debeer1-2, Exercise 2: Gruit and hops

Model answer:

Gruit was a mixture of herbs, such as bog myrtle and yarrow, used to flavour and help preserve beer before hops became standard. Lords and bishops often held a monopoly on producing and selling it, so it brought them income. Hops could be grown and used without that monopoly, and they made beer keep longer and travel further. So the rise of hops weakened the lords' control, changed who could brew and sell, and opened up the long-distance beer trade.