Winter Flavors You Should Be Sipping On At Rapid City's Local Breweries
Rapid City is home to the largest collection of local breweries in the western region of South Dakota. Each offers a different atmosphere, story, and flavors – but they all work together to better our beer community. And succeeding we might add. Our area is known for historic sites, epic outdoor adventures, its proximity to outstanding parks and monuments, and thanks to these following breweries we have a wealth of creative craft beer. To help you get a small taste of what our breweries offer, we’ve gathered a list of their recent winter releases (a.k.a must-tries) so you can treat your taste buds during your visit. We, and the Rapid City breweries, encourage you to visit them all so you can truly appreciate the flavors of Rapid City.
Cohort Craft Brewing
A place for beer minded people to connect can be found at Cohort Craft Brewing. Customers can expect a selection of progressive beer styles to always be on tap at this local brewery. They're firm believers beer doesn't have to fit in a category - and the proof is in their product.
Chai Me A River - Chai Craft Mead | 5.5% ABV | 0 IBU
Your new seasonal favorite. The chai spice pairs well with holiday dinners and desserts. Only available during the holiday season, so enjoy it while you can!
Senses Working Overtime - Pineapple Marshmallow Sour Milkshake IPA | 6.5% ABV | 15 IBU
We know that just got your attention. This fun experimental beer is sweet, tart, and fruity in flavor and aroma. A must try for those adventerous beer drinkers.
It's My Party - Oatmeal Stout | 7% ABV | 20 IBU
Created for one of Cohort's favorite customers. This is a smooth and roasty stout perfect for the cooler temps. Slightly sweet for increased drinkability.
Dakota Point Brewing
Dakota Point Brewing takes pride in creating all styles of the finest craft beer. They are named after the popular cliff jumping location in the Black Hills, a well-known place where people gather to catch up with friends and have a good time – something individuals will also find at Dakota Point Brewing where they are building community one beer at a time.
Piste' OFF | 6.4% ABV | 33 IBU
Brewed in collaboration with Peak Sports and Wide Open Brew Coffee Company this beer has balance of bitter and sweet. Chewy graham cracker, nutty and caramel malt, and a big splash of cold brew coffee combine to create this unique winter warmer!
Elfin' Blueberries! Christmas Ale | 5.2% ABV | 25 IBU
An annual fan favorite! With Blueberries, Maple syrup, and Cinnamon, you're taste buds will be celebrating the holidays like an Elf on a shelf! Hops added to insure the Grinch will like it too.
Barrel Aged Peat Digger | 11% ABV
Rich and malty, with caramel and molasses flavors backed by a hint of peat smoke. Milk chocolate on the nose, followed by butterscotch, toffee and a slight alcohol warmness. Aged in a Badlands Distillery Whiskey barrel for 12 months and finishing at 11% ABV, it’s like having candy Bourbon Balls in a glass!
Firehouse Brewing Company
In 1991, Firehouse Brewing Company became South Dakota’s first brew pub. Housed inside Rapid City’s original fire house, the interior of the building has been restored to its original fire-hall glory. Today the Firehouse features a brewery, restaurant, large outdoor patio with a band shell for live music, mercantile, and Rapid City’s only winery.
Rapid Crick | 6.1% ABV | 45 IBUs
Refined, delicate, and exceptionally smooth with that pillowy mouth feel so crucial to the classic Czech Pilsner style.
Wild Bill | 3.76% ABV | 18 IBU
A complex, malty session ale in the English traditional style with layers of dark stone fruit, toffee, sourdough bread crust, and chocolate.
Black Hills Brown | 5.5% ABV | 27 IBU
Notes of roasted coffee and dark chocolate mingle with Munich and caramel/crystal malts for a combination of rich and roasty flavors along with refined floral and coffee-like aromatics.
Hay Camp Brewing Co.
Hay Camp Brewing Co. is a nanobrewery that produces small batch, hand-crafted beer and is named after the original name of Rapid City. The interior embodies many characteristics of the towns early days. They’ve evolved into more than just a brewery, with a large event hall they can also hosts wedding receptions, concerts and other events year-round.
