In rural eastern Illinois lies a brewery unlike any other.
We first discovered Big Thorn Farm and Brewery during the messy Covid period. Big Thorn offered private igloos (now long gone) for small groups to help with social distancing. That first experience was unique as we found an off grid brewery with its own food truck. It offered unique food options and excellent beer.
Since the farm and brewery is off grid, it relies on solar panels for power. Many more conventional breweries would rely on more energy intensive refrigeration which simply isn’t possible with the solar Big Thorn has. Before refrigeration, breweries gravitated towards cooler areas like caves. Big Thorn uses an earth bermed cellar to brew their beer and naturally keep it cooler. They rely on the farm for many of the natural flavors found in the beer including cherry, oak, hickory, and mulberry logs. This process makes for some of the best beer we have had anywhere. Keep in mind, when we travel, we like to find to local craft beer so we have sampled across the country. We’re not beer snobs but this place turns out awesome beer.
The Greenhouse
The Greenhouse is a refuge from cold gray winter days. While it warms up too much in the summer (it is literally built like a greenhouse), it can be a cozy experience with the faint scent from the wood stoves.
We dress for warmth during the coldest winter nights. There are propane heaters and wood stoves to warm the Greenhouse. You can also find decks of cards but we bring Scrabble from home. Its common to see birthday parties and other celebrations.
The Tree Bar
During the warmer months, the Tree Bar is the primary source of delicious cold beverages.
The Tree Bar recently expanded with more seating so you can sit among the trees to eat and drink like a Tarzan novel. Seriously, how cool is to enjoy a cherry wood wheat while sitting in a tree house?
Sometimes the Tree Bar is full. There are numerous picnic tables and an open pavilion that seats roughly a hundred people. We have also enjoyed our own fire on cool fall nights in the fire pits found between picnic tables. If your group skews younger, there is a sandbox to play in as well.
The Food Truck
Big Thorn features locally sourced and produced food items as much as possible. Sometimes its local bread. Sometimes its chorizo from pigs on the farm.
The menu frequently changes so its a good idea to check their website or Facebook for the menu. Some options include a smoked ham and apricot sandwich, mango habanero chicken tacos, and chipotle black bean rice bowl. A kids menu is also available.
As an added bonus, all of the plates, utensils, and cups are compostable.