Trails & Tales Iowa Travel Guide - Fall 2022

Iowa Trails & Tales is located in Humboldt, Iowa, printed and distributed Free quarterly to visitors, tourists and to anyone interested in the Craft Beverage industry in the state. Opinions expressed in Iowa Trails & Tales are not necessarily those of the publication personnel, but of the writers who contribute editorial to the publication. ERROR

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Welcome to the first issue of IOWA Trails & Tales Travel Guide, a FREE publication dedicated to promoting the State’s unique Craft Beverage Producers. Whether you are just getting started on your craft beverage experience or you are a seasoned pro, we make it easy to discover Iowa’s craft beverages to ensure you have the best possible experience!

As home to more than 200 craft Wineries, Breweries and Distilleries, this convenient Iowa Guide helps you find the craft beverages you want to experience. Browse the Guide, find the Regions you will be visiting and get started on your craft beverage journey. In addition to highlighting beverage makers in each Region, we also include areas of interest to help make your stay with us most enjoyable.

Our website gives you more ways to explore Iowa’s craft beverage scene, including a full listing of every Winery, Brewery and Distillery Trail in Iowa, a Calendar for special events, a full craft beverage trail listing, and more: www.trails-tales.net. We hope you will discover what makes Iowa’s craft beverage makers so special and enjoy your exploration of our friendly and beautiful state!

Iowa Wine Trail

Explore the Iowa Wine Trail & Quaint Towns Along the Way

by Alyssa L. Ochs

If you’re new to the concept of traveling along a wine trail, where better to start than with one of the originals? The Iowa Wine Trail is the oldest wine trail in the state and features a wonderful collection of wineries in the Upper Mississippi Valley wine region in the Northeastern part of the state.

This part of Iowa known for its rolling hills, scenic byways and cold-water streams filled with trout. But for wine enthusiasts, it is also a place to learn about the region’s special varietals from experienced winemakers that produce award-winning wines. Better yet, there are semi-annual events scheduled along the Iowa Wine Trail, other local attractions to see throughout the year and Bed & Breakfast partners to make a full weekend out of your vineyard adventure.

Region and Trail Details

When you take a trip along the Iowa Wine Trail, you have the opportunity to visit some lovely small towns, including Baldwin, Bankston, DeWitt, Decorah, Fredericksburg, Guttenberg, Marquette, Waukon and West Branch. For geographic reference if you are not from the region, the trail is generally located east of Waterloo, west of Dubuque and north of Cedar Rapids and Iowa City. The route skips the big interstates and takes you through the backroads via Highways 3, 18, and 52.

The Iowa Wine Trail is a very well-established craft beverage trail with its own website, map and passport pro-

gram. For the passport program, visitors go to each member winery along the trail and receive stamps that can be traded in for a souvenir wine glass at the end the experience. No purchase is necessary to receive the passport stamps or wine glass. Visitors can get their passports stamped on any day except during an Iowa Wine Trail event and redeem passports at any time.

Unique Features of the Iowa Wine Trail

Something that makes this wine trail unique is the specific grape varietals grown in the region. The grapes here must be very hardy and be able to survive when temperatures drop to 35 degrees below zero in the winter. Early and late frosts, high humidity and nonstop rain are issues that make growing grapes in this part of Iowa a

challenge. Yet the wineries that have persisted and succeeded in this harsh environment produce world-class wines that are unlike any other you’ve tasted before. Grape varietals featured in the Iowa Wine Trail wineries include Brianna, Edelweiss, Frontenac, Frontenac Blanc, Frontenac Gris, La Crescent, La Crosse, Marechal Foch, Marquette, Seyval Blanc, St. Pepin and Petite Pearl. Local wines are produced not only from locally grown grapes, but local berries and honey too.

Beth Guzman from Winneshiek Wildberry Winery told Iowa Trails and Tales that the Iowa Wine Trail is rewarding for travelers because it accomplishes many travel goals, such as sightseeing, learning and indulging in locally made flavors and goods.

“Naturally, our name of the game is

wine and we’re here to celebrate with other wine enthusiasts by opening our doors to share our unique creations,” Guzman said. “The Iowa Wine Trail additionally offers opportunities for local members to get out and try new wineries and the wines that they offer. Of course, many travelers take advantage of the traveling opportunity to see what The Driftless area offers. We produce wines and grow grapes that can grow well in the Midwest, like Brianna, Petite Pearl, La Crescent, Frontenac (red, blanc and gris) and Marquette –to name a few!”

Participating Wineries to Visit

There are approximately nine participating wineries that are part of the Iowa Wine Trail, which is a manageable number of establishments to visit if (Continued on page 38)

Getting to Know Northwest Iowa’s Craft Beverage Scene

Introduction to Northwest Iowa

Water sports enthusiasts flock to Northwest Iowa every summer for boating, sailing, jet skiing and endless family fun. This part of the state is home to Iowa’s Great Lakes and a place where there are over 13,000 acres of water and 86 combined miles of lakeside shoreline.

But something that travelers might not yet know is that Northwest Iowa also has a growing craft beverage scene with excellent wineries, breweries and distilleries that are worth visiting. These friendly and welcoming businesses provide a perfect way to relax,

by Alyssa L. Ochs

unwind and get to know the area from a local perspective. It’s easy to live the good life along the lake and with your favorite beverage in hand when you travel to Northwest Iowa!

Northwest Region Details

Northwest Iowa is filled with gently rolling plains, many small towns and rural farming communities. Compared to the rest of the state, Northwest Iowa has the highest elevation and is colder and drier – much like the climate across the border in nearby North and South Dakotas. You’ll find much of the land cultivated for row crops, used for pastureland and preserved as natural

Credit: Tom Gustafson, Courtesy of Okoboji Tourism

prairie with abundant flora and fauna.

All of these factors affect how craft beverage producers source their ingredients, create unique products and market them to the local population and tourists. For example, vineyards in Northwest Iowa have learned to adapt to and embrace the bitterly cold winters and scorching hot summers of the region to grow their grapes.

geography

Northwest

The emergence of Iowa hop farms has also been on the rise in recent years, an effort that is supporting the local brewing industry and impacting the regional economy. Meanwhile, many craft distilleries are adopting a grain-toglass mentality and sourcing their corn and grains from Iowa farms just a few miles down the road from their distilling operations.

Each craft beverage region in the state of Iowa and across the country is unique, and Northwest Iowa is undoubtedly no exception. Homegrown

Northwest Iowa wine stands out because it comes from grapevines propagated to survive extreme hot and cold temperatures. LaCrescent, Edelweiss, St. Croix, Lacrosse and Frontenac are some of the most common varietals in Northwest Iowa.

Something else that is unique about craft wineries, breweries and distilleries in this region is the locations of their operations. You can sip locally produced beverages in renovated school buildings, new construction developments, family farms and everywhere in between.

Northwest Iowa does not have a huge population center, but some towns with notable craft beverage scenes are Sioux City , Fort Dodge and Humbold. Yet this is actually an advantage of traveling through the region since the journey from one craft beverage

business to the next will involve peaceful, scenic drives and no shortage of enticing stops along the way.

Top Craft Beverage Destinations

With numerous craft beverage establishments scattered across the region, where should a first-time visitor to Northwest Iowa begin? Here are a few highly recommended destinations:

Plum Creek Winery: Located seven miles from Algona, Iowa, is a family-owned business with about two acres of grapes planted. It has been part of the local wine scene since 2012 and offers fun “Paint and Pour” nights to help you tap into your creative side, as well as a brand-new outdoor wedding venue.

River Valley Orchards Winery & Distillery: Located four miles from

Humboldt, Iowa and along Highway 3. The history of this family farm dates back to 1998, and it has since expanded to offer 19 excellent wines – most of which are made exclusively from fruit grown right here on the farm.