Downtown Otis Stout | 4.8% ABV
This silky smooth Nitro Oatmeal Stout we would liken it to a Guinness Stout with a bit more mouth-feel from the big addition of oats to the mash. Brewed for Woodland Republic’s second anniversary the perfect way to salute with our third collaboration beer.
Breakfast Pub Coffee Porter | 6% ABV
Locally roasted Essence of Coffee is cold brewed and blended with the oatmeal porter for an exceptionally smooth combination. Expect a complex coffee nose with a velvety and rejuvenating milk chocolate sweetness.
Bourbon Barrel Aged Transcendence | 13.4% ABV
First you will notice the viscous mouth-feel, savor the rich dark chocolate and toffee flavors, then enjoy the tingling sensation of barrel aged bourbon. This Is A Big Beer With A Big Flavor.
Last Mile Brewery
Last Mile is the newest addition to Rapid City's craft beer scene. At this time, their small tasting room only sells to-go 32oz and 64oz growlers. It's their mission to deliver great-tasting, clean-finishing beers using tried and true recipes. You can expect to find a beer line up that includes: German Amber Ale, American Wheat, Honey Kölsch, Peach Mango, Hazy IPA, Traditional Stout and more!
Chocolate Marshmallow Porter | 5.8% ABV | 20 IBU
The classic flavors of hot cocoa in a beer, to put a smile on your face during the cold winter days and nights. Made with Irish base malt and British crystal malts. Finished with natural chocolate and marshmallow flavors.
Comfortably Numb | 8.6% ABV | 25 IBU
Based loosely on a Belgian Abbey style, with a big malt presence and flavors of nuts, chocolate, honey, and raisins. Just a touch of East Kent Goldings and Challenger hops are used to balance the malt sweetness.
Lost Cabin Beer Co.
Lost Cabin Beer Co. is named after a popular hiking trail in the Black Hills and represents the love of the outdoors that both of its owners, and many of its patrons have. The rustic and welcoming interior further showcases that outdoor feeling and creates a great space to enjoy a beer after enjoying the nature found around Rapid City.
Pecan Porter | 6.8% ABV | 31 IBU
Toasty, smooth drinking porter made with roasted pecans. It's the perfect drink for chilly nights kickin'it by the fireplace.
Hobo Queen Red IPA | 6.8% ABV | 78 IBU
This winter seasonal is inspired by groomed slopes and blue bird skies. It's loaded with Azacca and Simcoe hops for a dank, resinous experience backed by up by smooth caramel malt.
Electric Mistletoe | 4.2% ABV | 4 IBU
This sour - fruited gose is brewed perfectly for the season with cranberry and orange. It's tart, refreshing, and of course festive - the perfect stocking stuffer.
Woodland Republic Brewing & Blending
Woodland Republic is a modern brewery that embraces rustic farmhouse tradition. They ferment their beers in oak and stainless steel, and work with the time-consuming process and unpredictableness of wild and sour mixed-fermentation beer production. Similar to boutique wineries, beers you'll find at Woodland Republic will vary from vintage to vintage through blending, fruiting and barrel-aging.
Cherry Cobbler with Covert Artisan Ales | 4.8% ABV
A mixed fermentation sour based conditioned on cherry, vanilla and Biscoff cookies. Yum!
Purple Rain Sour with Cohort Craft Brewery | 6% ABV
Experience a kettle sour base beer conditioned on brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla and purple sweet potato!
Lost in the Woods with Lost Cabin Beer Co. | 6.3% ABV
A collaboration New England IPA dry-hopped with Bravo, Chinook, Centennial and Strata.
Zymurcracy Beer Company
The name of this veteran-owned beer company, pronounced ˈZĪˌmər-krə-sē, means: a community of individuals dedicated to the principles and art of fermentation science. Zymurcracy’s beer styles are incredibly diverse and ever-evolving. Their large brewery is perfect for gathering, play games and having a good time.
Arlene's Imperial Coffee Porter | 9.2% ABV | 27 IBU
This medium-bodied beer gives off a chocolate-toffee aroma supported by moderate coffee notes.
Doppelbock | 8.8% ABV | 24 IBU
This beer is rich and complex, a malty German lager with medium-body and a slightly sweet finish.
