Breweries in Alaska produce a wide range of beers in different styles that are marketed locally, regionally, and nationally. In 2012, Alaska's 21 breweries, importers, brewpubs, packagers, and wholesalers employed more than 250 people directly in brewing activities, and another 2200 in related jobs such as wholesaling and retailing. Including people directly employed in brewing, as well as those who supply Alaska's breweries with everything from ingredients to machinery, the total business and personal tax revenue generated by Alaska's breweries and related industries was more than $73 million. Consumer purchases of Alaska's brewery products generated another $23 million in tax revenue. In 2012, according to the Brewers Association, Alaska ranked 4th in per capita craft breweries with 22.
For context, at the end of 2013 there were 2,822 breweries in the United States, including 2,768 craft breweries. In that same year, according to the Beer Institute, the brewing industry employed around 43,000 Americans in brewing and distribution and had a combined economic impact of more than $246 billion.
Since the turn of the century, the number of craft breweries in Alaska has increased dramatically, reflecting a nationwide trend in the United States.Quinn, Steve (January 17, 2016). "Beer Boom: Breweries Pop Up Across Alaska", Alaska Dispatch News. Retrieved March 5, 2016.Edge, Megan (April 12, 2014). "Beer Industry Bubbles in Alaska, While Brewers Feel 'Crippled' by Law", Alaska Dispatch News. Retrieved March 5, 2016.Amen, Hal (June 22, 2012). "How to Try a Different Local Beer Every Night in Alaska", Matador Network. Retrieved March 5, 2016.Bodry, Catherine. "Brewery Tour of Alaska", Lonely Planet. Retrieved March 5, 2016.
Alaskan breweries struggle with strict liquor regulations that keep their onsite sales limited to 36 ounces per person per day, closing times at 9pm and disallow TVs, gaming and live entertainment. Some breweries like the 49th State Brewing Company, Matanuska Brewing, and now Anchorage Brewing have picked up more extensive liquor licenses to get around the red tape
Breweries
Operating breweries
49th State Brewing Company (est. 2010)Capps, Kris (August 19, 2015). "49th State Brewery Wins Beer Awards", Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. Retrieved February 29, 2016. – Healy and Anchorage Alaskan Brewing Company (est. 1986) – Juneau Anchorage Brewing Company (est. 2010)Roberts, James (March 6, 2015). "Big Oak: Anchorage Brewing Company Top Open in South Anchorage", Anchorage Press. Retrieved March 5, 2016. – Anchorage Arkose Brewery (est. 2011)Roberts, James (October 20, 2011). "Palmer Gets a Brewery", Anchorage Press. Retrieved March 5, 2016. – Palmer Baleen Brewing Company (est. 2012) - Ketchikan Barnaby Brewing Company (est. 2017)Roberts, James (April 13, 2017). "Barnaby Brewing Company Becomes Juneau’s Second", Anchorage Press. Retrieved September 19, 2017. - Juneau Bawden Street Brewing Company (est. 2018) - Ketchikan Bearpaw River Brewing Company (est. 2015)Roberts, James (December 3, 2014). "New Brew", Anchorage Press. Retrieved July 10, 2016. – Wasilla Black Spruce Brewing Company (est. 2018) - Fairbanks Bleeding Heart Brewery (est. 2016)Merritt, Steven (April 10, 2016). "Bleeding Heart Brewery latest to enter local craft-beer scene", Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman. Retrieved July 9, 2016. – Palmer Brewerks (est. 2021) - Anchorage Broken Tooth Brewing (est. 1996)Anderson, Ben (February 5, 2012). "What's in a Name? Alaska's Moose's Tooth Rebrands Brewery", Alaska Dispatch News. Retrieved February 29, 2016. – Anchorage Cooper Landing Brewing Company (est. 2017)Howell, Bill (July 11, 2017). "Cooper Landing Brewing Company", Drinking on The Last Frontier. Retrieved September 19, 2017. - Cooper Landing Copper River Brewing (est. 2022) - Cordova Cynosure Brewing (est. 2016) – Anchorage Denali Brewing Company (est. 2009)Andrews, Laurel (May 25, 2015). "Talkeetna-Based Denali Brewing Company