Rustic Rivery Winery & Vineyard: A family owned winery & vineyard located in rural Lake View is a true family affair. What began as a fully operating farm has diversified into offering a full selection of medal winning wines. The Winery makes the perfect venue for an intimate wedding, baby shower, wedding shower, birthday party, family/ friend gathering, or simply just a relaxing spot to unwind on the weekends. Their 4 acre corn maze is designed with the idea that everyone can navigate their way through the unique pattern! Check out their haunted maze every October.

S&B Farms Distillery: Located in Bancroft, Iowa is a first-generation, seed-to-spirit distillery that uses grains grown from its very own farm. It has won numerous awards for its spirits and promises a genuinely smooth taste in every bottle.

Shiny Top Brewing: Nate & Todd McCubbin brought Shiny Top Brewing to Fort Dodge, Iowa, along with great beer, a friendly atmosphere and a showcase of local talent. Not only can you enjoy a tasty brew here, but also weekly pizza specials, live music and displays from local artists.

TractorLift Brewery: Is a nano-brewery in Humboldt, Iowa that adopted an old post office building as its taproom location. Larry Beilke, the owner of TractorLift, welcomes beer-lovers to bring in their own food and enjoy one of the many tasty beers on tap.

Wise I Brewing Company: Inspired by Iowan history and a love for delicious craft beverages, Wise I Brewing Company is located in Le Mars and offers a variety of flagship and seasonal/rotational brews. Wise I tries to tie everything back to its Iowa roots in some way, and every beer created here has its own unique story.

Nearby Local Attractions

However, sipping delicious wines, beers and spirits is just one of the many things you can do on a trip to Northwest Iowa. Here are a few examples of other local attractions to add to your travel itinerary:

Fort Dodge Attractions

• Fort Frenzy: the largest and most popular family entertainment center in Fort Dodge. Featuring dozens

of indoor and outdoor activities, there’s something for everyone including go karts, bowling, bumper boats and arcade games. Get competitive on the miniature golf course or stop by for special events and concerts.

• Fort Museum & Frontier Village: Replica town & Fort that offers a look at 1850’s life. The Fort Museum houses thousands of historical and military artifacts, including Native American and pioneer items.

Spencer Attractions

• Spencer’s Historic District: Take a walking tour of Spencer’s Historic Grand Avenue Commercial District! Tour booklets are available at the Spencer Main Street Office and Clay County CVB Office.

Rustic River is a family owned winery gem in rural Iowa. Come and relax on the patio overlooking four acres of grapes. Visit the tasting room and enjoy our award winning wines.

April-December Hours:

West Bend Attractions

• Grotto of the Redemption: The largest man-made Grotto in the world. The Grotto stands as a testimony in stone, a treasured work of art. Covering a city block, the Grotto represents the largest collection of precious and semi-precious rocks, minerals, fossils and petrifactions concentrated in any one spot in the world.

• Smoldering Cigar: Down the road in Livermore with a great selection of cigars and accessories.

To learn more about things to do and where to stay in Northwest Iowa, check out the official Travel Iowa website www.traveliowa.com and browse our guide Iowa Trails & Tales for fun trip ideas and inspiration or visit our website www.trails-tales.net

Sip and Enjoy the Scenery in Northeast Iowa

by Alyssa L. Ochs

Introduction to Northeast Iowa

With some of the best outdoor recreation opportunities in the entire Midwest, Northeast Iowa is a beautiful place to visit, with landscapes ranging from wooded hills to cold-water streams, caves and views of the Upper Mississippi River. After relaxing days filled with exercise and the great outdoors, it’s fun to kick back and relax with a refreshing beverage hand-crafted by a local brewery or winery.

There are quite a few craft beverage establishments worth visiting in this re-

gion of Iowa, which perfectly complement the small town vibes that you’ll discover on a road trip stop, weekend getaway or weeklong vacation. Let’s go exploring!

Northeast Region Details

Northeast Iowa is a mostly rural area of the state that extends to where the Mississippi River Valley meets up with the borders of Wisconsin & Illinois. It is a region with unique natural landscapes that are ideal for fishing, kayaking, hiking, biking, camping, cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. But these landscapes also have an impact on how wine grapes are grown

Upper Iowa River

and how craft beer ingredients are sourced.

region, here are counties that make up Northeast Iowa:

There are over 40 different types of cold-hearty grapes grown in Iowa, but new grape varieties have emerged and been especially thriving in the eastern part of the state. Frontenac and La Crescent are commonly grown in Northeast Iowa and produce wines that are high-quality but often have a more fruity or tart taste compared to wines from grapes grown in California.

Meanwhile, an increasing number of farmers are growing hops in the eastern part of the state to tap into the popular craft beer industry. Hops grow well in the rich soil of the region, although the humidity levels can create breeding grounds for downy mildew without proper fungicide application.

Hops are also helping local farmers diversify their crops and ensure long-term sustainability. Yet they are a labor-intensive crop that requires substantial pruning and a harvesting process that involves separating hop cones from the bines after cutting them down and putting them in a stationary combine. To help familiarize yourself with the geography of this vast

Worth

Mitchell

Howard

Winneshiek

Allamakee

Cerro Gordo

Floyd

Chickasaw

Fayette

Clayton

Franklin

Butler

Bremer

Hardin

Grundy

Black Hawk

Buchanan

Delaware

Dubuque

Benton

Linn

Jones

Jackson

Why Visit Northeast Iowa?

Many of the wineries, breweries and distilleries in Northeast Iowa have a very family-run and friendly vibe that is low-key and welcoming. There is a manageable number of homegrown wine, beer and spirits establishments in the region, which makes it very possible to check out at least a majority of them on an extended trip.

When you visit the local wineries, you’ll often have an opportunity to talk directly with the owners and learn about their craft and passion for the industry. These small businesses are unpretentious and focus on quality while paying attention to even the smallest details, which keeps local residents coming back again and again. Some are even child-friendly and pet-friendly, so you can easily spend an afternoon with

everyone you love in a beautiful outdoor space while admiring the gentle rolling hills and quiet countryside.

On the beer side of things, the homebrewing movement is strong in Northeast Iowa, leading many successful entrepreneurs to open up their own commercial breweries. These new establishments are driving the local economy and adding diversity to an already-thriving craft beverage scene that is bringing both locals and tourists together.

Top Craft Beverage Destinations

Northeast Iowa is home to some excellent breweries, wineries and even a campground with its own bar! Here are a few of our favorite places to grab a drink, relax and live like a local in this region:

Many Iowans go camping regularly, but very few can say they have been to a campground with a bar on site! The Bluffton Campground and Bar is located about 15 miles from Decorah and has a bar open on Tuesdays through Sundays. Kayak and canoe rentals are also available.

PromiseLand Winery is a family-run winery owned by Pat and Cindy Wachendorf. Located in Guttenberg, the winery also hosts seasonal live music in the back courtyard on Sundays and freshly baked pizzas if you get hungry. Inside the winery, you will find a spacious tasting room, an event room that can be used for small to medium-sized parties, and six boutiques that will fulfill your shopping needs! Feel free to take a walk or drive up to our vineyard to see where our award-winning wines began. Enjoy some music in the back courtyard when the weather is nice or

warm up by a cozy fire when it’s too cold to be outside! Whatever the occasion, PromiseLand Winery is a unique and gorgeous destination!

Winneshiek Wildberry Winery: Is a family-owned and operated winery specializing in fruit and Midwestern grape wines, which are best enjoyed while taking in the view from the winery’s patio. Located on a 150-year family farm, Winneshiek Wildberry Winery also offers a food menu and wine-themed gifts.

Toppling Goliath Brewing Company: Is a Decorah brewery that has been on the local scene since 2009. It is wellknown for its IPAs and barrel stouts but serves over 40 rotating beers throughout the year in its friendly taproom.

