Winemaking and Brewing

Making Wine and Beer Like Our Forefathers

Les Ackerman and his daughter, Greta, are third and fourth generation colony wine makers. Don Krauss of Village Winery, Village Vintner and Ehrle Brothers Winery still bottles wine the way his grandfather did, by hand. The Sandstone Winery, operated by Elsie Mattes and daughter Joan, chose whole fruits to perfect their wine making. At Millstream Brewing Company, Iowa's oldest micro-brewery, partners Teresa and Tom Albert, Aaron Taubman and Chris Priebe hand brew their beers just as they do in Europe.

Wine making and brewing are as deeply rooted in the Amana Colonies as the vine stock the Colonists brought with them to Iowa when they arrived in 1855. Planting vineyards, hops and barley, the German settlers transplanted their heritage and opened village wineries in each of the seven villages. They opened breweries in Amana, South Amana, West Amana, Homestead and Middle Amana. The making of wine and beer was a community effort, everyone pitched in and all adults shared equally the results of their efforts. Brewers and vintners were appointed by the village elders to oversee the work and the seasonal demands of the field; the vineyard and the cellar demanded their close attention.

From the springtime harvest of yellow dandelion blossoms to the cutting of leafy rhubarb stalks, wine making in the Amana Colonies follows the seasons and the ripening fruit. For Amana wine makers patience and hard work bear their own fruit, wines worthy of their label. Amana Colonies wine makers produce dry wines and dessert wines, grape wines, fruit, berry, blossom and blended wines. Amana Colonies wines have earned awards and honors worldwide.

Each of the wineries offers samples of its wines. You can shop direct at the winery, ship wine to those states allowing for wine shipment or look for Amana Colonies-made wines in grocery and specialty stores regionally.

Millstream Brewing Company is Iowa's oldest microbrewery, using the traditions of the past to create award-winning traditions. The brewery is famous for its Schild Brau Amber, German Pilsner, Stout, Warsh Pail Ale, John's White Ale, Colony Oatmeal Stout, Oktoberfest, Wheat Beer and traditional German bock beers, Maibock and Schokolade Bock. Additionally Millstream Brewing has created specialty soft drinks, Old Time Root Beer, Cream Soda and Black Cherry Soda, so delicious you have to taste to believe.

Dedicated to producing handcrafted beer, at Millstream Brewing Company they brew only small batches and adhere to a brewing schedule that allows them to offer fresh, perfect quality beer. Stop by to sample and purchase beer at Millstream Brewing Company in Amana. Millstream beers are on tap or offered by the bottle at many local dining establishments and can be purchased at hundreds of retailers and grocery stores across Iowa, and in Illinois and Wisconsin. Millstream is the official beer of Amana's Oktoberfest.

Shipping your Amana Colonies Wines

Shipping your wine is as simple as contacting your favorite Amana Colonies winery and placing your order. State laws allow direct shipment of wine to several states. To find out if wine can be shipped to your state, please contact one of our wineries. Most wineries in the Amana Colonies have web sites to make the ordering process even easier.