Breweries with the most highly ranked beers in South Dakota

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September 10, 2025
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Breweries with the most highly ranked beers in South Dakota

After an explosion of growth in the craft beer industry, the market is undergoing a shift, causing beer lovers to stay alert to keep track of their favorites.

The last decade saw an explosion of craft breweries that operate on a smaller scale and offer a wider, and sometimes more experimental, selection of beer. In 2024, there were a total of 9,496 craft breweries in the U.S., a 104% increase from 2015.

However, that growth is tapering off. According to the Brewers Association, 2024 was the industry's worst year for brewpub, microbrewery, and taproom closings, with 519 drawing their last pint.

Changing consumer preferences may be contributing to this trend. While beer and cider still have the largest market share of alcoholic drinks, consumers are reducing their alcohol consumption. Gallup found that between 2023 and 2025, the percentage of people who consumed alcohol within the last 24 hours dropped eight percentage points to 28%, while the percentage who hadn't had an alcoholic drink in over a week increased eight percentage points to 40%.

Brewers are also facing another enemy: Climate change. Rising temperatures and drought have caused shifts in the growing season and decreased production in noble hops, an essential beer ingredient. Researchers predict that by 2050, climate change could cause an up to 18.4% decrease in hop yields.

Still, all is not doom and gloom. Although the craft beer industry is facing challenges, new brewpubs, microbreweries, and taprooms keep opening—428 opened in 2024—and brewers keep flexing their creative muscles to develop new beer flavors with the best ingredients they have.

Stacker compiled a list of the breweries with the most beers ranked in the top 100 in South Dakota using data from BeerAdvocate as of August 2025. Any ties were broken by the highest-ranking beer.

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#19. Dakota Point Brewing


- Number of top beers in South Dakota: 1
- Highest ranked beers in South Dakota:
--- #54. Riley's Irish Red (Irish Red Ale)
2 / 19
BeerAdvocate

#18. Look's Beer Co


- Number of top beers in South Dakota: 1
- Highest ranked beers in South Dakota:
--- #31. Daisy Gazer (New England IPA)
3 / 19
BeerAdvocate

#17. Ben's Brewing Co.


- Number of top beers in South Dakota: 1
- Highest ranked beers in South Dakota:
--- #26. West Side Park (American IPA)
4 / 19
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#16. Sick N Twisted Brewing Co.


- Number of top beers in South Dakota: 1
- Highest ranked beers in South Dakota:
--- #21. Hop On Top Imperial IPA (Imperial IPA)
5 / 19
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#15. Sturgis Brewing Company


- Number of top beers in South Dakota: 2
- Highest ranked beers in South Dakota:
--- #77. Red Cut Red Ale (American Amber / Red Ale)
--- #74. Runkle Road IPA (American IPA)
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#14. Dakota Shivers Brewing


- Number of top beers in South Dakota: 3
- Highest ranked beers in South Dakota:
--- #56. Vertical Mile IPA (American IPA)
--- #53. Bison Breath Brown (American Brown Ale)
--- #50. 5280 Pale Ale (American Pale Ale)
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#13. Hay Camp Brewing Company


- Number of top beers in South Dakota: 3
- Highest ranked beers in South Dakota:
--- #60. Breakfast Pub (English Porter)
--- #51. Centennial Trail IPA (American IPA)
--- #46. Dino-sour Pale Ale (American Pale Ale)
8 / 19
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#12. Severance Brewing


- Number of top beers in South Dakota: 3
- Highest ranked beers in South Dakota:
--- #61. Love Notes (American IPA)
--- #58. Tedious Fool (American Imperial Stout)
--- #30. Monster Cookie (Oatmeal Stout)
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#11. Mt. Rushmore Brewing Company


- Number of top beers in South Dakota: 4
- Highest ranked beers in South Dakota:
--- #48. Long Tom (American IPA)
--- #40. Roosevelt's The Trust Buster (Scottish Ale)
--- #36. Buffalo Snot (Oatmeal Stout)
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#10. Firehouse Brewing Co.


- Number of top beers in South Dakota: 4
- Highest ranked beers in South Dakota:
--- #41. Smoke Jumper Stout (American Stout)
--- #29. Brown-Eyed Girl (English Brown Ale)
--- #20. Buffalo Bitter (English Bitter)
11 / 19
BeerAdvocate

#9. Crow Peak Brewing


- Number of top beers in South Dakota: 4
- Highest ranked beers in South Dakota:
--- #28. Red Water (Irish Red Ale)
--- #25. Mjöllnir - Thor's Hammer (Herb and Spice Beer)
--- #15. Pile O' Dirt Porter (Robust Porter)
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#8. Spearfish Brewing Company


- Number of top beers in South Dakota: 5
- Highest ranked beers in South Dakota:
--- #85. Festbier (Maibock)
--- #65. Hills Have Ryes (Rye Beer)
--- #18. Adventurepants! (Imperial IPA)
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#7. The Knuckle Saloon & Grill


- Number of top beers in South Dakota: 5
- Highest ranked beers in South Dakota:
--- #37. Pipe Welder Porter (American Porter)
--- #23. Runkle Road IPA (American IPA)
--- #8. Knuckle Head Red (American Amber / Red Ale)
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#6. WoodGrain Brewing Co


- Number of top beers in South Dakota: 6
- Highest ranked beers in South Dakota:
--- #13. IPA (American IPA)
--- #6. Milk Stout (Sweet / Milk Stout)
--- #5. Snobbery IPA (New England IPA)
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#5. Sawyer Brewing Company


- Number of top beers in South Dakota: 8
- Highest ranked beers in South Dakota:
--- #38. Blood Orange Blonde Ale (American Blonde Ale)
--- #27. Mother Lode (New England IPA)
--- #24. Smoldering Scotch (Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy)
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#4. Remedy Brewing Company


- Number of top beers in South Dakota: 10
- Highest ranked beers in South Dakota:
--- #19. Stratacopter (New England IPA)
--- #10. Queen Bee Imperial Honey Cream Ale (Cream Ale)
--- #9. Nonsense IPA (American IPA)
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BeerAdvocate

#3. Fernson Brewing Company


- Number of top beers in South Dakota: 10
- Highest ranked beers in South Dakota:
--- #17. Lion's Paw Lager (Vienna Lager)
--- #16. Shy Giant (American IPA)
--- #4. Wagonplane Porter (American Porter)
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BeerAdvocate

#2. Covert Artisan Ales


- Number of top beers in South Dakota: 13
- Highest ranked beers in South Dakota:
--- #33. R&R (Wild Ale)
--- #14. Egg Pie (American Imperial Stout)
--- #7. Vanilla BBC (Wild Ale)
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BeerAdvocate

#1. Lost Cabin Beer Co.


- Number of top beers in South Dakota: 16
- Highest ranked beers in South Dakota:
--- #3. Bruce Banner (American Pale Ale)
--- #2. Lord Grizzly (Scotch Ale / Wee Heavy)
--- #1. SoDank IPA (American IPA)

This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.

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