Nearby Local Attractions

As you are exploring Northeast Iowa and checking these highly rated beverage destinations off your itinerary, make sure to visit some of these popular local attractions as well:

Cedar Falls, IA

• Cedar Falls Beer Trail: The Cedar Falls Beer Trail showcases local craft breweries and taprooms in Cedar Falls and celebrates the safe use of its extensive, 100-mile trail system. Pick up a passport at one of the seven participating breweries/taprooms or print a passport at home from www.cedarfallstourism.org/ webres/File/Trails/BeerTrail-Passport-2022.pdf Each passport may be used by one person age 21 or older.

Decorah, IA

• Trout Streams: Northeast Iowa is

PromiseLand is the perfect destination for a day trip! Right off of the Great River Road, which provides gorgeous views of the Iowa countryside. Our indoor space includes six boutiques that will fulfill your shopping and snacking needs, and our menu features a variety of freshly-baked pizzas if you’re craving something a little more. Our back courtyard is the beloved home to live music on Sunday afternoons, featuring wonderful local and regional talent (March through November). 39053 Great River Rd • Guttenberg, IA 52052 563-252-2665 • Promiselandwinery.com facebook.com/PromiseLandWinery *Check website or Facebook for current hours

known to have some of the most pristine streams in the entire state, perhaps the upper Midwest.

• Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum & Folk Art School: Learn about Norwegian-American history at Vesterheim.

• Upper Iowa River: Is perhaps the most widely-recognized river in Iowa and one of the first in the nation to be nominated as a national Wild and Scenic River in the 1960s.

Guttenberg, IA

• Lock and Dam NO. 10: There is a beautiful park all along the Mississippi River on both sides of the Lock and Dam with an observation deck at the lock where you can view ships going through the lock. Interesting

for the whole family. Be sure to visit the Lockmaster’s Museum too!

• Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge: is a 240,000-acre, 261-mile long National Wildlife Refuge located in and along the Upper Mississippi River. It runs from Wabasha, Minnesota in the north to Rock Island, Illinois in the south. In its northern portion, it is in the Driftless Area, a region of North America that remained free from ice during the last ice age.

Dubuque, IA

• National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium: The animals, culture and history of Iowa’s rivers come to life through dynamic exhibits, aquariums, animal encounters, a 3D/4D theater, William M. Black

dredge boat and more on this 10acre campus.

No matter the destination, supporting local businesses while connecting with people who share your interests is always rewarding. We hope you enjoy these craft beverage hot spots and local attractions along the way of whatever journey you’re taking.

To learn more about things to do and where to stay in Northeast Iowa, check out the official Travel Iowa website www.traveliowa.com and browse our guide Iowa Trails & Tales for fun trip ideas and inspiration or visit our website www.trails-tales.net

Credit: Boone Scenic Valley Railroad

Raising a Glass To All That Central Iowa Offers

by Gerald Dlubala

Introduction to Central Iowa

Iowa remains a state comprised of more small towns than large cities, and visitors can expect to experience the best of both worlds with a trip to Central Iowa. After experiencing modern city amenities mixed with eclectic college town vibes and scenic natural wonders, your day will be complete by sampling a locally made craft beverage or glass of wine from one of the many options in the region. With terrain and climate that provide exceptional conditions for quality ingredients and grape growing, your time will be well-spent visiting one of the many local craft beverage producers in this

region. Let’s all raise a glass to your Central Iowa travels!

Central Region Details

Central Iowa offers a four-season climate, with the January winter temperatures averaging just 14° Fahrenheit in the northwest to the lower 20s in the southwestern areas. Most of central Iowa is covered by drift plains, a sedimentary combination of clay, sand, gravel, and rock left over from ice age glaciers that is ideal for agriculture. Iowa’s central region sits cradled between the Des Moines and Iowa Rivers, in between the famous Loess Hills. This region lays claim to a distinc-

tively formed landscape that produces a unique micro-climate with exceptional drainage capability. Protected by the Des Moines River bluffs, this corridor is sheltered from the most extreme heat and cold conditions, consequently forming an excellent area for growing grapes. Just another reason for you to stop into the region’s local craft beverage producers to see what they have to offer.

When exploring Central Iowa, you’ll be experiencing life in these counties:

local climate conditions and accompanying weather extremes. This region produces popular wines with the Boule de Poils (similar to Sauvignon Blanc), the Marechal Foch, and the Frontenac grape varietals.

Top Craft Beverage Destinations

Should you decide to check in on some of the great craft beverage artisans in Central Iowa, the following is a diverse list of top participating producers to get you started:

Van Wijk Winery: Located in Sully offers visitors a chance to celebrate their day, or just life in general, in a stone castle setting complete with a cottage garden, courtyard, and patio to match your mood. Choose from over 40 wines, craft beer options, Italian sodas, or specialty coffees. Can’t decide? A complimentary tasting may help.

Jasper

Adair

Madison

Warren

Marion

Mahaska

Poweshiek

Why Visit Central Iowa?

From the smell of burning rubber at the speedway to the educational ambiance of a recognized Museum of Natural History, this region delivers on making your day memorable. When it’s time to kick back and relax, this region offers award-winning craft beverages from local artisans for your enjoyment. Wines from Central Iowa are made primarily from Vitis Riparia, or the Frost Grape, a University of Minnesota developed grape varietal specifically developed to withstand the

Confluence Brewing Company: Is a must stop destination in Des Moines to taste the beer that Des Moines calls it’s own. There’s no better place to enjoy great beer, beautiful times, and good friends with a spacious taproom and patio. In addition, visitors can bring in their own food, buy something from on-site food trucks, or order delivery from one of the nearby local restaurants.

The Hall: Also in Des Moines, this is your destination if you just can’t decide what you’re in the mood for or if you have a large group to satisfy. The Hall is the modern version of a food court, a spacious hall offering over 50 options for beer and wine on tap, and a rotating lineup of local gourmet food trucks to fill your belly. The Hall believes that food and drink should be a shared community experience with the oppor-

tunity for conversation. That is easy to do with a lineup of the best offerings in the area.

Firetrucker Brewery: Get a dose of art with your craft beer by checking into Firetrucker Brewery in Ankeny. Firetrucker’s constant rotation of new and exciting beers and infusions is complimented by their use of artistic labels on their can. Customers can expect to see creative labels developed in-house and in collaboration with art houses to promote artists, local events, and community happenings. As all craft beer enthusiasts know, beer is art. At Firetrucker, they take that slogan seriously and promote it deliciously.

Nearby Local Attractions

The combination of food, drink, and conversation is always a good time, but

central Iowa offers many great attractions. Below are some popular options to get you started on your Central Iowa journey.

Des Moines, IA

• Capitol Building: Tour the Iowa State Capitol building, the only U.S. Statehouse with five domes.

• Iowa State Fairgrounds: Each August, it’s a fairground, but for the other 354 days of the year, it is the home to auto shows, livestock exhibitions, flea markets, antique shows, concerts, trade shows and more. See what’s happening at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.

• Adventureland Park: More than 100 rides, shows, and attractions, including the new family spinning

Confluence brews the hand-crafted beer that Des Moines, Iowa, can call its own.

If you savor beer as both a bold taste adventure in the present and a connection with generations past, Confluence Brewery was founded for you.

We’re devoted to creating a confluence of great beer, good friends and wonderful times — and look forward to bringing you together with a pint very soon.

Confluence Brewing Company C

onfluence Brewing Company is defined by respect for tradition, passion for innovation, and relentless commitment to quality, making it a favorite among locals and a preferred stop for those traveling through.

Upon entering you’ll discover an inviting taproom and a spacious, welcoming beer garden offering a wide selection of your favorite and future favorite brews poured from 36 draft lines. In true Confluence fashion, you can choose from traditional light or dark beers, hoppy, malty, barrel-aged selections, sours, ciders, and even a few guest beers. There are also kombucha, non-alcohol, soft, and sports drink choices. Although they do not serve food in their taproom, guests are welcome to purchase food from occasional on-site vendors, bring their favorites to enjoy, or get food delivered from nearby local restaurants.

