25 Best North Dakota Beers to Drink in 2026

North Dakota’s packaged beer scene is smaller than most states, and Drekker’s nationally distributed releases dominate the shelf. This 2026 ranking focuses on 25 verifiable cans from Fargo and Grand Forks, spanning hazy IPAs, double IPAs, smoothie sours, pastry sours, and a crisp local golden ale.

Ectogasm IPA
#1 in this roundup
Beer profile

Ectogasm IPA

Brewed by Drekker Brewing

StyleNew England IPA
ABV7.0%
Beer detailCitra and Mosaic hops over an oat-rich base create a soft, tropical flagship IPA.
Brewed inFargo, North Dakota

Start here for Drekker’s clearest intersection of haze, softness, and energetic hop aroma.

BAR NOTES

Ectogasm is the useful entry point to Drekker’s louder catalog. Citra and Mosaic push orange, mango, and berry impressions across a pillowy base without turning the finish sugary or heavy.

Drink it as fresh as possible with spicy fried chicken, fish tacos, or a sharp cheddar burger. Moderate chill preserves the aroma while letting its oat-supported texture remain expressive.

King of the Thing
#2 in this roundup
Beer profile

King of the Thing

Brewed by Drekker Brewing

StyleHazy Double IPA
ABV8.3%
Beer detailA Citra-centered double IPA built on oats and spelt for a plush, saturated body.
Brewed inFargo, North Dakota

A heavyweight hazy IPA that makes its strength feel smoother than the number suggests.

BAR NOTES

King of the Thing gives Citra the starring role, wrapping candied citrus, peach, and lychee-like fruit around a smooth oats-and-spelt foundation. The substantial body supports rather than dulls the hops.

Treat the sixteen-ounce can as a sharing pour, especially beside rich pizza or smoked pork. A wider glass helps the aroma open and makes the warming finish easier to appreciate.

Synaptic Cleft
#3 in this roundup
Beer profile

Synaptic Cleft

Brewed by Drekker Brewing

StyleHazy Double IPA
ABV8.6%
Beer detailA soft double IPA featuring Motueka, Moutere, Citra, and another layer of modern hop intensity.
Brewed inFargo, North Dakota

One of Drekker’s best choices for drinkers chasing lime, tropical fruit, and serious strength.

BAR NOTES

Synaptic Cleft layers New Zealand and American hop character into a dense but controlled double IPA. Lime zest, tropical fruit, and citrus ride over a wheat-and-oat body with restrained bitterness.

The strength hides easily, so use a smaller glass and take your time. Pair it with curry, peppery sausage, or blue cheese, where its fruit and warmth have equal partners.

Slang Du Jour Strawberry Cobbler
#4 in this roundup
Beer profile

Slang Du Jour Strawberry Cobbler

Brewed by Drekker Brewing

StyleSmoothie Sour
ABV8.0%
Beer detailA dessert sour packed with strawberry and cobbler-inspired richness.
Brewed inFargo, North Dakota

This is liquid strawberry cobbler for drinkers who want dessert intensity rather than subtle tartness.

BAR NOTES

Slang Du Jour Strawberry Cobbler turns a fruited sour into a full dessert course. Ripe strawberry leads, followed by pastry-like sweetness, creaminess, and enough acidity to keep the whole thing lively.

Gently roll the can before opening to redistribute fruit, then pour carefully into a roomy glass. Cheesecake, vanilla ice cream, or salty pretzels provide useful contrast to its concentrated profile.

Braaaaaaaains Pineapple Passionfruit Orange Lime
#5 in this roundup
Beer profile

Braaaaaaaains Pineapple Passionfruit Orange Lime

Brewed by Drekker Brewing

StyleSmoothie Sour
ABV7.2%
Beer detailA tropical double-fruit smoothie sour finished with Drekker’s signature creamy treatment.
Brewed inFargo, North Dakota

Four bright fruits make this one of the most energetic and layered Braaaaaaaains releases.

BAR NOTES

Pineapple and passionfruit supply tropical depth while orange and lime sharpen the edges. Lactose, vanilla, and a touch of salt create the thick, smoothie-like frame associated with the Braaaaaaaains series.

Serve it very cold and invert the sealed can gently before opening. Spicy tacos or salty chips work better than another sweet dish because they counter the fruit concentration.

