I Apothacer, as an apothecar, enjoy bringing my friends beers brewed with interesting combinations of herbs. As a furry I like to blend the two. Many of you are well aquainted with my catnip beer but I want to branch out a bit. While working in my garden I've been inspired to try a few other animal themed herbal brews.

First would be a more equine brew. It would be an Oatmeal Stout of course but to supplement the hops I would use Alehoof also known as Creeping Charlie. This troublesome and robust weed has been used as a beer additive since ancient times, and it's hoof shaped leaves have given it the name Ale-hoof. I'd call it Charlie Horse Oatmeal Stout.

For a canine brew I'd like to do something exciting like brewing with some home grown hot chilies to incorporate into a red ale. Something to leave you panting. Not sure on a name yet.

To add an ursine twist I was going to do something with the bumper crop of blueberries, blackberries, or black raspberries I have coming along in my yard, along with some honey. Not sure on a name yet.

Any other suggestions, or suggestions for names? It will be a while before I get to these, though I'm drying the Alehoof now on my patio. In my fermenter at the moment is a batch of pitch black porter hopped with home grown cascade hops, bayberry also known as wax myrtle, and black spruce tips. Both those herbal additives were alternatives to hops for early colonists to New England. Today I will be switching that one over to the secondary fermenter and starting up an Extra Special Bitter using a grab bag of hops left to me by a friend and brewer who was moving away. In other news the catnip beer has been tasted and it's the most catnippy brew I've ever created, with a thick head on a golden amber ale.