While enjoying the finest English Ales, Belgian brews, Hazy IPAs, and everything in between, you can also enjoy some of the area’s best entertainment and live music on Thursday evenings and Friday nights through Spring and Summer.

private reservable event space for up to 100 of your closest friends. In addition, with access to Gray’s Lake bike trail, the brewery is bicycle friendly and offers plenty of bicycle parking.

As startup stories go, it’s hard to top the origins of Confluence Brewing Company. In 1991, local Iowan John Martin and his friend Sean McClain set out to create and successfully brew a palatable raisin almond brew using local ingredients. John still chuckles as he recalls that failed experiment but looks fondly on that experience as the spark that fueled his passion and desire to learn about the intricate craftsmanship and unique creativity needed to consistently produce a great-tasting, quality beer.

In the fall of 1995, it was on their honeymoon in 1995 that Katie Martin partnered with him to ultimately produce their first quality home-brewed beer, an Oktoberfest Marzen. Built from the ground up by local investors and ownership, John and Katie Martin created Confluence Brewing Company, a unique gathering destination that reflects their values, serves their community and brews excellent-tasting beer using quality ingredients.

Just as the name implies, Confluence Brewing Company is about bringing good things together. The community-minded camaraderie of the Confluence team combines hard work, innovation, and passion for what they do to reinforce the identity, branding, and success of Confluence Brewing Company.

The atmosphere at Confluence Brewing is true to its name and built for get-togethers, featuring a taproom capacity of 155 guests, an outdoor garden capacity of over 350 guests, and a

Confluence Brewing Company is a favorite stop among Des Moines locals and a destination for travelers.

Featured Iowa Craft Beverage Producers

Northwest

Plum Creek Winery - Algona, IA (319) 290-3101 www.PlumCreekWines.com

River Valley Orchards Winery & Distillery - Humboldt, IA (515) 368-2444 www.rivervalleyorchards.com

Rustic River Winery & Vineyard - Lake View, IA (712) 660-1525 www.rusticriverwinery.com

Shiny Top Brewing - Fort Dodge, IA (515) 302-8055 www.shinytopbrewing.com

TractorLift Brewing - Humboldt, IA (515) 890-9484 Email: tractorlift@gmail.com

Wise I Brewing Company - Le Mars, IA (712) 541-6789 www.wiseibrew.com

S&B Farms Distillery - Bancroft, IA (515) 885-1030 www.sbfarmsdistillery.com

Northeast

Winneshiek Wildberry Winery - Decorah, IA (563) 735-5809 www.wwwinery.com

PromiseLand Winery - Guttenberg, IA (563) 252-2665 www.promiselandwinery.com

Toppling Goliath Brewing Company - Decorah, IA (563) 387-6700 www.tgbrews.com

Central

Van Wijk Winery - Sully, IA (641) 594-3325 www.vanwijkwinery.com

Confluence Brewing Company - Des Moines, IA (515) 285-9005 www.confluencebrewing.com

Firetrucker Brewery - Ankeny, IA (515) 964-1284 www.firetrucker.com

Southeast

Cedar Valley Winery - Batavia, IA (641) 662-2800 www.cedarvalleywine.com

Crane Winery - Selma, IA (641) 680-8021 www.cranewinery.net

Buchanan House Winery - Tipton, IA (563) 357-9916 www.buchananhousewinery.com

Walker Homestead Farm & Winery - Iowa City, IA (319) 351-4791 www.walker-homestead.com

Front Street Brewery & Taproom - Davenport, IA (563) 322-1569 www.frontstreetbrew.com

Green Frog Distillery - Keokuk, IA (319) 795-3346 www.greenfrogdistillery.com

Bridge House Cider - Long Grove - IA (563) 343-2622 www.bridgehousefarms.com

Lost Duck Brewing Company - Fort Madison, IA (319) 372-8255 www.duckbrewing.com

Southwest

Keg Creek Brewing Company - Glenwood, IA (712) 520-9029 www.kegcreekbrewing.com

There are over 200 Wineries, Breweries and Distilleries in Iowa. For more information, visit our website... www.Trail-Tales.net

Information shown on the map is compiled from numerous sources and is complete at time of print. Space restrictions prohibit showing all beverage producers. Please refer to the website www.trails-tales.net for more information.

Fall Event List 2022

Northwest

Vinestock

Sat., Oct. 1, 2022, 10 AM – 4 PM Peterson, IA

Oktoberfest Bike Ride 2022

Sat., Sept. 24, 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM

Preservation Plaza Arnolds Park, IA

1st Annual Storm Lake Oktoberfest

Sat., Oct. 22, 6 – 11 PM Lake Ave. Lounge Storm Lake, IA

Northeast Oktoberfest

Sat., Sept. 24, 7 – 10 PM

Gehlen Inn Guest House St Donatus, IA

Marion Oktoberfest

Sat., Sept. 17, 11 AM – 3 PM Uptown Marion Marion, IA

Central

Oktoberfest Des Moines 2022

Fri., Sept. 23, 3 PM – Sun., Sept. 25, 1 AM Des Moines, IA

Kerstmarkt

Pella’s Dutch Christmas Market

Dec. 1 – 3, 2022

Molengracht Project, Pella, IA

5k Beer Run 2022

Brewery Running Series

Sat., Sept. 24, 11 AM – 1 PM

Big Rack Brew Haus Winterset, IA

ARC Oktoberfest 6k

Sept. 24, 6:00 AM – Oct. 8, 11:59 PM

Brightside Aleworks Altoona, IA

Southeast

Iowa Craft Beer Bash

Sun., Sept. 4, 12 – 5 PM

Millstream Brewing Co. Amana, IA

Oktoberfest 2022

Sat., Oct.1st Amana Festhalle Barn Amana, IA

Northside

Oktoberfest

Sat, Oct 8, 11 AM – 3 PM

Iowa City Downtown District Iowa City, IA

Brew Fest

Sat, Sept.17, 1 PM – 4 PM Burlington Memorial Auditorium Burlington, IA

Pints In The Park

Sept. 23 @ 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Mount Pleasant’s Downtown Central Park Mount Pleasant, IA

Oktoberfest

Sat., Oct. 22

TBK Bank Sports Complex Bettendorf, IA

Southwest Oktoberfest

Sat., Oct. 1 Keg Creek Brewing Company Glenwood, IA

For more event listings, log on to our website www.Trails-Tales.net

Farms Distillery

Visiting S & B Farms Distillery in Bancroft, Iowa, provides the rustic, traditional feel of a heritage distillery you expect from owners who fuel their passion with the entrepreneurial spirit of moonshiners. But owners Sara and Brian Winkleman also provide a local experience demonstrating sustainability. Upon entering the distillery tasting room, you’re immersed in the warm industrial look featuring worn metal and repurposed barn wood from nearby local farms.

Using field corn milled from their Kossuth County farm and brought to their distillery, Brian processes and distills the local corn into alcohol using Sara’s recipes. Corn grown in different areas of the United States produces different flavor profiles, and S & B Farms Distillery is fortunate to grow its corn in Iowa’s rich black soil, producing sweet corn with exceptional taste and no bitterness. The used mash is then sustainably returned to their farm to feed the cattle.

The Winklemans’ acquired their love of distilling with an initial batch of Iowa-grown sweet corn moonshine using methods perfected years ago. That same spirit comes through in their décor, feel, and products, all located in a place they call home. Established in 2018, S & B Farms Distillery occupies a space previously used as a doctor’s and dentist’s office, perhaps foretelling the future of the location as a welcoming place guaranteed to cure what ails you.

S & B Farms is proudly committed to excellence in every spirit they produce. They don’t want you to simply enjoy the taste of their spirits, they want you to be wowed by them. Through ongoing trial and error and subsequent palette testing, they perfect their recipes

based on local ingredients and flavor profile tweaks that result in customer satisfaction and award-winning spirits.

