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Northeast
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Are you an artisans, wine vendor, or craft beer brewer and want to be involved? Great! Email Storm Lake United for more information at:
director@stormlakeunited.com or call 712-732-3780 Ottosen Co-op is your local source for grain, feed, seed, fertilizer, crop protection, fuel and LP gas since 1920.
71 Brady Ave., Ottosen, IA 50570 Phone: (515) 379-1065
Dubuque Winter Arts Snow Sculpting Competition & Festival
Winter Guide to the Craft Beverage Scene in Northeast Iowa by Alyssa L. Ochs
With its hills, streams, caves, and other uniquely diverse landscapes, Northeast Iowa is known for being one of the best outdoor recreation areas in the Midwest. This is a place that travelers flock to in the summer months to get active outside. But it’s also a great place to plan a winter trip, especially if you enjoy an excellent beverage to add a little local flavor to your day. This primarily rural part of the state that meets up with the borders of Wisconsin and Illinois at Dubuque has some breweries, wineries and distilleries worth visiting. So, bring your sense of adventure and hop in the car because we’re heading to Northeast Iowa!
Getting to Know Northeast Iowa
There are many things to see and do in Northeast Iowa, including scenic state parks, interesting national monuments and quaint Main Streets. The towns in this region are good places to check out antique shops and learn about local culture. Meanwhile, the wide-open spaces offer ideal terrain for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling. After long days of sightseeing and fun in the snow, there’s nothing quite like stopping by a locally owned brewery or winery to relax and 12 Winter 2022 IOWA Trails & Tales
reflect on all you’ve done. Throughout eastern Iowa, we’ve seen new grape varieties thriving and wines being fruitier or tarter than those grown from grapes in other parts of the U.S. Frontenac, La Crescent and Frontenac are commonly grown in Northeast Iowa and favorites among local winemakers. Northeast Iowa also has rich soil for growing hops for beer. Still, hop-growers typically need to apply fungicide regularly to prevent downy mildew because of the high humidity levels in the region. In Northeast Iowa, you’ll find lowkey and welcoming craft beverage establishments where you can often talk to the owners and learn about their businesses. There are some great breweries along the northern border of Northeast Iowa and towards the Mississippi River and Wisconsin border. The wineries in the region are a bit spread out but conveniently located near local highways, so it’s best to make an entire weekend or week-long vacation out of visiting them. There are fewer distilleries in this region, so if you are a craft spirits fan, you may want to venture farther west towards Interstate 35 or south towards Interstate 80 to check out some nearby.
• 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
PromiseLand Winery: A family-run winery owned by Pat & Cindy Wachen-
dorf. 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! 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. Breweries
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. TLC Brew Works: Artisanal Brews made with Tender Loving Care, by Tom, Linda and Carol in Holy Cross, Iowa! Come drink some beverages, bring some snacks from home, cheer for your favorite team and have a good time!
What Makes Northeast Iowa Special in Winter?
place to visit in the winter, not only because of the highly recommended breweries and wineries but also because of all the seasonal fun you can have between beverage stops. For example, the city of Waverly has a signature event called Greetings on Main that lets visitors view live window scenes, ride in horse-drawn carriages, watch ice sculptures made and sip hot chocolate while getting into the spirit of the season.
In the winter, it’s fun to visit Backbone State Park, the highest point in the region, which offers winter camping, cabins, sledding and ice fishing. It’s also fun to go cross-country skiing on Forest Trail, snowshoeing on Lost Canyon Trail and fat tire biking on Lima Trail. Suppose you don’t feel like braving the chilly temperatures. In that case, there are also plenty of museums to
