Millstream Brewing Company - Generations White Ale

White Ales, or "witbiers" as they're known in Belgium, get their name from the light-colored cloudiness contributed by the wheat and yeast left in the unfiltered beer. To properly enjoy this beer, you should pour the first 2/3rds into your glass, then swirl the bottle vigorously to stir up the wheat sediment, and pour the last third into your glass roughly in order to mix the unsettled haze into your beer and get the true-to-style, brilliantly white, voluminous head to rise up to proper proportions. A fine example of the style, this white ale is particularly easy to drink. Expect prominent notes of fresh oranges in the nose and in the flavor, with an herbal quality coming from the hops and coriander. A slight twinge of tartness comes from the use of bitter orange peel. Finishes extraordinarily smooth with notes of mandarins, white pepper, and a touch of zesty, lemon-like, herbal hops. The witbier style is known for its thirst-quenching character and makes for a great summer beer drinking morning, noon or night. Seriously, as many Belgians would attest, this is a beer you could start your day off with, in place of O.J. (well, maybe just on weekends). Great with white fish heavily spritzed with lemon, or any variety of spicy dishes.

If ever there was a place long overdue for a new brewery, it was Amana, IA. Until the Millstream Brewing Company opened their doors in 1985, the area had not been graced by the presence of a brewery for over 100 years. Why it took that long to get a brewery going in Amana, we don't know. What we do know is that the Millstream Brewing Company, founded by brothers James and Dennis Roemig and Carroll F. Zuber, was born out of a love for the finest European ales & lagers and the will to brew great, handcrafted beers locally. Oh, another thing we know... 21 years after their beers hit the market, they just keep getting better! To help kick things off, they hired one of the country's most accomplished masterbrewers, Joseph Pickett Sr., to develop their recipes. Joe formulated their initial three offerings, which remained the brewery's primary line up until about 6 years ago when it was sold to Chris Priebe, Aaron Taubman, and Teresa Sly Albert. As you might expect, along with the new owners came new brews; the new threesome added a German Style Pilsner, Oatmeal Stout, and several other fantastic seasonals. Chris and Aaron both trained at the Siebel Institute of Brewing Technology, so rest assured, their brewing skills make the cut on paper... But hey, paper doesn't taste all that great, so get to the tasting notes below and pour a couple of their beers for the real proof behind their brewing prowess! For more information about the brewery and scheduled tours--call (319) 622-3672 or check out their web site at www.millstreambrewing.com.