Myrica gale
Hard to find ingredient in Belgian and specialty beers. It’s a very pungent member of Myrtle family. Also called “Bog Mrytle” and “Badge of the Campbells,” Sweet Gale is a deciduous shrub with fragrant wood and leaves found abundantly in the Northern Hemisphere especially on the Scottish moors and bogs. It has been used as a substitute for hops in Yorkshire in a beer named appropriately “Gale Beer.” The seeds and leaves have also been used in soups and stews, perfumes and candles. This is not surprising since it is the same family as bayberry, which is a popular candle scent. Used as a tea infusion it has been known to ease stomach disorders. Well suited for Holiday beers.
