spruce beer

American  

noun

1. a fermented beverage made with spruce leaves and twigs, or an extract from them.

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spruce beer British  

noun

1. an alcoholic drink made of fermented molasses flavoured with spruce twigs and cones

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Etymology

Origin of spruce beer

First recorded in 1490–1500

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

spruce beer

Native Americans brewed spruce beer long before Europeans arrived on the scene.

From Washington Times ● Apr. 29, 2015

A hurricane of energy, built like a barrel of spruce beer, Putnam quickly won the rank of general during the disorganized fighting before Washington took command.

From Time Magazine Archive

At once all the anti-scorbutics were put into requisition, such as lime-juice, pickles, spruce beer; a quantity of mustard and cress had also been raised from mould placed over the stove-pipe, which rapidly grew.

From Notable Voyagers From Columbus to Nordenskiold by Kingston, William Henry Giles

I told th' ole woman that spruce beer ain't so good as usual this brewin'.'

From Cedar Creek From the Shanty to the Settlement by Walshe, Elizabeth Hely

Two men were appointed to brew spruce beer; and the carpenter and his crew were ordered to cut wood.

From A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels — Volume 15 Forming A Complete History Of The Origin And Progress Of Navigation, Discovery, And Commerce, By Sea And Land, From The Earliest Ages To The Present Time by Kerr, Robert