Frosé Chonk CherryBerry Almond Cheesecake
#6 in this roundup
Beer profile

Frosé Chonk CherryBerry Almond Cheesecake

Brewed by Drekker Brewing

StylePastry Sour
ABV6.8%
Beer detailA collaborative sundae sour combining cherry, mixed berries, almond, and cheesecake character.
Brewed inFargo, North Dakota

A dense, playful sour that lands somewhere between berry dessert and frozen cocktail.

BAR NOTES

Frosé Chonk stacks tart cherry and berry flavor against almond and cheesecake richness. The acidity keeps the creamy dessert profile moving, while the nutty note adds more depth than fruit alone could provide.

Share this can after dinner and pour it slowly, since fruit-heavy sours can foam aggressively. It works with shortbread, dark chocolate, or simply a salty bowl of popcorn.

Hyper Scream
#7 in this roundup
Beer profile

Hyper Scream

Brewed by Drekker Brewing

StyleNordic Double IPA
ABV8.4%
Beer detailCTZ, Citra, and Vic Secret meet a Nordic yeast strain in a bright, unusual double IPA.
Brewed inFargo, North Dakota

Hyper Scream brings a sharper fermentation twist to Drekker’s familiar soft double-IPA frame.

BAR NOTES

Hyper Scream uses a Nordic fermentation profile to lift citrus, pineapple, and resin above an oats-and-spelt base. The result feels lively and aromatic despite the beer’s substantial alcohol and body.

Pair its tropical and resinous edge with grilled pork, charred peppers, or a strong farmhouse cheese. Freshness is essential, because the expressive hop top notes are the main event.

Doomsday Device
#8 in this roundup
Beer profile

Doomsday Device

Brewed by Drekker Brewing

StyleHazy Double IPA
ABV8.3%
Beer detailA one-hundred-percent Mosaic double IPA built on Golden Promise, oats, and spelt.
Brewed inFargo, North Dakota

A focused showcase of Mosaic’s berry, citrus, tropical, and slightly dank personality.

BAR NOTES

Doomsday Device demonstrates how much range one hop can produce. Mosaic contributes blueberry-like fruit, citrus, mango, and dank accents, while the grain bill supplies enough softness for saturated hopping.

This is an excellent comparison pour beside Ectogasm or another mixed-hop IPA. Serve it with barbecue, loaded fries, or aged Gouda and notice how Mosaic changes across each sip.

2 Right Eyes
#9 in this roundup
Beer profile

2 Right Eyes

Brewed by Drekker Brewing

StyleHazy Double IPA
ABV8.3%
Beer detailA modern double IPA built around an intentionally unconventional hopping plan.
Brewed inFargo, North Dakota

Choose it for a hazy IPA that feels experimental without abandoning balance or drinkability.

BAR NOTES

2 Right Eyes applies Drekker’s soft double-IPA structure to a deliberately unusual hop combination. The aroma shifts among citrus, ripe fruit, and resin while the body stays rounded and cohesive.

Give the beer a few minutes in the glass before judging it, since warmer aromatics reveal more detail. Rich tacos, grilled meat, and sharp cheese can handle the intensity.

Long Haired Freaky People
#10 in this roundup
Beer profile

Long Haired Freaky People

Brewed by Drekker Brewing

StyleHazy Double IPA
ABV8.2%
Beer detailA single-hop Vic Secret double IPA with pineapple, passionfruit, citrus, and stone-fruit character.
Brewed inFargo, North Dakota

A strong choice for learning exactly what Australian Vic Secret hops contribute.

BAR NOTES

Long Haired Freaky People gives Vic Secret space to show its pineapple, passionfruit, citrus, and stone-fruit range. A fluffy grain base keeps those flavors saturated without becoming syrupy.

Use it as a hop-study beer beside a Citra- or Mosaic-led release. Spicy noodles, grilled pineapple, or smoked chicken echo the fruit while balancing the alcohol and body.

Lizard People
#11 in this roundup
Beer profile

Lizard People

Brewed by Drekker Brewing

StyleHazy Double IPA
ABV8.5%
Beer detailA secret-hop-blend double IPA with juicy fruit, saturated aroma, and Drekker’s signature soft body.
Brewed inFargo, North Dakota

Its ridiculous label hides a carefully built, full-strength hazy IPA with serious hop depth.

