This month three South Dakota institutions are coming together to create what they believe will be the perfect summer beer. Debuting on 605 Day (June 5) and available for the 10th Annual 605 Summer Classic (June 21-22), the 605 Summer Issue is a limited-releases hazy pale ale crafted in a collaboration between Sioux Falls’ Fernson Brewing Company, Lost Cabin Beer Co. in Rapid City, and 605 Magazine.
The idea stemmed from a sponsorship meeting for the Classic between the magazine’s advertising team and Fernson. With the Classic’s All-South Dakota Beer Tasting on June 22 serving as a big draw for the event, the conversation naturally turned to beer, and over the course of the meeting the idea for a collaborative summer brew was born.
“The [605] Summer Classic [Festival] & Beer Tasting has a
growing presence and is doing some awesome things for the state,” said Fernson’s marketing director Evan Richards. “We wanted to get things kicked off right for the event, and the idea of a special-release batch for the Classic and 605 Day seemed like a really cool idea.”
“it’s a different mindset for the brewing process when you use ingredients outside of the typical beer ingredients, like honey. It really puts the emphasis on what breweries can create.” Evan richards
Then Lost Cabin came in.
The two breweries had been wanting to work together for a while, Lost Cabin’s co-owner Jesse Scheitler says, but being on opposite sides of the state that partnership just hadn’t happened. The 605 Summer Issue gave the two the perfect excuse to pair their brewing styles.
WHAT’S IN THE 605 SUMMER ISSUE?
» HOPS
» MALT
» SOUTH DAKOTA HONEY
» WATER
» YEAST
“The industry is very collaborative,” said Scheitler. “We were excited to have this awesome reason to work together.”
Once the idea was set into motion, the two breweries got together in Sioux Falls to begin the brewing process. Both Lost Cabin and Fernson knew they wanted this beer to be light and summery− something that people would want to drink on a boat while hanging out with friends, or after mowing the yard, Scheitler says− but they also wanted something uniquely South Dakota to set it apart.
“IT WAS AWESOME TO BREW WITH THE FERNSON GUYS. IT’S JUST THE PICTURE OF THE WHOLE BEER INDUSTRY WORKING TOGETHER, AND IT WAS A SUPER NATURAL FIT FOR ALL OF US.” JESSE SCHEITLER
The breweries decided that missing element was honey—specifically honey from South Dakota raised honeybees.
“South Dakota is one of the biggest honey producers in the U.S.,” said Richards, “and the honeybee is our state insect. It just felt like a natural fit to us and something that would really make this a South Dakota beer.”
The two breweries tapped an apiary outside Sioux Falls for 100 pounds of honey and got to brewing.
Richards says the actual beer-making process takes a few weeks, all the way from malting and fermentation to canning and distribution. When everything is finished, Lost Cabin and Fernson will put the 1,000 gallons of the 605 Summer Issue produced into cans and kegs for 605 Day, the Classic, and limited-distribution in their own taprooms and stores, like Hy-Vee.
WHERE TO FIND THE 605 SUMMER ISSUE
» 605 Day (June 5) at Main Street Square in Rapid City and Fernson Downtown from 4-6 p.m.
» 10th Annual 605 Summer Classic (June 21-22) in Sioux Falls at Cherapa Place.
» Lost Cabin taproom.
» Fernson taprooms.
» Limited release in Sioux Falls and Rapid City.
“When it’s done, our hope is that this beer just screams summertime,” said Scheitler. “It’s a pale ale, but it’s going to be pretty aggressive with the dry hopping we do. There’s going to be berry and citrus notes, and then that honey character will really come out in the final product.”
For Richards, the beer is not only a representation of the growing craft beer presence in the state, but it’s also a celebration of South
Dakota itself.
“I hope people get excited about this,” he said. “The magazine does so much to highlight anything South Dakota, and with two South Dakota breweries coming together to make this happen, it’s just a fun way to celebrate our state.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT LOSTCABIN.BEER AND FERNSON.COM.
