Scorched Earth Barrel #28

This barrel-aged sour beer features Marechal Foch and Frontenac grapes from our family vineyard in Marengo, Illinois, that were harvested, destemmed and crushed. Frontenac grapes were developed by the University of Minnesota and released in 1996 as a dark-skinned, hybrid French-American wine grape varietal. Local wine makers will often blend this grape with other wine grapes, and/or make a Port wine. Marechal Foch grapes, developed in Alsace, France, are known to have a “Burgundian” character, and wines made solely with Foch grapes have been compared to a Beaujolais wine.
The grapes were added into wine casks from J’s Vineyard & Winery, located in California’s scenic Russian River Valley in Sonoma County, along with our Exiled Angel Belgian Golden Strong. The beer was fermented for over a year in the barrels with their existing mixed Brett culture, as well as with the cultures native to the Marechal Foch grape skins. Barrel #28 has a beautiful garnet red color, complex dark berry and cherry flavor, balanced acidity, and semi-dry finish. There is also a Brett character that complements the wine grape character.