South Dakota Beer?

[Floored]

I'm heading to SD in early June for a family vacation. We'll primarily be in the Belle Fourche area but making our way around the state. Anyone have recommendations for breweries or beer bars?

 

[Psylocide]

Well... slim pickins really.

I've heard good things about Miner Brewing Co. in Hill City (not far from Belle Fourche), a buddy of mine works there, so it may be a little biased, but their offerings look like a good mix.

http://www.minerbrewing.com/

Definitely check out Crow Peak in Spearfish... they've got some great beers as well, real close to where you'll be.

http://www.crowpeakbrewing.com/taproom/

If you make it to Sioux Falls, you must go to Monk's house of Ale Repute/Gandy Dancer Brew works.

http://www.monkshouseofalerepute.com/


That's really the best I can think of at the moment.

 

[TheCADJockey]

Just go raid @Psylocide 's fridge.

 

[Psylocide]

Just go raid @Psylocide 's fridge.

The only SoDak beers in there are mine.

Gandy Dancer only has a tap room and I've consumed enough Crow Peak that I don't buy it any more in cans... Miner, never been.

 

[MaxStout]

Ditto on Monk's. My parents live in Sioux Falls, so I like to make a side trip over there while I'm in town. I'm amazed that a city of almost 200,000 doesn't have more craft breweries, but maybe that will change soon.

There's a good little liquor store called Taylor's Pantry Good Spirits in Sioux Falls. Nice selection of micros to stock up for the trip west. Just north of I-229 on Minnesota Ave.

I hit Firehouse Brewing in Rapid City on the way out west last year. Unless they've cleaned up their act, I'd avoid that one. Several of their beers had a strong diacetyl problem. Probably tap lines that were long overdue for cleaning.

The Black Hills are awesome. Have a great trip!

 

[Psylocide]

Ditto on Monk's. My parents live in Sioux Falls, so I like to make a side trip over there while I'm in town. I'm amazed that a city of almost 200,000 doesn't have more craft breweries, but maybe that will change soon.

There's a good little liquor store called Taylor's Pantry Good Spirits in Sioux Falls. Nice selection of micros to stock up for the trip west. Just north of I-229 on Minnesota Ave.

I hit Firehouse Brewing in Rapid City on the way out west last year. Unless they've cleaned up their act, I'd avoid that one. Several of their beers had a strong diacetyl problem. Probably tap lines that were long overdue for cleaning.

The Black Hills are awesome. Have a great trip!

Taylor's Pantry also happens to be just about everyone's LHBS here.

I'm surprised at the small amount of craft breweries as well... but, a new one just popped up called Fernson. I think they've got a way to go before they're really up and running... so far they are just supplying kegs to bars and I don't believe they have a functioning taphouse yet.

 

[Floored]

That was fast! We'll be passing through Sioux Falls twice unless I can convince my wife to detour through Ft. Collins. I'll definitely time it as to facilitate a stop at Monk's. I'll check out as many places as the schedule will allow.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

 

[Psylocide]

That was fast! We'll be passing through Sioux Falls twice unless I can convince my wife to detour through Ft. Collins. I'll definitely time it as to facilitate a stop at Monk's. I'll check out as many places as the schedule will allow.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

Yep, all 4 that we have to offer as a state.

Lol!

 

[Floored]

The Black Hills are awesome. Have a great trip!

This will be the first time in SD for the whole family. We're really looking forward to it. The main point of the trip is a fossil dig.

Just go raid @Psylocide 's fridge.

The only SoDak beers in there are mine.

It doesn't get more local than that. Not being acquainted, I'd feel obligated to replace those beers with something interesting from St. Louis.

 

[MaxStout]

Be sure to visit the Badlands too. It's really cool early AM and evening when the sun is low. If you're short on time, at least turn off I-90 and take the drive through there. It only adds an hour or so to the trip.

A drive through Spearfish Canyon is very scenic as well. There's also the Mickelson Trail for biking and hiking.

Lots to see and do out there.

 

[Billy-Klubb]

I'm from Rapid City. stay away from Fire House. Canyon lake Liquors and Smith's Liquors are two good bottle shops in Rapid City. Crow Peak is a great stop. 11th Hour IPA is a great beer and even better at the tap room. and I can't remember if it's Hill City or Custer, but Sick-N-Twisted Brewing @ Naked Winery. check out Reptile Gardens. if you make it out to Deadwood, check out the historic graveyard.

 

[MaxStout]

That was fast! We'll be passing through Sioux Falls twice unless I can convince my wife to detour through Ft. Collins. I'll definitely time it as to facilitate a stop at Monk's. I'll check out as many places as the schedule will allow.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

If you make the trip in a loop and head down to Colorado, just think of all the great breweries lying in store for you. You'll never get out of there. :rockin:

Then going home is just a straight shot east on I-70.

