Five southwest IL craft breweries have created a new local beer. Here are some details

If you are a craft beer lover, five area breweries have created a special brew for you.

It will be the highlight of Craft Beer Week, which kicks off in Alton on Sunday, July 25 and continues at participating breweries the rest of the week.

The five craft breweries have created Farmhouse 66, a Saison-style beer made with 100% Illinois grown products, according to a July 22 press release issued by Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau.

The recipe was created by head brewers James Rogalsky of Old Bakery Beer Company in Alton; Tracy Hutton of Recess Brewing Company in Edwardsville and Mississippi Culture in Staunton; Brandon Valentine of Peel Brewing Company in Edwardsville; Derik Reiser of Old Herald Brewery & Distillery in Collinsville; and Tony Marcolini of Opera House Brewing Company in Hillsboro.

Ingredients include “Violetta barley grown in central Illinois and malted by Gateway Custom Malt in Montgomery County, MO; Brewer’s Gold and Challenger Hops from 3.9 Hops, Millstadt; honey from Dow on the Farm, Dow; Raw Wheat from Janie’s Mill, Ashkum; and Saisonstein Monster yeast from Omega Yeast, Chicago,” stated the release.

Each collaborating brewery added its own flavors:

• Old Bakery Beer Company – Locally grown anise hyssop and lemongrass from Flourish Farm

• Recess Brewing Company – Habanero hot honey

• Peel Brewery – Season fruit with white peach

• Old Herald – Seasonal fruit with watermelon

• Opera House Brewing – Complex spicy and fruity flavors

Farmhouse 66 will be available only at participating breweries during Craft Beer Week, which runs from July 25-31. For information about Craft Beer Week, visit riversandroutes.com.