Alaska Beer - Alaskan Brewing Company

Based in the Alaskan city of Juneau, the Alaskan Brewing Company is not only the oldest and only operating brewery in Alaska, it also became the 67th brewery to operate in the United States in 1986.

Since then, the brewery has received more than thirty major medals and awards, including the best beer in the nation award during the 1988 Great American Beer Festival.

The companies flagship beer is the Alaskan Amber brew which is based on an original recipe from nearly 100 years ago. This infamous beer was originally brewed at the turn of the century to quench the thirst of miners during the original Alaskan Gold Rush.

The climate and remoteness of Alaska makes beer brewing a difficult job especially since the coastal city of Juneau does not have road connections to the lower forty eight US states. Consequently, all supplies and outbound shipments have to come and go either by water or air, subject to weather conditions at the time.

The popularity of the Alaskan beers has led to a great efforts to keep up with consumer demand. The company hold the unofficial record for the production on a ten barrel brewing system, which produces an amazing forty two batches a week. In 1995, a one hundred barrel brew house was added which was followed by a Sankey type keg system in 1996. With these additions, the Alaskan Brewing Company can now serve the entire Pacific Northwest region of the US together with other regions further south.

The Alaskan Brewing Company offers several different styles of brew including -

Alaskan Amber - As well as being the companies flagship beer, which is based on a turn of the century recipe, it also provides a smooth, malty, rich taste that goes well with meals or social occasions with friends.

Alaskan Pale - This is a fresh, crisp and inviting brew that pairs well with crab, prawns and salads. Dry hopping the tanks during the fermentation process gives Alaskan pale the floral aroma of the hops for which the brew is well known for.

Alaskan Stout - Unlike most stouts, this oatmeal style beer does not have any of the harshness that would normally be expected. In fact, it is the perfect compliment to desserts, chocolate and all manner of hearty meals. For those that like a walk in the snow, Alaskan stout is an ideal companion to enjoy while walking.

Alaskan ESB or Alaskan Extra Special Bitter - If you like hops, the infusion of centennial hops in this delight will amaze your nose while the refreshing cascade hops will provide a wonderful crispness to both the flavor and the finish. ESB pairs well with spicy food, wild game and other fayre normally associated with winter.

Alaskan Smoked Porter - This is a limited edition and very exclusive brew with a world wide reputation for excellence. Brewed in the fall, this beer is ideal for storing in the cellar for later enjoyment.

Winter ale - This tender brew of spruce trees has been used for brewing in Alaska since the late 1700s.