As you may expect from committed and involved ownership, S & B Farms Distillery features a product lineup that is named based on lasting and deep connections to family. There’s Private First Class, named after Sara’s grandpa, Ray Baade, a WW II veteran. Hog Wild is a tribute to the Winklemans’ background as hog farmers. Sir Winston, the beloved family dog, secures his legacy by being featured in an entire line of S & B Farms spirits. For the more adventurous, there is Field Fire, a spicy, pineapple jalapeno moonshine.

S & B Farms Distillery is a regular stop for locals and should be on your short list of stops when traveling. In addition to the distillery and tasting room, S & B Farms features a store that carries homemade barbecue sauces, jams, salsa, T-shirts, and more.

roller coaster, The Phoenix! Rides for all ages are available from mild to wet-and-wild. Shows throughout the park feature a variety of family entertainment. Don’t miss Iowa’s newest water park, Adventure Bay. Water park admission is included with admission to Adventureland Park. Please see www.adventurelandpark.com for Park and Water Park operation dates.

• Prairie Meadows Casino Racetrack & Hotel: With more than 2,000 slot machines, game tables, live horse racing from April through October, award-winning restaurants, bigname entertainment, and a contemporary hotel, it’s no secret that Prairie Meadows has it all. Also featured is the Prairie Meadows Events and Conference Center, making Prairie Meadows the perfect place to hold your next conference or event. Open 24 hours a day.

• Blank Park Zoo: Blank Park Zoo is “Iowa’s Wildest Adventure!” Experience the wonders of nature found in the tropical rainforests, Australian Outback and Africa. The zoo offers educational classes, tours and rental facilities.

Pella, IA

• Nederlanders Tap & Golf: Nederlanders offers 70+ virtual golf courses, a wide array of driving ranges, target games, and mini games for all skill levels! Not a golfer? Not a problem! Nederlanders is still a great spot to meet up with family, friends, and colleagues. Book your tee time or drop in for one of our gourmet hot dogs, domestic or craft beers, or delicious cocktails.

How One of Iowa’s Largest Beerhalls Fights Hunger & Homelessness

“The Hall was an afterthought, but as far as afterthoughts go, it’s a damn good one.” This is what my husband and Managing Partner of The Hall, Nick Kuhn, says when he’s giving a tour of The Hall. He never wanted to own another bar or restaurant, and neither did I. That was never the plan. So what happened?

In 2015, Nick had a life-changing experience with a young homeless man named Bill. In that moment he decided to do whatever he could to help, not having a clue what that might be. Nick decided “Teaching a man to fish” was the answer. That’s how to move the needle. If somebody knows how to cook, they will always have a job and they will know how to feed themselves and others.

He needed a training kitchen and discovered The Foundry in Valley Junction, West Des Moines. He knew it was the perfect building to build a huge commercial kitchen where at-risk youth could learn culinary skills, plus the life skill they would need to keep a job and have a shot at a successful life. There was just one problem. It was way too big, like 20,000 square feet too big. As he looked up at the 120-yearold steel trusses and brick walls, he thought, “You know, it kind of looks like a beer hall.”

So that’s what we did. We built a huge beer hall with huge TV screens and a huge beer garden. As one the largest retailers of beer in the state, The Hall has become quite the destination.

by Lynn Kuhn

Most people come for the carefully curated beer line up, while some come for the tasty menu that includes German and American fare. Others come for conversations with friends in the beautiful beer garden, live music or fun events such as, THE TESTICLE FESTIVAL, SALVATORFEST, STEERTOBERFEST, HALLTOBERFEST, or the ANNUAL ROCK PAPER SCISSORS TOURNAMENT.

Once the Hall was established, Nick turned his attention toward his mission. He created Justice League of Food (JLF), an Iowa 501c3, and he got that kitchen built. There’s a lot going on in that kitchen on any given day. Culinary students are learning how to cook and take care of themselves as part of the JLF Culinary Job Training Program, over 2,000 community meals are being prepared and delivered each month and food is being made and sold for the customers of The Hall.

Today, 100% of all food sales at The Hall goes to support Justice League of Food and its mission to fight hunger and homelessness. Nick says, “Some non-profits sell t-shirts and that’s fine, but we sell beer and food and that’s way more fun.” We are definitely having fun and I think The Hall’s patrons are too! They may not know The Hall was an afterthought, and they may not know they are supporting a great cause, and that’s okay.

Now you know the back story of how Iowa’s largest beer hall fights hunger and homelessness. Want to join us? Just stop by. We’d love to show you around and grab a beer!

• Lake Red Rock: Iowa’s largest reservoir. Enjoy boating, hiking, camping, biking, fishing, birdwatching, and more!

• Pella Historical Village & Vermeer Mill: Step back in time to early Pella! Log cabin, general store, Dutch costume displays, and much more. Tour the Vermeer Windmill, one of the tallest working windmills in North America. The Wyatt Earp Experience explores the life of the famous western lawman who grew up in Pella.

• Molengracht Plaza: The Molengracht Plaza, located in Pella’s central business district, was built to replicate an authentic Dutch canal and is over 100,000 square feet. The better of two worlds, the Molengracht complex combines a 21st

century entrepreneurial spirit with Old World Charm.

• Frisian Farms Cheese House: Small farm producing artisan Gouda Cheese, tours by appointment.

• Cordova Observation Tower: Tallest observation tower in a public park in the Midwest: 106 feet tall, 170 steps to the top!

Indianola, IA

• National Balloon Museum: This national nonprofit is dedicated to educating the public on its ballooning history through collections and exhibitions. More than 10,000 visitors attend the museum every year to comb through over 200 years of ballooning archives. The National Balloon Museum calls

Indianola home because of the area’s prime flying conditions. Indianola also played host to the Balloon Federation of America’s National Hot Air Balloon Championships before it took on its current nine-day national event, the National Balloon Classic. The museum is open Wednesdays through Sundays from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., and guided tours are available to those who call ahead.

Ames, IA

• Reiman Gardens: Take in the stunning beauty of the 17 acre Reiman Gardens, located on the campus of the University of Iowa. The year-round botanical garden offers events, programs, lectures, and a butterfly wing that houses over 800 butterflies.

• McFarland Park: Hit the outdoors at McFarland Park, a 200 acre paradise offering views of a variety of habitats, including prairies and woodlands. Picnic, fish, camp, hike, bike, and trail walk to your heart’s content against one of the area’s most beautiful backdrops.

• Octagon Center for the Arts: Get a close look at local artists’ contributions at the Octagon Center for the Arts, a not-forprofit organization that promotes and supports Iowa’s local artists. Exhibits are evolving throughout the year and offer the viewers a chance to own original clothing, textiles, pottery, paintings, and photography from Iowa’s local art community.

Boone, IA

• Boone Scenic Valley Raiload: Take a ride on the rails to experience the scenery of Central Iowa. Riders can enjoy beautiful views of the Des Moines River Valley, where it is not uncommon to see a convocation of bald eagles. Take the Dinner Train in historic 1950’s passenger cars.

• Seven Oaks Recreation: Visit this family-owned and operated venue that offers year-round outdoor recreation in central Iowa. Seasonal activities include canoeing, kayaking, river tubing, paintball, skiing, snowboarding and snow tubing. They also provide a VERY nice facility that can be rented for wedding receptions, family reunions, class reunions, summer/winter retreats, birthday parties, corporate meetings/retreats, team building and other activities.

• Boone Speedway: A third mile high bank dirt race track and home to the IMCA Super Nationals each September. Boone Speedway races Saturday nights! Hot Laps at 6:45pm and Racing at 7:30pm. Modifieds, Stock Cars, Hobby Stock, Sport Mods and Dwarf Cars.

