Iowa Spring-Summer 21 - 13

THE NORTHWEST LAND OF FARMS AND
LAKES
Iowa is chock full of " century farms, " celebrating
families who have owned the same farmland for
100 years or more. In fact, in the 45 years since the
Century Farms Program was initiated in Iowa, more
than 20,000 such farms have been recognized.
The Spirits. One northwest Iowa distillery
makes a special effort to honor heritage farmers.
Century Farms Distillery in Spencer celebrates Iowa
growers in its name and bottles. Century Farms
Whiskey is made exclusively from corn grown on
registered century farms, while Prairie States
Whiskey and Open Gate Vodka use corn from longtime farmers as well as those newer to farming.
The distillery concept came naturally to
co-founders and husband-and-wife-duo Ryan and
Amanda Bare. The Iowa natives went to Iowa State
University and moved away to work as mechanical
engineers, but they soon heard the call to return
to their home state. Farm-kid Ryan had learned
how to convert corn to alcohol at an ethanol plant,
then began toying with the idea of engineering his
own plant-a distillery.

After touring the distillery, you can settle in for
both food and drink. The tasting room serves whiskey and vodka cocktails and straight shots as well
as regional craft beers, non-alcoholic drinks and a
full menu from a partner food truck. You can take
home the distillery's whiskey and vodka in bottles
as well as in quarts of pre-made cocktails.
Century Farm also offers the opportunity for
you to own your own barrel of Iowa farm history.
Purchase a 5- or 15-gallon barrel of Prairie States
Corn Whiskey, sample your product along the way,
and take your whiskey home when it's reached its
age of perfection.
Another northwest distillery similarly celebrates
Iowa agriculture. S&B Farms Distillery in Bancroft
is a " seed-to-spirit distillery. " Owners Brian and
Sara Winkleman were inspired by a distiller in
Georgia that was using the Winklemans' corn for
moonshine. Now, they use grains grown and milled
on their very own farm for spirits distilled in their
very own distillery. Sara crafts the recipes, and Brian
distills the grain into alcohol.
As a farm kid and long-time farmer, Brian has
an edge. He has discovered that growing corn for

Smash Park in Des Moines
is home to four bars.

SMASH PARK DES MOINES

SPRING/SUMMER 2021 13

Iowa Spring-Summer 21

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Iowa Spring-Summer 21