On Our Farm, We Grow Beer: The Riggs Family Story

On Our Farm, We Grow Beer: The Riggs Family Story

On our farm, we grow beer!

Growing up on our fifth-generation family farm in Champaign County, my brother Darin and I (Matt Riggs) always knew we wanted to keep our agricultural heritage alive. But like many small farms in the area, we faced a challenging reality: traditional farming alone wasn’t enough to support a family. 

Little did we know that our journey would lead us to create something unique in Central Illinois—a brewery where we truly grow our own beer.

Now, standing at the frontier, where the great American prairies begin, just a few miles east of Urbana, our family’s story is deeply rooted in the rich soil of Central Illinois. When our ancestors arrived in the 1870s, they were part of a remarkable transformation of the American prairie—a story that continues today through every glass of Riggs beer we serve.

Deep Prairie Roots

Our piece of Central Illinois tells a fascinating story. Unlike the forested lands to the east, this was open prairie—land so wild and untamed that even Native Americans only passed through, establishing permanent settlements only near waterways due to the threat of prairie fires. It took the expertise of Northern German immigrants, our ancestors among them, to transform this swampy prairie into farmable land through innovative drainage tile systems in the 1850s-70s.

The barn that inspired our brewery’s logo still stands on our original 1874 farmstead, a testament to the Moore family’s determination. While one branch of the Riggs family lost their farm during the Great Depression—a history that would later shape our business philosophy—the Moore-Riggs farm persevered.

Learning from the Past

Our grandmother, who graduated high school in 1933, often shared stories of the Depression, of lying awake at night listening to her parents worry about losing the farm. These experiences instilled what we call a “comfortable paranoia” in our business approach—a recognition that success isn’t guaranteed and good years don’t justify reckless decisions. When a cousin lost their farm in the 1980s during another agricultural downturn, it reinforced these lessons about financial prudence.

Live music during Oktoberfest

From Farm Boys to Global Craftsmen

Growing up, Darin and I knew we wanted to preserve our farming heritage, but the economics were challenging. Small farms weren’t generating enough income to support a family, leading our parents to encourage careers beyond farming. We both attended the University of Illinois on Navy ROTC scholarships—Darin studying Computer Science and I focusing on Technical Systems Management.

Life had unexpected plans for us both. During my semester abroad, I reconnected with a German exchange student friend, Joe, who introduced me to his sister Caroline. Meanwhile, Darin was stationed in Italy where he met fellow Navy officer Gail at what was supposed to be a soccer game outing (they never made it to the game, but found love instead).

The Path to Brewing

Our brewing journey started humbly. For my 27th birthday, Mom bought me a Mr. Beer homebrew kit, which I quickly outgrew before shipping it to Darin. My passion led me to trade labor for knowledge at San Marcos Brewery in California, while Darin later enhanced his skills through UC Davis’s Master Brewers Program and work at Anheuser Busch.

My German connection, strengthened by marriage to Caroline, led me to Brauhaus Faust in Miltenberg, where I started at the bottom, speaking little German but learning rapidly. Later, at Doemens Academy, I helped launch Hopfenhacker Brewery in Munich while earning my brewmaster certificate.

Coming Home to Grow Beer – On our farm, we grow beer.

By 2015, with Busey Bank’s support, we were ready to bring our dream home. We chose the old T.K. Wendel’s location on the southeast edge of Urbana—perfect for our vision of a spacious beer garden and close to our farm, though admittedly its vacancy also made it affordable for our budget.

Today, Riggs Beer Company leads the regional brewing industry in vertical integration of local grains and sustainable brewing. Each month, thousands of pounds of Riggs-grown grain go into our signature beers:

  • American Lager (5.0% ABV): Crafted with our 6-Row Barley and Low Oil White Corn
  • Hefeweizen (5.2% ABV): A true German wheat beer using Riggs-grown wheat
  • Red Lager (6.0% ABV): German malts meet American innovation
  • IPL (6.2% ABV): Our unique lager interpretation of an IPA

Family Traditions Continue

While Matt and Caroline manage the brewery operations and taproom, Darin and Gail are raising the sixth generation—Anna, Lilly, and Paige—on the same farmstead our ancestors purchased in 1874. As we celebrate 150 years of family farming, we’re excited to see our agricultural heritage evolve into something the community loves.

Visit Our Slice of Beer Heaven

Our 20-acre property features:

Open Thursday and Friday (3-10pm), Saturday (noon-10pm), and Sunday (noon-8pm)

Come experience what makes us unique—where traditional farming meets craft brewing, where family heritage meets innovation, and where we truly grow your beer from the ground up.

Come visit us at 1901 S High Cross Rd, Urbana, IL 61802, or reach out at (217) 718-5345. From our family’s fields to your glass, we’re proud to serve you.