The Scratch Thread

I've loved pretty much all I've had. Hickory is always an awesomely unique, interesting, and tasty beer. Their fruited beers have been pretty delightful too (strawberry rhubarb, freestone).

I also loved reading through their Homebrewers Almanac to see interesting ideas and uses of ingredients.

 

I sampled their Sahti and it was an absolutely delicious and super flavorful beer.

I’ve passed up buying bottles while in Chicago due to the price, but I think I’ll pick some up next time I’m there, if they’re available.

 

Where can I find Scratch in Chicago?

 

The 4 places I know of in Chicagoland:
-Beer Temple (most common, the owners loves them - but they also probably sell out their quicker) and West Lakeview Liquors north of downtown.
-Moreno's SW of downtown.
-Open Bottle in Tinley Park

It's very dependent on timing with what's available, if they've made it up to Chicago, etc.

 

A friend of mine's wife was in school at SIU-Carbondale for the past 3 years - he would often bring me up growlers and bottles. Sadly, she just graduated and they're moving to NC, so that connect is done :-)

I definitely hawk Beer Temple's facebook (and I'm not even on facebook) looking for Scratch deliveries.

I've only ticked 19 different Scratch beers according to untappd - the very first Spring Tonic I tried was a revelation - it was like the best boozy ginger ale you could imagine. I remember liking the Alehoof sour which was one of the first growlers he brought me, strawberry rhubarb, and recently, the Pepita ("English mild" made from pumpkin seeds).

So - I'm in for this thread for sure!

 

My wife and I visited Scratch at the eclipse weekend last year. Absolutely the most beautiful brewery setting Ive ever seen. A magical place.

Once you learn their story and see their dedication to use locally foraged ingredients, you will be hooked. Ive had their stuff locally at the Beer Temple and also fobab. Had a few at gabf last year, Bark Sour stood out of that bunch. Gooseberry Saison and Sour Hyssop I loved. Looks like I have 17 Scratch ticks on UT.

Even if I didnt love each beer I tried, I was very interested in their craft and dedication and willingness to experiment with their terroir. I mean, who makes smoked locally foraged mushroom beer???
Awesome thread thanks for starting.

 

Beer Temple has a dedicated Scratch tap line.

 

This sums up exactly how I feel about their beers!

Yes, forgot to mention - was thinking more about bottles - but they always have one Scratch line on tap.

 

Thank you both. Ideally, bottles. Worst case, something on draft.

 

Local Option occasionally gets Scratch kegs too.
In the past they've sent beer to CO, KY, NC, SC, IN, DC, NY, and even Belgium.

Big fan of Scratch, just had a Sour Hyssop at Beer Temple last night. The brewery itself is easily my favorite one in Illinois. Their wet-hopped IPA last year was the best i've had in recent memory. Hopefully it comes back soon...

The owners Marika and Aaron were in Chicago for a Beer Temple event back in May, they shared a lot of their creative process and were super knowledgeable. They talked with the crowd afterwards, and were extremely down to earth people. I'm glad they have been so successful.

 

The people who make their beer from foraged ingredients were.........down to Earth, you say?

 

I don't have any grand thoughts on Scratch, except to say that the few beers I've had from them were all interesting and I'm looking forward to having more.

But I do have one grand thought: this was an excellent post, @dlcarst and it's in the best spirit of this community. Thanks!

 

In terms of experiences, I put Scratch up there with visiting Hill Farmstead, Upright (the old taproom), New Glarus, Hammerheart, and Logsdon (when you could still visit the farm), which is to say a truly special, unique, and inexplicable experience that is more than the sum of its parts; it was magical (at the risk of being too romantic). It's a gorgeous, picturesque environment that feels welcoming and relaxing, a lovely, idyllic respite from the real world. Also, the few food options that they have available are great.

In terms of beer quality alone, I also put them very, very highly. Every beer is unique, to repeat myself, and I don't think they really make a single bad beer (or soda for that matter). Every beer is interesting, balanced, showcases the unusual ingredients without being gimmicky or overpowering the other elements of the beer, and are great beers in their own right outside of their oddities. I also have a ton of respect for the foraging elements of their brewing process.

In short, I don't have a bad word to say about the brewery except that their pricing can be high, though considering the very costly realities that their methods deal in, this is not surprising and is not something that can be held against them at all. They are a hugely underrated and under-mentioned brewery and should absolutely be a destination for anyone and everyone.

 

Stopped by Beer Temple yesterday - they had Spring Tonic, Barrel Aged Cedar Oak, Cherry Bark Biere de Garde, and they had one last Pepita on the shelf but I bought it.