Downtown Sioux Falls Celebrates 10th Annual Mash Madness Winners

Altered Species Brewing, Ironwood Steakhouse, and Perch take home top prizes in beer, cocktail, and non-alcoholic drink categories.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 6:34pm

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A bold, colorful silkscreen-style illustration featuring repeating icons of a craft beer glass, cocktail shaker, and non-alcoholic drink tumbler, conceptually representing the vibrant drink culture and small business community of downtown Sioux Falls.The annual Mash Madness competition in downtown Sioux Falls celebrates the city's thriving drink culture and small business community.Sioux Falls Today

Downtown Sioux Falls (DTSF) has announced the winners of its 10th annual Mash Madness drink competition, which took place throughout the month of March. The community-driven event saw over 7,600 drinks sold across 30 downtown establishments, generating more than $70,000 in sales and an estimated $295,000 in overall economic impact.

Why it matters

Mash Madness is a key annual event that brings the Sioux Falls community together to support local businesses, showcase creativity, and drive memorable experiences downtown. The growth and participation in the competition over the past decade demonstrates the continued vitality of Sioux Falls' urban core.

The details

In the beer category, Altered Species Brewing Co. won for its IPA Courting Dance, featured at Ode to Food and Drink. For cocktails, Ironwood Steakhouse took the top prize with its Emerald Old Fashioned. And in the non-alcoholic division, Perch maintained its title with its Banana Pudding Matcha. Overall, the competition saw 3,126 beers, 2,445 cocktails, and 2,097 non-alcoholic drinks sold.

  • The 10th annual Mash Madness competition took place throughout the month of March 2026.
  • The winners were announced on April 7, 2026.

The players

Downtown Sioux Falls (DTSF)

The organization that hosts the annual Mash Madness drink competition, supporting small businesses and driving economic activity in Sioux Falls' urban core.

Altered Species Brewing Co.

A local brewery that won the beer category of the Mash Madness competition with its IPA Courting Dance.

Ironwood Steakhouse

A downtown Sioux Falls restaurant that won the cocktail category of the Mash Madness competition with its Emerald Old Fashioned.

Perch

A downtown Sioux Falls establishment that won the non-alcoholic drink category of the Mash Madness competition with its Banana Pudding Matcha.

Brandon Hanson

The CEO of Downtown Sioux Falls, who commented on the success and impact of the Mash Madness competition.

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What they’re saying

“Mash Madness continues to be a powerful example of how Downtown Sioux Falls comes together to support small businesses, embrace creativity and create memorable experiences.”

— Brandon Hanson, CEO, Downtown Sioux Falls

What’s next

DTSF plans to build on the success of Mash Madness and its other signature events, like the Burger Battle, to continue driving economic activity and community engagement in downtown Sioux Falls.

The takeaway

The thriving Mash Madness competition demonstrates the vibrancy of Sioux Falls' downtown district, as local businesses, residents, and visitors come together to support creativity, community, and small-scale entrepreneurship.