To learn more about things to do and where to stay in Central Iowa or elsewhere in the state, check out the official Travel Iowa website www.traveliowa.com and browse our guide Iowa Trails & Tales for fun trip ideas and inspiration or visit our website www.trails-tales.net

Cheers To the Easy Living of Southeast Iowa

by Gerald Dlubala

Introduction to Southeast Iowa

There’s a wealth of military landmarks, historically significant locations, and outdoor activities to indulge in when traveling in Southeast Iowa. Other parts, with meandering hillsides, local boutiques, and homegrown treats, will transport you back to small-town America, when the living was easy, and the days were spent among friends and family. Days like those often ended with a local, well-crafted beverage in hand, and that is just what you can do by visiting one of the region’s local craft beverage producers to sample their products and learn their stories.

Southeast Region Details

Southeast Iowa provides the recognizable drift plains with rolling hills and sloping fields that are so prevalent in America’s heartland. The far-reaching vistas of the higher peaks easily dissolve into lazy, sloping hillsides like ice cream melting down the side of the scoop. The mesmerizing views are almost hypnotic while driving through rural areas, small towns, and welcoming communities.

The southeast region holds claim to the location of the first state Capitol of Iowa. It also begins a geographical bridge connecting the woodlands of

Mississippi River at Le Claire, IA

the east with the grasslands and high prairie plains of the west. Iowa is the only U.S. state with two parallel and navigable rivers defining its borders.

The Mississippi River forms Iowa’s eastern border. In contrast, the western boundary is formed by the Missouri River and its tributary, the Big Sioux. The southeast region is also the location of Iowa’s lowest point, located within the city of Keokuk, where the Des Moines River enters the Mississippi, measuring just 480 feet above sea level. With a wide range of available terrain and many nearby state parks, Southeast Iowa offers hikers a diverse number of trails in all difficulty levels and lengths to appeal to hiking and outdoor enthusiasts.

When exploring Southeast Iowa, you’ll experience life in these counties:

locals. And combined with the ideal agricultural conditions that formed back into the Ice Age, local craft producers are assured quality, local and sustainable ingredients for use in their products. Local farms are abundant, and their products can be found displayed in this region’s exceptional local craft beverages. While taking in the sites and enjoying your newfound tranquility and peace of mind, stop in for a visit and learn a little about Southeast Iowa’s participating producers.

Top Craft Beverage Destinations

Cedar Valley Winery: Located in Batavia, Iowa and traces its origins back to a 1.5 acre family vineyard. With early success, the Miller family expanded their vineyard to include seven different varieties of grapes. As a result, you can now conveniently visit their tasting room and sample their farm-to-glass wines while traveling to or from other regional tourist attractions.

Crane Winery: Known as “The Sweetest Little Winery In Southeast Iowa” and located in historic Van Buren County. Offering a quaint place to sit and sip their wines while relaxing in a charming, perfectly decorated setting that assures you that you are among friends.

Why Visit Southeast Iowa?

History, hometown, friendliness, and authenticity are ingrained into this region. Those qualities can’t help but shine through when interacting with

Buchanan House Winery: Uses grapes and fruits from its own vineyard to offer red, white, fruit, and sparkling wines to please even the pickiest of palates. Their fresh tasting offerings are made from high-quality Brianna, Frontenac, Marquette, and St Pepin grape varietals with the flavors of homegrown blackberries, currants, and apples. Enjoy your favorite on the grounds of the accompanying Colonial Revival Garden, displaying traditional

Walker Homestead Farm & Winery

Walker Homestead, in Johnson County, planted its roots in 2018. With a vision to educate guests the vast scope of Iowa Agriculture, Bob and Kristy Walker expanded their 5 acre property to an 85 acre working farm. From vegetable gardens to field crops and animal pasture to vineyards, almost every angle of agriculture is on display for guests to enjoy.

The winery is a modern barn building, with 22-foot ceilings and white shiplap from floor to ceiling. The winery also has an open kitchen design for guests to watch the culinary gardeners prepare delicious foods directly from the estate.

The wines are made from 100% Iowa grown cold hardy grapes. Petite Pearl, Verona and La Crescent grapes are most commonly used at the winery focusing on drier styles of wine. They do offer a couple sweeter options like Sweet Pea made from La Crescent grapes and Buzzed, a dessert style wine sweetened with honey from their own bees.

Gratitude and Merry Me are two sparkling wines made in the same time honored approach used for French Champagnes called Methode Traditionnelle. The wines are not forced carbonated but instead create bubbles through a secondary fermentation within the bottle. They are crisp, fruity, dry and ready for any celebration.

To reduce environmental impact, Walker Homestead wines are all on tap using reusable kegs. This saves space and waste by limiting the use of glass bottles, cork, labels, box packaging, fuel costs and excessive labor. All wines are available by the glass, bottle or sample flights. There is a small stock of to-go bottles if you would like to order online or take home from the farm.

For more information contact...

Walker Homestead Farm & Winery

3867 James Ave. SW • Iowa City, Iowa 52246

Phone: (319) 351-4791

Email: info@walker-homstead.com Website: www.walker-homestead.com

brick and gravel pathways that wind through 19th-century appropriate plants and ornamental flowers.

Walker Homestead Farm and Winery: Provides visitors a total experience in agricultural stewardship. A farm-totable format allows diners an intimate insight into where our food comes from. Their commitment to farm stewardship teaches sustainability by using environmentally friendly techniques and shows visitors how to lead a more healthy and sustainable life. The Walker Homestead Farm and Winery is also an event space and wedding venue to compliment those special moments.

Front Street Brewery: Everything you would expect from a river town brewpub. Their first beer was brewed in the basement of their current building, over a century old and stoically posi-

tioned along the banks of the Mississippi River in downtown Davenport.

Green Frog Distillery: Has become known as “both the newest and oldest distillery” in Southeastern Iowa. Nestled in a rural setting as all good distilleries are, their varied line of flavored corn liquors offers something for every taste profile.

Bridge House Cider: All natural ingredients, minimal preservatives, and a simple process form the basis for Bridge House Cider’s appeal. Handpicked straight from the orchard, apples are ground with a traditional rack and cloth press, then fermented with high-quality yeast and left to mature before blending, carbonating, and bottling for your consumption. Simple, pure, and refreshing is the way it’s done.

BUCHANAN HOUSE WINERY

We’ve revived a 19th Century brick mansion into a modern-day Winery. Nestled in the rolling hills and breath taking view of cedar county, Iowa. We produce world class, high-quality wines from local ingredients.

Stop by our tasting room to find your favorite wines!

Tastingroom Hour’s:

11am - 7pm ... Thursday & Sunday

11am - 10pm ...... Friday - Saturday

Follow us on Facebook to learn more about our upcoming events or contact us about hosting an event with us.

(563) 357-9916

BUCHANAN HOUSE WINERY & VINEYARD

Events@buchananhousewinery.com www.buchananhousewinery.com 726 Green Rd, Tipton, IA 52772

Nearby Local Attractions

Southeast Iowa is a destination for locals, families, and friends alike. There is always something to do in this part of the state.

Amana Colonies, IA

• AMANA COLONIES VISITORS CEN-

TER: The Amana Colonies Visitors Center is located in the village of Amana, in a restored corn crib. The Visitors Center is your first stop for information about the Amana Colonies, providing Visitors Guides, maps and brochures for area businesses. Menus for all Amana Colonies restaurants are also provided.

• MILLSTREAM BRAU HAUS: The name “Brau Haus” simply means “Brewing House!” For years the

Millstream Brewery owners had said that it would be wonderful to add an authentic German Bierhalle to the Amana Colonies. In August 2016, the Millstream Brau Haus was born! Adding the Brau Haus gave the Millstream Brewery the opportunity to make more ‘one of a kind’ brews and specialty beers only to be sold in the Brau Haus!

• WHITE CROSS CELLARS: Located in the historic village of Amana, Iowa, White Cross Cellars is a new approach to the Amana Colonies wine industry. While the Amanas have long been famous for fruit wines, White Cross Cellars delivers a more traditional approach to the wines of the Amanas. They feature Award-winning wines from classic wine grapes as well as Midwestern varieties; producing wine in the

•

European or California style. Specialties are white wines reminiscent of the traditional German and French styles, along with red dinner wines designed for beef and Italian dishes.

