Operated in Bismarck from 1961-1965

Dakota Malting and Brewing Company

The Dakota Malting and Brewing Company incorporated in November 1959 to “build, equip, maintain, manage, and operate a brewery and malting plant.” The company was run by eleven directors. The plant was constructed in Bismarck, and began brewing in April 1961.

A problem with the quality of water from the Missouri River caused the company’s first 10,000 barrels of beer to spoil only days after being bottled. A special filter was then installed, and the resultant beer was termed excellent. Sales rose, but not fast enough to off-set the company’s debts. In July 1965, an advertising agency from Missouri was granted a court order halting any sales until it was paid for work it had done four years previous. Fifty thousand cases of beer were seized, and sold for one dollar below market level in September 1965. The Company managed to sell another 2,000 barrels later that month before the brewery terminated production permanently.