Scratch Brewing

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Southern Illinois microbrewery & farm

Scratch Brewing Company is a farmhouse brewery located five miles from the Shawnee National Forest in Ava, Illinois. Named one of the top four breweries for foraged beer by Outside Magazine, and one of the most beautiful places to drink beer in the world by All About Beer Magazine, Scratch Brewing Company focuses on farmhouse beers and other styles brewed with home grown and locally farmed and foraged ingredients. The brewery has an ever rotating selection of styles enhanced by the innovative addition of local ingredients, such as nettle, elderberry, ginger, dandelion, maple sap, hickory, lavender, juniper, and chanterelle mushrooms.

Owners Marika Josephson and Aaron Kleidon create beer with a diverse array of farmed and foraged ingredients that showcase the “terroir” of Southern Illinois. Kris Pirmann and Adriane Koontz, founders of River to River Farms in Ozark, Illinois, are the brewery's farmers, produce processors, and baker, monitoring the extensive gardens, and helping to plants for the beer and kitchen.


Scratch Brewing 49 Ale....$18.99 / 500ml
Farmhouse beer brewed with 49 different leaves, roots, bark, fruit, and funghi. effervescent and dry with notes of oregano, peppercorn and earthy spice. 5.2% abv


Scratch Brewing Single Tree Hickory...$18.99 / 500ml
A sour ale made using various parts of the hickory tree, such as bark, leaves, and nuts. The beer has a tart flavor profile with a smoky, incense-like aroma and subtle hints of marshmallow. Its unique foraged ingredients make it stand out, creating a rustic, earthy flavor experience that is true to Scratch Brewing’s ethos of using locally sourced, natural ingredients from Southern Illinois

Scratch Brewing Basil IPA...$18.99 / 750ml
One of our all-time classics! This beer’s aroma comes from basil rather than hops, but plays with the chemical compounds present in both to make a beer that tastes intriguingly familiar. Brewed with lemon basil, sweet basil, and tulsi basil from our garden; honey from our friends at Royal Bee in Steeleville; grain from Sugar Creek Malt; and fermented with our house culture. Bright basil and hop-like aroma that tastes fresh now but stands up well to aging. 6.7% abv