Alaska'sLast FrontierBrewing
From Gold Rush-era recipes to innovative breweries using spruce tips and alder-smoked malts, Alaska's craft beer scene combines pristine glacial water with frontier ingenuity across 49 breweries.
Alaska's Brewing Excellence
Despite extreme challenges, Alaska has built one of America's most distinctive craft beer scenes, turning geographic isolation into innovation and pristine ingredients into liquid gold.
49 Active Breweries
From Juneau to Fairbanks, Alaska ranks 4th nationally in breweries per capita
Pristine Glacial Water
Sourced from the Juneau Icefield and other glacial sources for exceptionally pure brewing
Gold Rush Heritage
Modern recipes based on historical brewing records from the 1800s Gold Rush era
From Gold Rush to Craft Renaissance
Alaska's modern craft beer story begins in 1986 when 28-year-old Marcy and Geoff Larson founded Alaskan Brewing Company in Juneau, becoming the 67th independent brewery in the US. Their flagship Alaskan Amber was based on a genuine Gold Rush-era recipe discovered in historical shipping records.
What makes Alaska brewing truly unique is the necessity-driven innovation. Extreme weather, supply chain challenges, and geographic isolation forced breweries to develop groundbreaking sustainability practices, including CO₂ recovery systems and water-saving technologies.
Today, Alaska ranks 4th nationally in breweries per capita, with 49 breweries utilizing pristine glacial water and indigenous ingredients like Sitka spruce tips, alder-smoked malts, and wild berries to create beers that truly capture the Last Frontier spirit.
Did You Know?
Alaskan Brewing's Smoked Porter uses alder wood from the Tongass National Forest, creating a flavor profile so unique it won gold at the 2024 European Beer Star competition.
Brewing by the Numbers
Signature Ingredients
- Sitka Spruce Tips (Tongass National Forest)
- Alder-Smoked Malt (Traditional Smoking)
- Pristine Glacial Water (Juneau Icefield)
- Wild Berries (Cloudberries, Salmonberries)
Alaska's Signature Seven
From Gold Rush recipes to barrel-aged monsters, these seven beers showcase Alaska's brewing innovation and connection to the Last Frontier landscape.
Alaskan Amber
Alaskan Brewing Company
Juneau • American Amber Ale
Based on a Gold Rush-era recipe discovered in historical records, this flagship amber uses traditional Bohemian Saaz hops for a perfectly balanced malt-forward experience.
Sockeye Red IPA
Midnight Sun Brewing
Anchorage • Red IPA
Bold Pacific Northwest-style IPA with distinctive red hue from specialty malts. Aggressively hopped with Centennial, Cascade, and Simcoe varieties.
Chocolate Coconut Porter
King Street Brewing
Anchorage • Flavored Porter
Robust porter infused with cacao nibs and hand-toasted coconut, creating a smooth, velvety texture with tropical undertones.
Belgian Triple
Cynosure Brewing
Anchorage • Belgian Tripel
Deceptively smooth despite its strength, featuring subtle spice and fruit tones with pale gold appearance and complex Belgian yeast character.
New England IPA
Resolution Brewing
Anchorage • New England IPA
Soft, luscious mouthfeel with Citra, El Dorado, and Mosaic hops creating notes of mango creamsicle and pineapple. Double dry-hopped perfection.
German Kölsch
HooDoo Brewing
Fairbanks • Kölsch
Authentic German-style Kölsch brewed with traditional techniques in Alaska's interior. Light, crisp, and refreshing with subtle fruit notes.
Pipeline Stout
Broken Tooth Brewing
Anchorage • Oatmeal Stout
Full-bodied oatmeal stout with smooth, creamy texture. Roasted malt character with hints of chocolate and coffee, perfect with their famous pizza.
Continue the BrewQuest Journey
Alaska's pioneering spirit lives on in every glass. Join us as we explore America's craft beer renaissance, one state at a time.