Springtime Sipping Among the Art & History of Southeast Iowa

Residents and travelers who have spent time in southeast Iowa know this region as a creative and artistic place filled with history, culture, and literary traditions. From the Quad Cities to Cedar Rapids and beyond, you can learn a lot from the diverse museums, well-preserved sites and performance spaces in this part of the state.

There’s also the historical charm of the Amana Colonies and the Villages of Van Buren, plus some exciting craft beverage-themed events scheduled during the year.

Spring is a wonderful time to visit southeast Iowa because it’s warm enough again to get outside and enjoy

by Alyssa L. Ochs

views of the Mississippi River. There are plenty of popular parks to satisfy your needs for nature, such as Maquoketa Caves, Wildcat Den and Lacey-Keosauqua.

Even if the weather does not cooperate, foodie travelers will love exploring the culinary delights that await them in Iowa City, Cedar Rapids, and the Quad Cities. Pair these highlights with some refreshing craft beer, locally produced spirits or homegrown wine, and you’ve just created the perfect itinerary for a spring vacation!

Springtime for Southeast Iowa Beverage Producers

When the weather starts warming up in southeast Iowa, winemakers rejoice! Vineyard workers begin tackling maintenance projects, such as removing extra shoots and planting cover crops. New growth begins in the vineyard rows and provides hope for the new year. Yet late-season frosts can still be a threat in the region and require active measures to protect delicate plants during this vulnerable time.

Meanwhile, breweries and distilleries turn their attention to seasonal flavors to celebrate the onset of spring. We often see more floral, herbal and earthy elements in local beers and specialty liquors as a way to lighten up from the dark and heavy drinks of winter. Ciders also become more popular in spring and are a great way to taste the flavors of local fruits grown in Iowa.

Our Favorite Stops in Southeast Iowa

One of the best ways to travel in southeast Iowa is to integrate craft beverage stops into your itinerary to give yourself a refreshing break between historical attractions, art galleries and local events. This region of the state is unique because it offers not only locally produced beer and wine but also fresh cider and corn whiskey. It is fun to stop by these beverage establishments to wind down after visiting the busy tourist attractions and before settling into a quaint B&B for the night. Here are a few can’t-miss places to check out on your springtime road trip.

Breweries

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

• Lee

• Des Moines

• Van Buren

• Henry

• Louisa

• Jefferson

• Washington

• Muscatine

• Scott

• Clinton

• Davis

• Wapello

• Keokuk

• Iowa

• Johnson

• Cedar

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!

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

Wineries

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.

TYCOGA Winery & Distillery: Located outside of Dewitt just off Hwy 61 and named after their three children, this family owned Vineyard & Winery was established in 2014 and then started their Distillery portion in 2021. Boasting over 20 different types of wines from Dry to Sweet, their wide variety of mainly estate produced wines allows them to showcase wines to both the novice and the experienced wine drinker. In addition to their award winning wines, they also offer mixed drinks made with their Vodka & Whiskey. They truly enjoy meeting every person and sharing their story!

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.

Buchanan House Winery: Uses grapes and fruits from its own vineyard to offer red, white, fruit, and sparkling