in both the area where gruit existed and outside it, the traditional spices were gradually replaced by hops, in a slow sweep across europe occurring between the 11th century (in the south and east of the holy roman empire) and the late 16th century (great britain). in 16th century britain, a distinction was made between ale, which was unhopped, and beer, brought by dutch merchants, which was hopped. currently, however, ale usually refers to beer produced through a top-fermentation process, not unhopped beer.