BAR NOTES

Lizard People leans into mystery with an undisclosed blend of juicy hops, but the glass still speaks clearly: tropical fruit, citrus, light dankness, and a soft, full texture.

This is best shared fresh rather than saved for a special occasion. Pair it with a blue-cheese burger or spicy pizza, where fat and heat absorb the beer’s scale.

Tickle Monster
#12 in this roundup
Beer profile

Tickle Monster

Brewed by Drekker Brewing

StyleMilkshake Double IPA
ABV8.2%
Beer detailBelma and Mosaic hops meet lactose in a creamy, fruit-forward double IPA.
Brewed inFargo, North Dakota

A sweeter IPA variation for drinkers who enjoy berry-like hops and a milkshake texture.

BAR NOTES

Tickle Monster combines Belma’s strawberry-like impression with Mosaic’s broader tropical and citrus range. Lactose rounds the body and softens the edges, creating a distinctly creamy double IPA.

The sweetness pairs best with heat, salt, or smoke rather than dessert. Try it with hot wings, smoked sausage, or spicy curry, and keep the serving size modest.

Royal Bee
#13 in this roundup
Beer profile

Royal Bee

Brewed by Drekker Brewing

StyleHoney Cream Double IPA
ABV8.0%
Beer detailLocal honey and lactose add richness to a Hallertau Blanc-led double IPA.
Brewed inFargo, North Dakota

Royal Bee bridges floral honey sweetness and modern hop fruit in a surprisingly polished package.

BAR NOTES

Royal Bee uses local honey and lactose to soften a double IPA hopped with varieties including Hallertau Blanc. Floral sweetness, white-grape character, and citrus sit over a smooth, warming base.

Pour it with glazed pork, spicy fried chicken, or pungent cheese. The beer’s honeyed character becomes clearer as it warms, though the finish remains strongest while still moderately cool.

Braaaaaaaains Blueberry Banana
#14 in this roundup
Beer profile

Braaaaaaaains Blueberry Banana

Brewed by Drekker Brewing

StyleSmoothie Sour
ABV7.6%
Beer detailA double-fruit smoothie sour loaded with blueberry, banana, vanilla, lactose, and sea salt.
Brewed inFargo, North Dakota

This combination delivers berry acidity and banana creaminess in equal, unapologetic measure.

BAR NOTES

Blueberry provides color and tart berry depth while banana contributes a creamy, almost milkshake-like center. Vanilla, lactose, and salt pull those contrasting fruits into one intentionally thick dessert sour.

Gently mix the sealed can before opening and serve it cold. A plain cheesecake, buttery cookie, or salty snack works better than an equally fruit-heavy dessert beside it.

Chonk Cherry Marshmallow Chocolate
#15 in this roundup
Beer profile

Chonk Cherry Marshmallow Chocolate

Brewed by Drekker Brewing

StylePastry Sour
ABV7.2%
Beer detailA sundae sour combining tart cherry with marshmallow, lactose, and chocolate richness.
Brewed inFargo, North Dakota

Chonk turns the familiar cherry-and-chocolate pairing into an aggressively playful sour beer.

BAR NOTES

Tart cherry cuts through marshmallow sweetness and chocolate depth, creating a drink that recalls a sundae more than a conventional ale. Acidity supplies the structure that bitterness normally would.

Share the can in smaller pours and keep it cold. Brownies, vanilla ice cream, or smoked nuts can all work, though the beer is rich enough to serve as dessert alone.

Braaaaaaaains Raspberry Mango
#16 in this roundup
Beer profile

Braaaaaaaains Raspberry Mango

Brewed by Drekker Brewing

StyleSmoothie Sour
ABV7.6%
Beer detailRaspberry tartness and mango sweetness drive a dense double-fruit smoothie sour.
Brewed inFargo, North Dakota

The fruit pairing is simple, but its balance of sharp berry and plush tropical flavor works remarkably well.

BAR NOTES

Raspberry brings brisk acidity and seed-like berry intensity, while mango supplies weight and tropical sweetness. Drekker’s vanilla, lactose, and salt treatment turns the contrast into a cohesive smoothie profile.

Serve it cold with chile-lime snacks, spicy tacos, or a restrained vanilla dessert. Roll the sealed can gently first, then open over a sink in case the fruit drives extra foam.