AMANA MEAT SHOP AND SMOKE-

HOUSE: The tradition of the Amana Meat Shop & Smokehouse began when the seven villages were a communal settlement and families enjoyed meals together in kitchen houses. Each village had its own meat shop and smokehouse where ham, bacon, and sausage were cured the old-world way with longheld recipes and a commitment to quality. Today the tradition of quality continues, sample their products, send gifts through the catalog, and take home the flavors of another century.

Sweetest Little Winery in Southeast Iowa!

Located in the Des Moines river valley in historic Van Buren County. Stop in & step back in time with the history flooding the walls of this charming winery. Specialized in fruit wines and the flavors are as fun as the atmosphere! (641) 680-8021

Iowa City, IA

• Downtown Iowa City: One of Iowa City’s big strong points is its downtown area, with scores of independent shops, restaurants and bars, as well as top-notch entertainment venues, hotels and offices. One unique feature downtown is the Pedestrian Mall, which was laid out during the city’s urban renewal project in 1979.

• University of Iowa: With more than 30,000 students and a 1,900-acre campus that mingles with downtown, daily life in Iowa City revolves around the University of Iowa. The 75-minute guided tour is aimed mainly at prospective students, but still gives an insight into the history and day-to-day of this esteemed institution. Visit the Old Capitol and

the new Stanley Museum of Art, while game day at Kinnick Stadium is an experience no sports fan will want to miss.

Davenport, IA

• Rhythm City Casino Resort: Over 32,000 square feet of gaming space with 1,000 slot machines, 25 game tables, the Elite Sports Book, a hotel, 3 restaurants, a full service spa and an event center. It is adjacent to the intersection of I-80 and I-74.

• Iowa 80 - The World’s Largest Truckstop: Located along Interstate 80 off exit 284 in Walcott, Iowa. It sits on a 220-acre plot of land, three times larger than an average 75 acres truckstop, and it receives 5,000 visitors daily. Iowa 80 features a 67,000 sq ft main building, parking

for 900 trucks, 15 diesel fuel pumps, and also has a dedicated pump for dispensing bulk diesel exhaust fluid.

Fort Madison, IA

• Old Fort Madison: Is a replica of the first U.S. military fort in the upper Mississippi region. It is the site of the first battle of Chief Black Hawk and his warriors against the U.S. troops in 1812. The fort stands along the river and has replicas of significant buildings near the actual site of the historic fort. Located in Riverview Park, Old Fort Madison is a living history demonstration.

• Kingsley Inn: If you are in need of a place to stay for the night, check out Kingsley Inn in downtown Fort Madison, a 19 room property with serene river views, comfortable beds and impressive attention to detail.

• Tri-State Rodeo: The 2022 Tri-State Rodeo is set for action September 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th. For years this premiere community event brings fast paced Rodeo action and top-name entertainment to Fort Madison.

Keokuk, IA

•

donated to the City of Keokuk in 1961 after being retired from service.

To learn more about things to do and where to stay in Southeast Iowa or elsewhere in the state, check out the official Travel Iowa website www. traveliowa.com and browse our guide Iowa Trails & Tales for fun trip ideas and inspiration or visit our website www.trails-tales.net

Museum: Located in Victory Park on the riverfront. The paddle boat was built in Dubuque, Iowa by the U.S. Government in 1927 to revive river transportation and move barges from St Louis to St. Paul. It was then known as the S.S. Thorpe. Armco Steel Corporation bought the boat in 1940 and put it into service on the Ohio River, renaming it after the founder of their company, George M. Verity. The George M. Verity was

The George M. Verity River

Awaken Your Senses in Southwest Iowa

by Gerald Dlubala

Introduction to Southwest Iowa

Featuring a unique topographic layout that offers vast prairies and beautiful savannas in the Loess Hills, with contrasting wetlands and deciduous forests positioned along the Missouri River, Southwest Iowa offers some of the most diverse outdoor experiences and unmatched scenic backdrops for all your planned activities.

After those activities, you’ll want to visit the region’s craft beverage producers to relax and recount the fun you’ve had, and in genuinely welcoming fashion, they’ll be ready for your visit.

Southwest Region Details

The start of many emigration trails can be traced to the Southwest Iowa region and, more specifically, to the Council Bluffs area in Pottawattamie County. Previously known as Hart’s Bluff, Miller’s Hollow, and then Kanesville until around 1853, Council Bluffs is the most populous city in Southwestern Iowa. It became advantageous for emigration purposes because of its easy accessibility to steam-powered ferries that carried goods and groups of people back and forth across the Missouri River.

The first transcontinental railroad,

sprawling westward to California, was connected in Council Bluffs to the existing U.S. railroad network in 1869. Abraham Lincoln named Council Bluffs the transcontinental railroad’s official starting point, with the official “Mile 0” marker located at 21st Street and 9th Avenue. The landmark is represented to this day by a gold railroad spike.

Farming and agriculture have always been an important part of the Iowa lifestyle, and this region is no different. The landscape is built for mechanized agriculture due to its loess-derived soil. Made up of silt-sized grains loosely held together to remain highly porous, it features exceptional aeration characteristics, an abundance of available water and nutrients, and can be easily cultivated. You’ll no doubt be in awe of the beautiful vistas and unmatched scenery that you’ll encounter as you travel through the region.

When exploring Southwest Iowa, you’ll experience life in these counties:

Why Visit Southwest Iowa?

Travelers through the region can expect to experience golden, natural hills that only time can form, elegant savannas and prairies that seemingly go on forever, and the beauty of the forests and wetlands that lead you towards the Missouri River on Iowa’s western border. The beauty of the Southwest region’s parks and naturally terraced hills surround visitor-friendly cities and towns that feature unique shopping, local dining, and fun-filled activities.

Take things at your pace. There’s no rush in these parts. Southwest Iowa will fill your itinerary as it touches upon all your senses while displaying the advantages of a long-forgotten, straightforward, and slower-paced lifestyle.

Top Craft Beverage Destinations

Keg Creek Brewing Company:

Located in Glenwood, it is as authentic of a craft brewery as you’ll find. Started by homebrewers that decided to try and make beer they enjoyed, it wasn’t long before they discovered that other beer drinkers liked their products as much as they did.

A couple of national awards later, Keg Creek Brewing Company offers more than 30 varieties of hop goodness, occasionally rounded out with a selection of local wines and ciders, all within the welcoming, small-town hospitality of their patio and taproom. Food can be brought in or enjoyed from food trucks.

In 2016, Keg Creek Brewing Company moved to a new 15-barrel location south of Glenwood that has allowed them to increase production dramatically. Keg Creek Brewing Company currently distributes eight canned beer

varieties in more than 100 outlets throughout the Midwest!

In 2017, the Brewers Association named Keg Creek Brewing Company #18 among the 50 fastest-growing small and independent craft breweries in the United States.

In 2020, Keg Creek Brewing Company participated in the U.S. Open Beer Championship for the first time and two of their eight submissions were awarded Bronze medals in their respective categories. The Bronze finishers were Deviant of the Depths in the Rum Barrel-Aged Beer category and Old Marathon in the Barrel-Aged Barley Wine category.

Nearby Local Attractions

Southwest Iowa continues to offer big city excitement with a small-town feel. Whether visitors are searching for the freedom of outdoor activities or the focus of a true crime detective, Iowa’s Southwest region will fill your days with enjoyment and put a smile on your face. Glenwood, IA

coun-

jail. Glenwood Lake Park features the Davies Outdoor Amphitheater, with family entertainment offered June-August.

