In the past decade, the craft beer scene in southern Illinois has exploded, and the region continues to produce more and more noteworthy brews. With so many great breweries in the area, you don’t have to travel far for a cold drink and a good time. Here are six of our favorites.
Big Muddy Brewing
Named after the river that courses through Murphysboro, Illinois, Big Muddy Brewing opened more than a decade ago as one of the first craft breweries in the region. It offers eclectic small-batch brews, including the Blueberry Blonde (a light-bodied ale infused with fresh blueberries), the Saluki Dunkeldog (a hybrid of German-style Dunkel and American amber ale named after the Southern Illinois University mascot) and the Big Muddy Monster (an interesting combination of American brown ale and hoppy IPA). (Photo courtesy of Big Muddy Brewing)
Big Muddy Brewing, 1430 N. Seventh St., Murphysboro, Illinois, 618.684.8833, bigmuddybrewing.com
Lieferbräu Brewery
Located in a 130-year-old building in the historic area of Red Bud, Illinois, Lieferbräu Brewery specializes in German-style beer. It has 12 taps, from which flagship beers and seasonal brews flow. Shaper Than a Wit, a Belgian-style witbier brewed with coriander and sweet orange peels, is perfect for sitting in the shade under the fans of the beer garden – plus, it pairs well with the new meat and cheese plates by Miller’s Meat Market available at the brewery. The Daniberry Wheat, a raspberry wheat beer, is also a satisfying seasonal option. (Photo courtesy of Lieferbräu Brewery)
Lieferbräu Brewery, 118 E. Market St., Red Bud, Illinois, 618.282.0807, lieferbrau-brewery.business.site
Route 51 Brewing Co.
At Route 51 Brewing Co. located on – you guessed it – Route 51, customers can quench their thirst with traditional beers such as witbiers, IPAs and stouts infused with seasonal flavors. The Strawberry Wheat is a refreshing, light-bodied beer with subtle hints of fresh strawberries, while the Fuzz Kill is a sour ale with a juicy peach aroma and crisp, acidic finish, to name a couple. When temperatures inevitably drop, we also recommend the Back 40 Porter (a very dark brown ale with roasted and robust woodsy flavor, plus hints of chocolate, herbs and cedarwood that coat the palate for a long-lasting finish) or the Bourbon Pie (a smooth ale with warming cinnamon, bourbon and vanilla notes and an American oak finish). The brewery offers more than beer, though. Check out the food menu featuring wings, loaded fries, chicharrones, meatloaf, fish and chips and more. There’s also live music on the weekends and ample space in the 6,000-square-foot banquet center to host a birthday bash or other special event. (Photo courtesy of Route 51 Brewing Co.)
Route 51 Brewing Co., 18967 N. U.S. Highway 51, Elkville, Illinois, 618.568.2739, route51brewery.com
Scratch Brewing Co.
Located five miles from Shawnee National Forest in Ava, Illinois, Scratch Brewing Co. prides itself on creating farmhouse beers and other styles with homegrown and locally farmed and foraged ingredients such as chanterelle mushrooms, elderberry, ginger, hickory, juniper, lavender, maple sap and nettle. In the gorgeous natural setting of the brewery, enjoy the Dandelion Ginger Tonic (a sour ale fermented with its wild house culture), Filé Farmhouse Ale (a blonde farmhouse ale brewed with sassafras leaves from the property) or Fire-Brewed Pilsner (made entirely with local malt and Illinois-grown hops and brewed over a wood fire in a copper kettle). Even the ingredients on the food menu are hyper-local. We suggest pairing your beer with the bread plate: The assorted breads – made with flour from Janie’s Mill in Ashkum, Illinois – are served with sides, including herb salt, rose syrup, fresh slaw, cardoon pickles and kimchi, made on-site with garden-grown produce. (Photo by Demond Meek)
Scratch Brewing Co., 264 Thompson Road, Ava, Illinois, 618.426.1415, scratchbeer.com
Stubborn German Brewing Co.
In Waterloo, Illinois, Stubborn German Brewing Co. operates out of the first floor and basement of the Masonic Lodge, which was built in 1885. Started by husband-and-wife team Chris and Tammy Rahn in 2013 – although Chris has been homebrewing since 2005 – the brewery offers mainly traditional German-style beers. The lineup rotates frequently, but look for the Fountain Creek Kölsch (brewed with local honey from The Picky Bee), Schitzengiggles (a Munich-style Dunkel) and Waterloo Wheat (the brewery’s take on a hefeweizen). (Photo courtesy of Stubborn German Brewing Co.)
Stubborn German Brewing Co., 119 S. Main St., Waterloo, Illinois, 618.504.2444, stubborngermanbrewing.com
White Rooster Farmhouse Brewery
In an actual farmhouse, three construction workers set out to make the perfect beer. From there, White Rooster Farmhouse Brewery quickly developed into a small-batch brewery in Sparta, Illinois, focused on sour and other Belgian farmhouse-style ales. The brewery’s approach is experimental yet authentic, resulting in barrel-aged beers such as Lush (a sour Baltic porter and sour stout blended with cherries), Commodity (a tart farmhouse ale made with spruce tips) and Infusion (a puncheon-aged sour beer with notes of hibiscus, ginger, turmeric, holy basil and black tea). (Photo courtesy of White Rooster Farmhouse Brewery)
White Rooster Farmhouse Brewery, 113 W. Jackson St., Sparta, Illinois, 618.449.2077, whiteroosterfarmhousebrewery.com
Amanda Bretz
Amanda Bretz is a freelance writer who contributes to Feast Magazine.