Sandhills’ Finest

Welcome to Scratchtown Brewing Company, the Nebraska Sandhills’ finest and first brewery. We opened our doors in 2013 and since have dedicated ourselves to brewing and serving an assortment of premium-quality handcrafted beer. We take pride in using four simple ingredients (water, malt, hops and yeast) to make complex and delicious beers. Our beer is made with some of the freshest, purest water on the planet – drawn from the Ogalala aquifer right under our feet.

We’re also passionate about our small town roots and the incomparable Nebraska Sandhills. We invite you to visit us here in the Sandhills and enjoy the beauty of the area while sipping on one of our many beers.

Scratchtown is fortunate to be centrally located to four area lakes and rivers. Our water provides some of the best recreation Nebraska has to offer and our beaches are the perfect respite from the “busy-ness” of life. Be sure to make time for a voyage to slow down, kick back and relax in the best of the Good Life.

Sandhills Finest logo since 2013

SBC FOUNDERS

Jade & Michelle Stunkel | Mike & Julie Klimek | Emily & Shay Reilly | Christina & Caleb Pollard

Scratchtown Brewing is owned and operated by the Klimek, Pollard, Reilly and Stunkel families. We decided that from the beginning we would be a purpose-driven company that used the art and science of fermentation to help transform our community. We have been a staple of our downtown Ord business community since 2013, and prefer to operate our business the old-fashioned way. Everything we brew and bottle is by hand. Our owners work the taproom, events and festivals side-by-side with our staff, while running both production and operations.

Meet the SBC Family

  • Julie Klimek

    CO-OWNER/TAPROOM

    Originally from Atkinson, NE, she is part of our ownership circle & the better half of our head brewer, Mike. he was instrumental in starting Scratchtown, as she convinced her skeptical husband that this endeavor would be a good one. Her alter-ego, Julio, is the spirit animal of fun here at SBC.

  • Mike Klimek Co-founder of SBC.

    Mike Klimek

    FOUNDER/CO-OWNER

    A native of Ord, he is one of our founding partners & our Chief Brewing Office.

    He brewed world-class beer as a homebrewer. He had 22 local, regional and national homebrewing awards under his belt before SBC opened. He was a meticulous homebrewer & appreciated (and still does) the precision of his process and the technicality & science behind quality beer creation.

  • Jeni Leth taproom worker at SBC

    Jeni Leth

    TAPROOM

    While Jeni primarily works in our taproom, she’s also stepped in on both brew days & packaging. Jeni hails from Syracuse, NE & you’ll likely see her at Beerfest & SBC events.

  • Caleb Pollard - Co-founder of SBC

    Caleb Pollard

    FOUNDER/CO-OWNER

    Caleb is the visionary, the passionate advocate, & President & Chief Mover of Units for Scratchtown Brewing Company.

    Originally from Nehawka, NE, Caleb’s roots can be found on a generations-old family farm. His love of family, land & connection to community started there and has only grown over the years in Ord & while building Scratchtown.

  • Christina. Photo credit: Alan Bartels

    Christina Pollard

    CO-OWNER/TAPROOM

    Originally from Omaha, NE, she is the soul of this company, & without her blessing, unwavering support & hard work helping make the taproom happen, none of this would be possible. She also help with scheduling, tasting events, cleaning & moving snow occasionally.

  • Emily Reilly

    CO-OWNER/TAPROOM

    Originally from Elk Point, SD, she is part of our ownership circle & the better half of our brewer, Shay.

  • Shay Reilly co-owner of the SBC

    Shay Reilly

    CO-OWNER/CELLERMAN/ASSISTANT BREWER/BEERTENDER

    He is genuinely one of the nicest guys around, & he’s most definitely one of the hardest working gentleman we’ve had the pleasure to work with. Shay is a proud Irishman, hailing originally from Greeley, NE. Both friend & partner, Shay plays an integral role here at SBC.

  • Picture of a co-founder of SBC Jade Stunkel

    Jade Stunkel

    FOUNDER/CO-OWNER

    One of the original three founding partners here at SBC.

    Originally from Ansley NE, Jade was an essential partner in starting the company, & while he doesn’t spend his days here on the operation and production side, he & his wife Michelle continue to be important decision makers for the present & future prospects of the company.

  • Michelle Stunkel Co-Owner of SBC

    Michelle Stunkel

    CO-OWNER/TAPROOM

    Born-&-raised native of Ord, and is married to one of our founding partners, Jade. She is fiercely loyal to her community, her friends & her family. She knows many of our regular customers better than anyone, as she probably grew up with many of them!

HOW SCRATCHTOWN GOT ITS NAME

General EOC Ord blinking

In 1873, US General EOC Ord was conducting a railroad land survey of the region in and around the township that would become Ord. Plagued by a swarm of biting flies and mosquitoes from the recent spring rains, the survey crew completed their land survey in that summer. When asked by his crew what to name the town that would become Ord, the General responded: “Name it Scratchtown.” Instead they named it Ord.

While the name never stuck, the Founders of Scratchtown thought it a perfect name for a brewery. SBC was born January of 2012.