In a world where craft beer enthusiasts are constantly seeking new and unique flavors, many find themselves wondering about the origins of their favorite brews. What sets one beer apart from another? How much does the choice of brewing ingredients really matter? And in a time of increasing concern about sustainability and local sourcing, how can beer lovers ensure their choices align with their values?
As fifth-generation farmers turned brewers, we at Riggs Beer Company bring a unique perspective to these questions. Our journey from tending 300 acres of family farmland to operating a thriving brewery has given us invaluable insights into every step of the beer-making process – from selecting and cultivating the perfect brewing ingredients to crafting the final product in your glass.
In this article, we’ll take you on a journey through our fields and fermenters, revealing how our farming background influences our brewing process. You’ll discover the unique grains we use, why we choose them, and how they impact the flavor of our beers. By the end, you’ll have a new appreciation for what goes into every pint of Riggs beer, and how our “grain to glass” approach creates a truly distinctive drinking experience.
Our Farming Roots
The Riggs family farm has been a fixture in Champaign County since 1874. For five generations, we’ve worked this land, adapting to the changing times and challenges of agriculture. We realized early on that our 300-acre farm needed to find innovative ways to remain competitive in today’s agricultural landscape. The idea of starting a brewery emerged as a perfect blend of our farming heritage and a new venture that could add value to our farm’s produce.
The Grains That Make Our Beer Unique
At Riggs Beer Company, we primarily grow and use three types of grain in our brewing process: barley, wheat, and corn. Each of these plays a crucial role in creating our distinctive beers.
Brewing Ingredient – Barley: The Foundation of Beer
Barley is the cornerstone of beer production worldwide, and it’s no different at Riggs. However, our approach to barley is anything but ordinary. We’ve chosen to focus on six-row barley, a variety that was once the standard in American brewing but has become less common in recent years. We believe this “heirloom” variety offers a more flavorful and unique profile to our beers.
Growing barley in central Illinois presents unique challenges, particularly with our harsh winters. This has led us to experiment with different varieties to find those that can thrive in our local conditions.
Brewing Ingredient – Wheat: A Local Success Story
Wheat is another crucial ingredient in our brewing process, particularly for our best-selling wheat beer. The wheat we use comes from a variety developed by the University of Illinois breeding program, specifically designed to grow well in our local climate.
Brewing Ingredient – Corn: A Midwestern Twist
While corn might seem like an unusual ingredient for beer, it’s a staple in some of our American-style brews. We use a special, ultra-low oil white corn variety, also developed by the University of Illinois. This unique corn variety allows us to incorporate whole kernel corn into our brewing process without the need for expensive milling equipment, resulting in cleaner flavors and better foam stability in our beers.
Sustainable Practices in Our Fields
Our approach to farming is deeply rooted in sustainability. We’re constantly experimenting with ways to reduce our environmental impact while maintaining the high quality of our grains.
One innovative practice we’ve implemented is the use of cover crops, particularly red clover, to naturally fix nitrogen in the soil. This allows us to reduce or eliminate the use of synthetic fertilizers in some of our fields.
We’re also exploring ways to minimize the use of pesticides and herbicides. While it’s still a work in progress, we’re committed to finding sustainable solutions that work for our farm and our beer.
From Field to Can: The Riggs Difference
Our unique “grain to glass” approach allows us to control every step of the brewing process, from planting the seeds to pouring the final product. This vertical integration not only ensures the quality of our brewing ingredients and beers but also significantly reduces our carbon footprint.
By growing our own ingredients just 15 miles from the brewery, we’ve drastically reduced the transportation involved in our brewing process, making our operation more sustainable and environmentally friendly.
Experience the Taste of Local
At Riggs Beer Company, we’re not just making beer – we’re crafting a taste of our local terroir. From our heirloom six-row barley to our ultra-low oil corn, every ingredient is chosen and cultivated with care to create beers that are uniquely Midwestern.
We invite you to visit our taproom and beer garden, where you can enjoy a pint while looking out over the very fields where our ingredients are grown. Come taste the difference that locally grown, carefully crafted beer can make.
At Riggs Beer Company, we’re proud to say that on our farm, we truly do grow beer. And we can’t wait to share it with you.