If you're interested in this (unusual) topic, run a search in google. (www.google.com) for nettle beer. You'll find several recipes for it, plus a very interesting discourse on the history of nettles in both brewing and as a medicinial.
The term 'Grasp the Nettle', is said to be because of this: The sting in nettles is in large part formic acid. If you grab the plant quickly and firmly enough the stinging hairs are crushed before they can pierce the skin - the origin of the phrase "time to grasp the nettle ..."
