Brews and Broods
Taste of the CoUNTY
If there’s anything creating a brouhaha in Bayfield County, it’s the winery, craft beer and spirits industry. In an area known for its berries and apple orchards, Bayfield County is now attracting visitors who enjoy touring the production facilities and tasting the fruits of the local labor. Mary says there are numerous experiences to take part in, starting with the White Winter Winery in Iron River. A winery and distillery, White Winter has a large selection of Meads, a house specialty made from fruit and honey, but it also makes a hard cider and non-alcoholic spritzer.
If you dabble in craft brewing or would like to see what it’s like, the South Shore Brewery lets you “Brew with Bo.” You need to book this experience at least two weeks in advance, but you can spend a day with the tap house brewmaster and his crew, making a batch of South Shore beer. You’ll get a tour of the facility, an official South Shore work shirt with your name on it, a lunch and beer sampling, and a growler (64 oz.) of your brew once it’s on tap. If you are not from the area, you still get a growler of beer to take home, but not the one you brewed.
The Copper Crow Distillery in Red Cliff has an outstanding Bloody Mary Bar on Sundays. Using fresh, regional ingredients, Copper Crow creates small, distinctive batches of vodka, and has some whiskey and apple brandy in the works. In the Bayfield area, Bayfield Winery and Seven Ponds Winery have combined to create the “Wineries on Betzold Rd.” There are fruit wines from the Bayfield Winery and grape wines from Seven Ponds to sample, along with charcuterie plates, and a unique Supper Club experience on Saturday nights. Reservations are required on Saturday nights.
You can learn more about these wineries and others in the Bayfield County Visitors Guide, which can be downloaded on the website or click on the interactive map, also available on the website.
IRON RIVER NATIONAL FISH HATCHERY
One of four fish hatcheries in Bayfield County, the Iron River National Fish Hatchery raises trout to stock Lake Michigan and Lake Huron and coastal brook trout for Lake Superior. Its manager, Carey Edwards, and her staff of eight produce about 1.5 million yearlings annually and raise them until they are about seven to eight inches long. With the goal of having the trout reproduce for themselves, the Iron River hatchery has seen some success in their efforts. They are no longer stocking trout in Lake Superior and have reduced their numbers in Lake Huron. Edwards says it’s challenging working with live product and being concerned with maintaining water temperatures and water quality, pathogens, parasites and viruses. Though rare, when disease is present, Carey and her crew work with fish health specialists to mitigate the problem.
The hatchery is open year-round to visitors, who can tour the aquariums, with or without guides, or use its three-mile trail system for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in the winter and hiking and birding in the summer. Snowshoes are free to use on a first-come, first-served basis at the hatchery visitor center. Hunting is also allowed on the premises.
There are also lots of opportunities for individuals who would like to volunteer their time with the hatchery. Volunteers can stock fish at local lakes and help with hatchery’s annual Open House and Candlelight Trek. Its Friends organization also needs volunteers to help organize its 5k Trail Run in September and its Maple Syrup event this month.
MARCH MADNESS
March 1 – 3: Bayfield Winter Festival
March 2: World’s Longest Weenie Roast at Lakewoods Resort
March 7 – 21: Spring Community Art Exhibit at the Washburn Cultural Center – “Art Heals: The Healing Power of the Arts”
March 8 – 9: Fat Bike Birkie in Cable, WI
March 8 – 10: U.S. National Snowshoe Championships at Lakewoods Resort
March 16: March Madness Taphouse Tournament at South Shore Brewery
Enjoy snowmobiling, skiing and snowshoeing while the snow lasts!
View the full schedule of events on our website and Facebook page.
APRIL PREVIEW
Spring is here and so are the birds. Conservation Biologist Ryan Brady shares his love of birds and how we can enjoy them.
AFFILIATE NOTES
Rookery Pub and Cable Nature Lodge
Casual gourmet dining at its finest, the Rookery’s ever-changing menu features weekly fresh fish specials, beef & bison steak, specialty salads, house-made soups, and other creative dishes incorporating fresh seasonal ingredients from local producers. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options are the best you’ll find anywhere. Plus, a full bar with a great selection of regional microbrews, premium liquor, and more than three dozen fine wines.
Staudemeyer’s Four Seasons Resort
A family tradition since 1964, Staudemeyer’s is nestled along Lake Namakagon and features cozy lakeside cottages as well as beautiful vacation homes. Accommodations include complete kitchens, private piers, custom fireplaces and more. Whether for a scenic lakeside wedding or a simple fishing getaway, Straudemeyer’s offers it all.
Whether you’re on a 4-wheeler, snowmobile, or just passing by, we have the fuel, drinks and food to satisfy! Valhalla View has 24-hour pay at the pump fuel, drinks, and food. One of the best dining experiences around, Valhalla View has a full dinner menu, daily specials, all-you-can-eat salad bar, hand-made pizza and more! Valhalla View Pub & Grub – Where drinks, food, and fun meet the trail!
Come check out Bayfield’s newest & coolest outdoor adventure store. The Howl Adventure Center has a full-service shop for sales, rentals, demos and repairs, plus a free, fun, on-site demo trail so you can try out mountain bikes, fat tires, e-bikes, Cross-Country skis & snowshoes. The trail is entry level with optional features so it’s great for first-timers as well as avid bikers and skiers.