Big Thorn Farm and Brewery

Our brewing-fueled life began to take shape in 2009 when Aaron (A.Y.) starting homebrewing ferociously. Countless brew sessions and an apartment filled with dozens of fermenting carboys gave him the necessary knowledge to take the head brewing position at JT Walker's Brewery in Mahomet, Illinois in 2011. 

​

In the Spring of 2011, with a future farm brewery always in mind, we took our vision to the next level with the purchase of 15 acres in Vermilion County, Illinois. We planted our first 60 hop plants and excitedly watched them grow. While A.Y. was brewing professionally, Anna started honing her skills on the farm. While working at the Blind Pig Brewery in Champaign, she planted berries, fruit trees, herbs, mushrooms, garlic, and baby ginger, and started marketing produce to area restaurants, knowing that the ultimate goal was to grow things for use in beer on the farm.