East Central Iowa · Iowa Wine, Beer, and Spirits

If you’re not at the not Millstream Brewing Company, then what are you doing?

The most popular spot in the brewery and possibly in all of Amana! The Millstream Brewing Co. in Amana, IA!
The most popular spot in the brewery and possibly in all of Amana! The Millstream Brewing Co. in Amana, IA!

Amana, IA: Iowa County (Our 8th County!)

August 29th, 1999. After lunch at the Colony Inn, Jay Goodvin strolls over to the local brewery and has his fist pint of craft beer. It was my 21st birthday and the day I fell in love with microbreweries. The Millstream brew was the highlight of my day, back in ’99, and the highlight of many other Amana visits since. If you don’t have a coldy cracked open, now would be a proper time to do so. The Gallivant will not fault you for taking a moment away from blog reading.

We're in Amana today or AKA
We’re in Amana today or AKA “Main Amana”. The Amana Colonies have been a Goodvin family favorite for many years.

Like most trips to the Amana Colonies, we helped ourselves to a great meal at the Ronneburg Restaurant. Many of the Amana restaurants feature “family style” dining. Order an entree and sit back as the salad course of Amana cottage cheese, pickled beets, homemade coleslaw, spinach dip, fresh German bread and butter fills up your table. Pass the bowls around and chow! Next are the entrees and all the bowls of mashed potatoes, steamed sauerkraut with caraway seeds, sweet corn and gravy-gravy-gravy! The entrees course is just a motor for eating the gravy. http://www.ronneburgrestaurant.com/

This is the best part of my meal every time I visit! A beautiful combination of Amana pickled ham & onion, old fashion cottage cheese and a slice of buttered german bread. I would crave this beautiful sandwich when I lived out of state. If I had to pick my last meal....this would be it! In Amana, IA.
This is the best part of my meal every time I visit! A beautiful combination of Amana pickled ham & onion, old fashion cottage cheese and a slice of buttered German bread. I would crave this beautiful sandwich when I lived out of state. If I had to pick my last meal….this would be it! In Amana, IA.

After a few pints of gravy, it was time for a few pints of beer. Millstream beer! The aroma of the brewery lures me in like a cartoon character floating in midair towards a freshly baked pie left on a windowsill. I like to order the flight and leave with my favorite 6’er every time. The always reliable Windmill Wheat and growler of the staff’s recommendation. This time, John’s White Ale. Named after the well known John’s Grocery Store in nearby Iowa City. The dudes working the taps could recommend a draw from the slow moving canal out back and I would happily slap down my cash and chug away. That’s how much I trust these guys! http://www.millstreambrewing.com/

The Growler
Sh..sh.sh.shhhh. Daddy’s right here. Isn’t my growler beautiful! At the Millstream Brewing Co. in Amana, IA.
Off to a thirsty home! At the Millstream Brewing Co. in Amana, IA.
Off to a thirsty home! At the Millstream Brewing Co. in Amana, IA.
In case you were wondering just how awesome the beer is at this establishment. Look up and you'll see the legion or award winning beers. At the Millstream Brewing Co. in Amana, IA.
In case you were wondering just how awesome the beer is at this establishment. Look up and you’ll see the legion or award winning beers. At the Millstream Brewing Co. in Amana, IA.

I don’t care how hot it is! I’m drinking my beer outside! With the classic back-sweat forming on my shirt and the rim of my cap looking like it could use a wash at the end of the day, I finished my last drink in the Millstream beer garden and met with Chris the brewer! Busy guy, was getting ready for live music and a bachelorette party. Yes, I said that. The bachelorette’s were bellied up at the brewery. Chalk up another reason to love Iowa!

Fresh hops dangle over the Millstream beer garden. At the Millstream Brewing Co. in Amana, IA.
Fresh hops dangle over the Millstream beer garden. At the Millstream Brewing Co. in Amana, IA.

We came for the beer and ate a great meal. Par for the course. Now it’s time for a little shopping. Amana is blessed with an army of gift shops, boutiques, bakeries, toy stores, homemade candy, coffeehouses and showrooms of wine. But I recommend the meat. That means a trip to the Amana Meat Shop & Smokehouse! My all time favorite place to buy smoked meats!

Meat Shop

The ladies working the counter genuinely love their jobs and you can tell. Their customer service is spot on and they know how to recommend the perfect addition to any of their meats. We picked up some smoked pork chops and a jar of horseradish jelly they said to glaze the chop with. The professionals have spoken and we took their orders! http://www.amanameatshop.com/

This is why we come back year after year. The meat cutters know how to prepare the food and have a good time too! And those are the first hotdog bunny ears I've ever seen! At the Amana Meat Shop and Smokehouse in Amana, IA.
This is why we come back year after year. The meat cutters know how to prepare the food and have a good time too! And those are the first hotdog bunny ears I’ve ever seen! At the Amana Meat Shop and Smokehouse in Amana, IA.
Our purchase for the day.Thank you, ladies! The horseradish jelly was perfect with our smoked pork chops! From the Amana Meat Shop and Smokehouse in Amana, IA
Our purchase for the day.Thank you, ladies! The horseradish jelly was perfect with our smoked pork chops! From the Amana Meat Shop and Smokehouse in Amana, IA

I think I’m going to like blogging about The Spirit(s) of Iowa for The Gallivant. The Millstream is a great experience and gives me all the reason I need to make a trip to the Amana Colonies. Now get after it! http://amanacolonies.com/

Thanks for visiting! -Team Goodvin

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