Get Outdoors & Sip Something New in Northeast Iowa This Spring

Northeast Iowa is a great place to be if you enjoy a good craft beverage and the great outdoors. There are many local wineries and breweries in this region of the state, as well as antique shops, big-city excitement and small-town charm.

Cedar Falls is a regional tourist hub, while Waterloo is known for its museums and Decorah for its trout fishing and Norwegian-American culture. In the springtime, you can get outside and enjoy some fishing and other outdoor recreation in northeast Iowa, such as canoeing or experiencing a whitewater park to get your adrenaline pumping. Even if the weather

by Alyssa L. Ochs

doesn’t cooperate, there are plenty of indoor attractions to keep you busy, plus scenic views in Dubuque and Fenelon Place Elevator. Meanwhile, the craft beverage scene starts to pick up here in the springtime, with some fun events and bigger crowds to make you feel like you’re part of the local community.

Springtime for Northeast Iowa Beverage Producers

From the production side of things, spring is a busy time for craft beverage businesses in northeast Iowa. For vineyards, this is the time to prepare the soil between and along the rows.

Springtime tasks in a northeast Iowa vineyard include checking the vines’ vigor, removing weeds, pruning away excess foliage and applying spray treatments to protect grapevines from pests and disease.

Meanwhile, northeast Iowa tourism increases in spring as the temperatures warm up and more people are looking for outdoor recreation. Around this time of the year, regional travelers from Chicago, Rockford, Milwaukee, Madison and Minneapolis come to this part of Iowa to escape the city life for a bit and get out into nature. Of course, these adventures become even more memorable when followed by a refreshing stop at a local brewery or winery nearby.

Featured Beverage Stops in Northeast Iowa

As you plan your travel route through northeast Iowa this spring, there are many great places to grab a drink as a mid-day break or final treat before calling it a night and getting some rest. Here are some of our favorite craft beverage stops to check out, depend

• 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 ing on where your adventures lead you on a bright and sunny spring day.

Franklin Street Brewing Company offers excellent beers and great customer service in Manchester, Iowa. This small-batch brewery has been around since 2012 and has a tap house in a historic Masonic Lodge building in the downtown area. The brewery is committed to sustainability in everything it does and has been recognized for its brewing practices that protect the environment.

TLC Brew Works is a craft beverage destination located at 947 Main Street in Holy Cross, Iowa. It usually has about a dozen brews on tap, including its own unique styles and occasionally some guest tap cider and hard seltzer options too. The artisanal brews are made with tender loving care by Tom, Linda and Carol – hence the brewery’s name!

Toppling Goliath Brewing Company offers a festive and fun atmosphere to enjoy local craft beer in Decorah. The brewery has a jam-packed events schedule, so check to see what’s going on during your trip. It also has a huge draft list and merchandise for sale.

Winneshiek Wildberry Winery proudly serves up smiles and wine in a country setting where you can enjoy views from the patio. The winery is generally open every day from 11 am to 5 pm and specializes in fruit and Midwestern grape table wines.

Why not combine your passion for the outdoors with your passion for craft beverages? The Bluffton Resort & Bar lets you do precisely that because it offers camping, kayaking, canoeing, fishing and even has its own bar. Call to make campground reservations, and stop by the bar Tuesdays through Saturdays from 11 am to 11 pm and Sundays from 9 am to 6 pm.

Spring Events in Northeast Iowa

There are also some exciting food and drink events coming up in northeast Iowa that you may want to attend. The