JUNEAU, AK (Dec. 7th, 2021) – In 1986, two adventurous, young lovers, Geoff and Marcy Larsen, fell in love with the city of Juneau, Alaska. Living on a boat in America’s most isolated capital city, the enterprising couple elected to start a brewery. After discovering the Alaskan Amber recipe from Gold Rush era journals, the pair founded the 67th independent brewery in the U.S. and the first in Alaska. Over the next 35 years, the brewery and the challenges of brewing in one of the most remote regions of the country would change and grow. This year’s re-release of the Anniversary ale is the culmination of a rich history, bottled and eager to be enjoyed.
This complex and malt forward Imperial Stout is brewed with an array of local ingredients to add a dimension and depth that reflects the state’s natural splendor. This unique stout is brewed with Alaskan birch syrup which lends a deep, almost tart character to the dark malt profile and is combined with wildflower honey bringing with it a delicate sweetness adding floral notes to the aroma and finish. The slight addition of their in-house alder-smoked malt alludes to the distinctive roasted flavor of the turn-of-the-century malting practices that date back to the state’s formation.
Throughout Alaskan’s 35-year history the brewery has been a leader in innovation, not just as one of the pioneers of the craft brewing industry, but also in their dedicated approach to utilizing locally sourced ingredients and creating breakthrough brewing methods.
“We have spent much of our time figuring out different ways of operating, because our remote location often did not let us conduct business as usual,” said co-Founder Geoff Larson. “Looking back now, we’ve realized that the challenge of brewing in Alaska has shaped us and made us who we are. After 35 years, it is the challenges that have made us stronger and more able to adapt as our business has needed to change. It’s been quite a ride!”
Larson says the fact that Alaska has been so much a part of the brewery’s identity is the reason that many of Alaskan’s beers reflect the state through the use of local ingredients, or by re-creating and reimagining historic brews. From adding spruce tips to flavor the iconic Winter Ale, to the use of alder-smoked malt in the highly regarded Alaskan Smoked Porter, and the re-creation of a 100-year-old recipe in Alaskan Amber, the brewery strives to reflect the best of the state in every beer it makes. The Larsons say that locally based focus will remain a guiding principle for Alaskan Brewing for the next 35 years as well.
The Alaskan Brewing Company is Alaska’s oldest continuously operating brewery, founded in 1986. For more information visit https://www.alaskanbeer.com.
