The Big Muddy Monster Brew Festival will return for its fifth year at Riverside Park in Murphysboro this Saturday.
The fest will feature over 200 beers from local and regional breweries.
Last year the fest was visited by over 1200 thirsty people and organizers say they're expecting more this year.
One local representative is Scratch Brewery in Ava. Their goal for beer making is to put the flavor of Southern Illinois in every batch.
Owner Ryan Tockstein says that one thing that sets them apart is that they forage for a lot of their ingredients in the forest of northern Jackson County.
From rose roots, to nuts, hickory rinds, green or dry leaves the flavor profiles are endless.
"We've used I'd say at least 105 to 110 different plants, mushrooms, types of wood and different objects so every week that we brew, we brew two or three times a week and we always brew something different."
In addition to the 20 breweries the fest will feature live music, food and a home brew tent to learn more about home brewing.
For a closer look at how Scratch makes their beer click here.