 

[Floored]

check out Reptile Gardens. if you make it out to Deadwood, check out the historic graveyard.

Thanks for the recommendations. The itinerary is loose so I'll try to include as much as I can.

If you make the trip in a loop and head down to Colorado, just think of all the great breweries lying in store for you. You'll never get out of there. :rockin:

Then going home is just a straight shot east on I-70.

That's exactly what I was thinking. My mind was racing with the possibilities but this trip is for four, not just one. Hey kids, wait until you see THIS brewery!

 

[MaxStout]

Reptile Gardens is great fun for the kids. Snakes, alligator wrestling, etc.

Mt. Rushmore is a must. Go in the evening when they do the lighting ceremony. After a presentation on the history, when it gets dark they illuminate it with floodlights. Really cool.

Custer State Park is nice, with bison herds and roaming packs of "begging burros" that come up to your car as you drive by.

If you get to the southern part of the hills, Evans Plunge in Hot Springs is another good spot for the whole family. It's a hot springs-fed indoor swimming pool.

 

[Billy-Klubb]

And the Mammoth Site in Hot Springs.

 

[Floored]

And the Mammoth Site in Hot Springs.

That's definitely on the list. Hope it's as cool as it sounds. It looks like with Hot Springs as a southern point and Belle Fourche in the north we'll be going by most everything mentioned.

Who knew what a valuable resource HBT is for trip planning.

 

[Billy-Klubb]

my granny used to cook at the Mammoth Site in the summers. it has a really cool history, I think.

 

[TheCADJockey]

And the Mammoth Site in Hot Springs.

Had no idea that was there..

Pretty sure that place would make me geek out.

 

[fj605]

Crow Peak is great. Spent many Friday afternoons there while in college.

The fish hatchery in Spearfish is cool. Also be sure to get a picture at the Center of the Nation monument in Belle Fourche.

+1 for the Deadwood cemetery. Lots of famous people are up there. Catch one if the re-enactments of Wild Bill's assassination. The kids will get a kick out of it.

 

[Billy-Klubb]

Crow Peak is great. Spent many Friday afternoons there while in college.

The fish hatchery in Spearfish is cool. Also be sure to get a picture at the Center of the Nation monument in Belle Fourche.

+1 for the Deadwood cemetery. Lots of famous people are up there. Catch one if the re-enactments of Wild Bill's assassination. The kids will get a kick out of it.

where you at now?

 

[Billy-Klubb]

Had no idea that was there..

Pretty sure that place would make me geek out.

these are a few I took in '09.

 

[fj605]

I moved to Denver 3 years ago for work.

 

[TheCADJockey]

these are a few I took in '09.

Coooooooooooooooooooooool! I wanna go there.

 

[Billy-Klubb]

I moved to Denver 3 years ago for work.

SW South Dakota is beautiful, but not a lot of great job options.

 

[Floored]

Here's a post trip wrap up.

Sioux Falls: Monk's for some Gandy Dancer IPA and Phillips Diner. We hit the corn palace and Wall drug on the way to Hot Springs. Went to the mammoth site which was very cool. Ate at woolly's and tried their house brewed beer when they were out of pile o dirt (not good).

We drove through wind cave park on the way to Crazy Horse and Mount Rushmore. After Rushmore we stopped at Miner brewing in Hill city. Their beers are great; my wife loved the mango cream ale and their wheat was maybe the best example I've had. IIPA and chokecherry brown were also very good. I tried everything but the blonde and they all were solid. We ate at dough traders in Spearfish; great pizza.

Tuesday was devils tower and vore buffalo jump.

Wednesday was gold panning, Miner brewing again, and a solo trip to Crow Peak in Spearfish.

Thursday was the geological museum in Rapid City then a drive through Custer park.

Friday we went on a family fossil dig with paleo adventures. Our guide was super knowledgeable and great with my kids. My oldest found a nano tyrannus tooth which was very cool and rare. The rest of us found some various bone fragments, fish scales, triceratops teeth, and one ankylosaur tooth.

Thank you all for the suggestions. South Dakota is beautiful and the black hills are stunning. We had a great time and definitely are planning a return trip.

One last thing, Crow Peak pile o dirt porter kicks a$$.

 

[Billy-Klubb]

I'm glad you had a great trip! except for the not good beer at Wooly's. for your next trip, Sheridan Lake and Sylvan Lake are beautiful.

 

[Floored]

I'm glad you had a great trip! except for the not good beer at Wooly's. for your next trip, Sheridan Lake and Sylvan Lake are beautiful.

I'll have to check those out. Now that we've done the main tourist attractions, we want to do more hiking. Spearfish canyon is already on the list.

 

[Billy-Klubb]

I'll have to check those out. Now that we've done the main tourist attractions, we want to do more hiking. Spearfish canyon is already on the list.

:rockin:

I also suggest hiking just outside Deadwood.