Conversation:

Not strictly a beer (there's no hops in it), but Fraioch is quite a nice pint.

Well, I was going to argue this, but the brewers website no longer displays the recipe (bang goes my long term plans) and when I eventually found someone who (vaguely) told me what was in it they said no hops. Still, it is a very nice pint.

Ah beat me to it

I have a recipe somewhere just have to find a ton of Heather and some bog murtle.....

Beer doesn't HAVE to be hopped, just most is. The Dutch (I think) introduced hops, English ale was prone to spoiling and hopping acted as an antibatierial agent. The bitter flavour was secondary.

Am I getting too enthusiastic again?

I could have sworn that the definition of beer was a hopped ale.

Could be wrong. I do know that when it was introduced over here in the 15th century only ale with hops was called beer, and it was initially viewed with much suspicion, with many claiming that it gave a much worse hangover.

Bez

I ought to know this I shall have to have a check of my paperwork somewhen.