Council Bluffs, IA

• Horseshoe Council Bluffs: Provides a Casino that features sports betting, over 1,600 slot machines, game tables, and more, offering a place for gambling and gaming entertainment in Council Bluffs, Iowa. There is a World Series of Poker poker room and approximately 68,000 square feet of gaming space. The casino is open 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. They also include three different restaurants, providing visitors with a choice of upscale, casual, or buffet dining!

• Mid-America Center: Consists of exhibit and convention space, as well as an arena, for conventions, sporting events, concerts, and more. With almost 64,000 square feet of space, the Center features a 30,000-square-foot arena with two party rooms and twelve luxury suites, an Exhibition Hall, Convention Center, meeting rooms, and other space for events. The Center regularly provides entertainment and special events such as community events, USHL hockey games, family shows, rock shows, and concerts by the music industry’s top names among many other events.

• Union Pacific Railroad Museum: Located in the downtown of Council Bluffs, explore 150 years of railroad history through informative and interactive digital displays, photographs, unique artifacts, and more. Exhibits range from the origins of the first Transcontinental Railroad

in the United States back in 1862, Abraham Lincoln and the more advanced technology of the railroading industry of modern day.

Missouri Valley, IA

• Harrison County Historical Village & Iowa Welcome Center: Featuring Lincoln Highway/Loess Hills Interpretive Center with films, road demonstration area with Smartphone interpretation, trail and scenic overlook; five-building historical complex including an original log cabin and one-room school; transportation-themed playground, and more! Check out the Iowa-themed gift shop while enjoying a sample of cherry drink that’s been mixed and bottled at the facility since the 1930’s.

• Wilson Island State Recreation Area: Covers 544 acres of cottonwood stands along the Missouri River. The park provides a quiet retreat with campsites, hiking trails and picnicking areas. The open spaces welcome wildlife, and visitors may see deer grazing in the fields, flocks of geese, or even Bald Eagles perched on the cottonwoods. Early American history shows that Lewis and Clark camped on this area of the river in 1804.

To learn more about things to do and where to stay in Southeast Iowa or elsewhere in the state, check out the official Travel Iowa website www. traveliowa.com and browse our guide Iowa Trails & Tales for fun trip ideas and inspiration or visit our website www.trails-tales.net

Iowa Wine Trail

(Continued from page 3) you spend the whole weekend in the region. These are family-owned wineries that are small to medium in size and also friendly places where you can chat with a winemaker and meet new people.

Here is a list of the wineries to visit along the Iowa Wine Trail and where they are located:

• Winneshiek Wildberry Winery: Decorah, IA

• Empty Nest Winery: Waukon, IA

• Eagles Landing Winery: Marquette, IA

• Promise Land Winery: Guttenberg, IA

• Park Farm Winery: Durango, IA

• Tabor Home Vineyards & Winery: Baldwin, IA

• TYCOGA Winery & Distillery: DeWitt, IA

Our featured winery for this article, Winneshiek Wildberry Winery, is a special stop on the route because it is a family-owned and-operated business that was built up on a 150-year-old family farm. It has had many generations work within the winery and still does. Kenny and Yvonne Barnes live on the property in their quaint home up the hill. The Barnes couple started growing grapes, and a few years later kicked off the winery with their daughters, Beth Guzman and Darla Jones. Guzman can be found throughout the winery, ensuring its smooth

operations, while Jones is often found working hard on the winemaking and productions. When you come to visit, you might find some of the other family members working as well; otherwise, Winneshiek Wildberry Winery is run by its hardworking employees that are practically family too.

“Aside from our family-centered operations, Winneshiek Wildberry Winery stands out as a winery but also for our kitchen, where we produce simple yet savory meals,” Guzman said. “Like many wineries, we offer meat and cheese trays, but we go beyond that with our homemade soups, pies, sandwiches and flatbreads.”

The Winneshiek Wildberry Winery has a gift shop filled with branded merchandise and wine accessories, and there is also a party room available to rent for special events. To learn more about the winemaking process, join a group tour on weekdays or selected weekends by appointment.

Trail Events to Check Out

Although the Iowa Wine Trail is open and accessible all throughout the year, there are two particularly special times to plan a trip here. There are spring and fall events typically scheduled each year with food pairings, special wine tastings and informative sessions. However, like everything else in our world today, these events have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. During normal times, people can purchase tickets to the spring and fall events on the wine trail website. The events are held rain or shine, and tickets are non-refundable.

But even when regularly scheduled events were put on hold, the trail orga-

nization has continued to offer special discounts on glasses and bottles of wine at the tasting rooms in exchange for wearing a specially designed Iowa Wine Trail t-shirt or sweatshirt.

The Iowa Wine Trail’s Facebook page @iowawinetrail is a good place to check for information about upcoming events and promotions. It is also recommended to sign up for the wine trail’s mailing list to receive monthly newsletters and details about wine releases and events.

Nearby Local Attractions

It’s easy to see why Northeastern Iowa is a big hit among wine lovers, but there is a lot more to do in this region in addition to just the wine trail. For example, this area is also a great place to go for a hike and enjoy the great outdoors. Guzman from Winneshiek Wildberry Winery recommends the three waterfalls in the area: Dunning Springs, Siewer’s Springs and Malanaphy Springs, which involves going for a mild hike and getting the reward of a beautiful, mossy waterfall.

“The next hidden gem is Chattahoochie Park,” Guzman said. “This park hugs the Upper Iowa River, which is a stellar place to spot bald eagles. Siewer Springs is another great place to see eagles. There is also the trout hatchery at the 12-mile paved Trout Run Trail. In fact, we have a wine named after it: Trout Run Bald Eagle!”

Here are some other ideas for things to do around the wineries of the Iowa Wine Trail:

• Driftless Area Wetlands Centre

• Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge.

Iowa Wine Trail

• Local antique shops

• Herbert Hoover Presidential Library Museum and National Historic Site.

• Hoover Nature Trail

• Hawkeye Buffalo Ranch

How to Have the Best Iowa Wine Trail Experience

Traveling along a wine trail is more comparable to a marathon than a sprint, and the Iowa Wine Trail is no exception. This serene part of the country presents a rare and refreshing opportunity to shift your mindset, change your pace of life and enjoy life’s simple pleasures in a way that soothes the soul from the inside out.

“Our advice is to slow down,” said Guzman from Winneshiek Wildberry Winery. “Slow down and enjoy the countryside, your company and take time to experience the flavors of food and wine that are produced close to home. Slowing down will also help you find the signs and turns for our winery!”

To learn more about the Iowa Wine Trail, contact the trail organization at... 563-557-3727

You can also directly reach out to one of the member wineries listed above with specific questions.

Confluence brews the hand-crafted beer that Des Moines, Iowa, can call its own.

If you savor beer as both a bold taste adventure in the present and a connection with generations past, Confluence Brewery was founded for you.

We’re devoted to creating a confluence of great beer, good friends and wonderful times — and look forward to bringing you together with a pint very soon.

RIVER ROCKS: 18 regional craft beers on tap, large liquor, wine and bottled beer selection with a great view of the Mississippi Riverfront! 319-470-5992 • 709 Avenue H www.kingsleyinn.com

FAETH’S CIGAR STORE: 98 year old watering hole in downtown Fort Madison with a historic bar from the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair! 319-372-2792 • 832 Avenue G

CORKS and BARRELS: The newest edition to the Historic Downtown Fort Madison bar scene with a large variety of whiskey and wine. Offering smoked drinks and amazing charcuterie boards in an eclectic setting! 319-372-8840 • 622 7th Street

Timeless elegance with a family feel, modern comforts and superior service. Our property includes 18 guest rooms, a Guest House, parlor, banquet room and bar & gill on site! Guests receive 1 welcome drink per person at River Rocks until April 30, 2023.

LOST DUCK BREWING COMPANY: Hand crafted beer and pub style food location along the Mississippi Riverfront and overlooking Old Fort Madison. Beautiful woodwork, fantastic views and the beer is brewed on the 2nd floor! 319-372-8255 • 725 Avenue H