Shroom Broom
Payette Brewing

pretty sick to do a beer with mushrooms, lions mane too is even more uncommon, and i had really high hopes for this, seems way out of left field for these guys, who are not really known for innovation or real interesting ingredients, stoke levels off the charts to finally try it! love the name too. i immediately learn that the base beer is just their fly line vienna lager, which is just okay, infused with these mushrooms, not sure how or when in the process they were added, but it could be as simple as added to finished beer, the mushroom aspect of this is pretty subtle, its earthy yeah, but a lot of its nuance is lost to the bready sweetness of the base beer, its vienna lager first and mushroom beer distant second. nutty amber malt notes, chestnut, bread yeast and crust both, toffee, almond, and some moist earthiness that i suppose must be attributed to the mushroom, but it doesnt smell like mushrooms per se, it all just seems kind of muted, and thats true in the flavor too, where the grain and its richness, even though not heavy, are enough to crowd out the mushroom character i was hoping for, it ends up being more cool because it exists in here, not because it can really be tasted or fully appreciated. i think i was hoping for something a little more defined by the fungus. i dont dislike this, but its not at all as interesting as anticipated. would love to see them take a bolder approach with the mushrooms next time, and i think the fly line base isnt a bad place to start really, but the mushrooms have to push through the grain when they make this again...

Pour at Beer & Friends. Dark golden pour, clear, wispy white head. Malty aroma, earthy. Taste is sweet, earthy, drying out towards the finish. Slippery feel.