A uniquely Southern Illinois take on the traditional French Bière de Garde, Chanterelle showcases locally foraged chanterelle mushrooms in a rustic, malt-driven farmhouse ale from Scratch Brewing Company. The mushrooms contribute an earthy, woodsy complexity that complements the beer’s toasty malt, gentle fruit, spice and subtle caramel character rather than making it overtly mushroom-like. Brewed at Scratch’s farmhouse brewery in Ava, Illinois, it’s a great example of the brewery’s philosophy of incorporating ingredients gathered from the surrounding forests and fields into traditional beer styles. Earthy, savory, complex and distinctly local — a fascinating beer for fans of farmhouse ales and truly unusual brewing.
