer Wasn’t Always Making Men Soft?

Before the 1100s, beer was a completely different drink — and a completely different story. It wasn’t packed with feminizing compounds, glyphosate-sprayed grains, or stored in BPA-lined cans. Back then, beer was alive, herbal, and potent — a brew made to energize the body and spirit, not dull it.

This ancient version of beer was called Gruet, and it was made with wild herbs like yarrow, mugwort, juniper, and heather. These plants were known for their restorative and strengthening properties — they supported the body, sharpened the senses, and, some say, even fueled male vitality.

Gruet wasn’t just a drink; it was part of rituals and community gatherings. It was brewed by women, passed down through knowledge and tradition, and it carried a spiritual and physical energy that was deeply human.

Then came the 1100s, and everything changed. The church and the crown wanted control — over the people, over production, and over profit. They began taxing the herbs used in Gruet and promoted hops instead. Why hops?

Because hops made beer last longer. It gave it a longer shelf life, made it easier to standardize, and simpler to regulate and tax. But there was another consequence — and perhaps another intention. Unlike those wild herbs that strengthened and awakened the body, hops are estrogenic. They soften the edge, dull the mood, and tilt hormonal balance.

Over time, Gruet vanished. The herbal knowledge disappeared, and so did the women who brewed it. What remained was a drink redesigned for industry — mass-produced, hormone-warping, and profit-packaged.

So no, beer wasn’t always what it is now. It wasn’t always a drink that made men sluggish or unbalanced. It was once a source of vitality, a craft rooted in nature, community, and strength.

Maybe it’s time we bring that back.

Did you know?