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

We ate our luncheons with good appetites, and William brought our two stone bottles of spruce beer from the deep place in the brook where he had left them to cool.

From The Queen's Twin and Other Stories by Jewett, Sarah Orne

Both sorts, when decanted clear off, are put up in casks or bottles, and preserved for making spruce beer.

From The Cook and Housekeeper's Complete and Universal Dictionary; Including a System of Modern Cookery, in all Its Various Branches, Adapted to the Use of Private Families by Eaton, Mary, fl. 1823-1849

From the tops of the Norway Spruce fir a favourite invigorating drink is brewed which is known in the north as spruce beer.

From Herbal Simples Approved for Modern Uses of Cure by Fernie, William Thomas