April 7, 2026

Downtown Sioux Falls toasted a decade of spirited competition as the 10th annual Mash Madness wrapped with record participation.

The event from Downtown Sioux Falls Inc. ran for the month of March and drew 31 specialty drinks competing.

Winners as voted on by customers were:

Craft beer champion: Altered Species Ales for Courting Dance, featured at Ode to Food & Drinks, with a score of 8.95.

Cocktail champion: Ironwood Steakhouse for the Emerald Old Fashioned, with a score of 9.60. This was the highest overall score of the competition.

Nonalcoholic champion: Perch for its Banana Pudding Matcha with a score of 9.54. It’s the second consecutive win for Perch in this category.

This year’s Mash Madness drew 2,781 community votes, marking a 15 percent increase in voting participation, and generated an estimated $295,000 overall economic impact to downtown Sioux Falls. The event also produced more than $70,000 in direct Mash Madness beverage sales.

Across the monthlong competition, the 31 specialty drinks resulted in 7,668 total beverages sold, including:

• 3,126 craft beers
• 2,445 cocktails
• 2,097 nonalcoholic drinks

Mimicking national beverage trends, the nonalcoholic category experienced a 132 percent increase over last year, making it one of the fastest‑growing segments of the competition and a clear indicator of changing consumer preferences, according to DTSF.

“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,” said Brandon Hanson, CEO of DTSF. “In our 10th year, the growth we’re seeing is both exciting and impactful.”