The skies over North Dakota seem endless; a sense of freedom comes with moving under them. North Dakota was home to the Mandan, Hidatsa, Arikara, Ojibwa, Cree, Assiniboine, Yankton, Wahpeton, and Teton aboriginal people for hundreds of years. Their presence is felt today in the stillness of the badlands and the iconic Red River Valley. Most people in the state live in rural areas, a rarity in America. And despite the great wide openness, there’s another side of the state that’s bustling with excitement. The North Dakota distillery scene is definitely one for the bucket list.

The craft brewery and distillery scene in North Dakota stands up to its geographic wonders. You could sip a craft beer on a sunny afternoon in Fargo, indulge in sugar beet rum after watching North American Bison graze near the badlands, or sip a sweet rhubarb wine after dining on grilled walleye in Bismarck, the state’s capital city. Let us be your ultimate guide to some not-to-missed hotspots.

The Fargo Brewing Company

If you are a fan of Fargo, the acclaimed TV series that won six prime-time Emmys, you’ve got to feel the city’s vibe for yourself. The Fargo Brewing Company stands out in the craft brewery scene in North Dakota, offering a German lager named Fargo Original which is “easy to drink.” The Woodchipper, named for a disturbing scene in the brilliant Coen Brother’s film Fargo, is an American-style Indian Pale Ale with hints of sticky pine. (If you have yet to watch Fargo, you must before you drink this lager.)

Bands like Hemlock with Shotgun Facelift and Bad Wolves rock the event schedule, along with local talent. Buy a reasonably priced “Drink Fargo” t-shirt if you think others should know about this place. (We think you will.) The Fargo Brewing Company earns a spot in any serious ultimate guide to craft breweries in North Dakota.

4-e Winery

Only twenty minutes west of The Fargo Brewing Company is the 4-e Winery. Greg and Lisa Cook gather ingredients from the northern prairies, like plums and rhubarb, and create highly drinkable wines. The Cook farmstead is more than one hundred years old. A large red barn with white doors and window frames is the focal part of the space.

Though the King of the North grape variety is sometimes said to be too acidic to produce a fine wine, the Cooks coax a full flavor from it in Bison Tale. Another standout wine is Brianna, a dry, crisp white that pairs well with the region’s fish, like rainbow trout and chinook salmon.

4-e Winery is one of the best wineries in North Dakota. It should be included in any wine tour in the Fargo area. Oh, we mentioned that The Fargo Brewing Company sells t-shirts. 4-e Winery does, too: Fargo: North of Normal. Exactly.  

Laughing Sun Brewing

Famed explorers Lewis and Clarke made their way to Bismarck in 1804; local lure has it that the pair saw its first grizzly bear just south of the city. While we cannot promise you that specific excitement, the craft brewing scene in North Dakota’s capital city of Bismarck is thriving, and Laughing Sun Brewing does its part to keep things interesting. The best breweries in Bismarck offer patrons roomy patios in which to sip their brew, but Laughing Sun Brewery escalates your experience by including axe-throwing lanes in theirs. Yes, they offer throwing stars and spears too. (If getting all primal with weapons isn’t your thing, check out the Laughing Sun Brewing events calendar for movie trivia nights, jazz quartets, and painting classes.)

When you tire of throwing your weapon of choice, this ultimate guide to hotspots in North Dakota suggests that you partake of Sinister Belgian Style ale; it is easy to drink and has a sly 9% ABV (alcohol by volume). Throw in an entire smoked turkey for the table, and you’ve got yourself a time. If this seems like too much, you could chill out with a MoonCat Cold Brew Coffee Ale – yes, it has coffee and alcohol.

Heart River Spirits

While in Bismarck, why not go to the best distillery offering moonshine? A craft distillery tour in this capital should always include a stop at Heart River Spirits, where moonshine is sold in artistically labeled mason jars. The distillery makes moonshine in two flavors, blueberry and apple, and the purity of the local ingredients means that you must shake the bottle before pouring. Now, this is just as it should be.

Heart River Spirits knows cocktails. Three standouts are the Rum with the Dog, with Heart River cinnamon rum, Dr. Pepper, cherries, and cane sugar; the Heart River Daiquiri, with Heart River Silver Rum, fresh lime juice, curacao, orange juice, and cane sugar; and the Porch Puppy Colada, with Heart River Silver Rum, cream of coconut, and crushed pineapple.

The craft distillery scene in North Dakota is about spirits but also, fortunately, local food. Heart River Spirits keeps it simple and delicious: We recommend the wontons stuffed with duck bacon and the gourmet hotdog known as “The Big Dog.”

Proof Artisan Distillers

Let’s head back to Fargo. Brothers Jay and Joel Kath took five years to plan what has become Proof Artisan Distillers, one of the best distilleries in North Dakota. Here, they infuse over twenty aromatic ingredients into their Minions Gin. Then, they finish Minions Barrel Reserve Gin in Crooked Farrow bourbon barrels. They were the first to make bourbon whiskey in South Dakota, and they brew it in small batches. Jay and Joel have a passion for distilling that shows up in every sip of their products.  

You will almost certainly leave Proof Artisan Distillers with a bottle or two to add to your collection. We suggest you enjoy a drink at the bar just because the space is so welcoming, with gleaming wood, a gorgeous mirror above the bar, and a skylight that brings in the sky. Tasting room hours are throughout the week at this establishment; the weekends are reserved for Jay and Joel’s downtime.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I find a map showing distilleries in North Dakota?

North Dakota Tourism has a useful map. 

Is there a tour of wineries and breweries, but not distilleries, in North Dakota?

There is an excellent tour aptly named the North Dakota Winery and Brewery Tour. 

Can you recommend a list of North Dakota’s best craft beer? 

Sure. Visit DistilleryNearby.com to learn about worthy craft beer near your neck of the woods. 

If your interest in craft beer, craft distilleries, and artisan wines has been piqued as you read about some of what North Dakota offers, follow this link to Distillery Nearby. Quench your thirst for knowledge.