Is Quietly Booming", Alaska Dispatch News. Retrieved February 29, 2016. – Talkeetna Devil's Club Brewing Company (est. 2018)Khachatoorian, Travis (March 2, 2018). "Juneau's 102-year-old Palace Theater revitalized by new brewery",KTUU. Retrieved May 14, 2018. - Juneau Forbidden Peak Brewery (est. 2019)Hohenstatt, Ben (October 12, 2019). "Forbidden Peak's Hopping Grand Opening", Juneau Empire. Retrieved October 13, 2019. - Juneau Gakona Brewery & Supply Company (est. 2015)Roberts, James (October 29, 2015). "Bunny Beer", Anchorage Press. Retrieved February 29, 2016. – Gakona Girdwood Brewing Company (est. 2017)Ruble, Eric (March 19, 2017). , "KTVA". Retrieved May 18, 2017. - Girdwood Glacier Brewhouse (est. 1996)Hintze, Heather (March 17, 2015). "Nome Celebrates Ahead of Iditarod Finish with Bering Sea Beer Fest", KTVA News. Retrieved February 29, 2016. – Anchorage Grace Ridge Brewing (est. 2016)Howell, Bill (May 18, 2016). "Seward Brewing Company and Grace Ridge Brewing Company", "Drinking on the Last Frontier". Retrieved July 10, 2016. – Homer Growler Bay Brewing Company (est. 2020) - Valdez Haines Brewing Company (est. 1999)Files, Emily (September 15, 2015). "'New Hoppinins on Main Street': Haines Brewery Opens Doors at New Location", KHNS News. Retrieved March 1, 2015. – Haines Harbor Mountain Brewing Company (est. 2020) - Sitka Homer Brewing Company (est. 1996) – Homer HooDoo Brewing Company (est. 2012)Caldwell, Suzanna (July 13, 2014). "In Fairbanks, Local Love Keeps HooDoo Brewing Company in High Demand", Alaska Dispatch News. Retrieved March 5, 2016. – Fairbanks Icy Strait Brewing (est. 2015)Roberts, James (September 29, 2015). "Hoonah's New Brewery Focuses on Locals", Juneau Empire. Retrieved March 3, 2016.Jenkins, Elizabeth (August 15, 2015). "Can We Call It Hoo-Brew? New Brewery Opens in Hoonah", Alaska Public Media. Retrieved March 3, 2016. – Hoonah Kassik's Kenai Brew Stop (est. 2006)Roberts, James (August 5, 2010). "Cream of the Crop", Anchorage Press. Retrieved March 5, 2016. – Nikiski Kenai River Brewing Company (est. 2006)Earl, Elizabeth (January 11, 2016). "Kenai River Brewing Company Prepares for Move", Peninsula Clarion. Retrieved March 3, 2016. – Soldotna King Street Brewing Company (est. 2010)Roberts, James (October 28, 2010). "Welcoming a New Brewery", Anchorage Press. Retrieved March 5, 2016. – Anchorage Klondike Brewing Company (est. 2018)Collins, Abbey (May 17, 2018). "Skagway’s second brewery opens amid state conversation about tasting rooms", KTOO. Retrieved May 18, 2018. - Skagway Kodiak Island Brewing Company (est. 2003)Krause, Lauren (December 16, 2012). "At This End of the Earth, There's Still Beer!", Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 3, 2016. – Kodiak Last Frontier Brewing Company (est. 2010)White, Rindi (February 19, 2010). "Wasilla Now Has Wings 'n Things; Brewery to Follow", Alaska Dispatch News. Retrieved March 4, 2016. – Wasilla Latitude 65 Brewing Company (est. 2021) - Fairbanks Lazy Mountain Brewing Company (est. 2019) — Palmer Matanuska Brewing Company (est. 2018)Goecker, Jamin (March 1, 2018). "Brewing dreams...and some beer", Echo. Retrieved May 29, 2018. - Palmer Midnight Sun Brewing Company (est. 1995) – Anchorage Midnight Mine Brewing Company (est. 2019) - Fairbanks Odd Man Rush Brewing (est. 2015)Armstrong, Amy (September 23, 2015). "Hockey-Themed Brewery Opens in Eagle River", Alaska Star. Retrieved March 5, 2016. – Eagle River Olds River Brewing Company (est. 2020) - Kodiak Raven's Ring Brewing Company (est. 2022) - Anchorage Roughwoods Inn & Café (est. 2013) - Nenana Seward Brewing Company (est. 2014)Aigeldinger, Jason (April 12, 2014). "Game Changer: Local Culinary Couple Take the Helm at Seward Brewing Company", Seward City News. Retrieved March 5, 2016. – Seward Silver Gulch Brewing & Bottling Company (est. 1998) – Fox Skagway Brewing CompanyHintze, Heather (October 30, 2015). "From prospectors to passengers: Skagway Brewing Company carries rich history in Southeast", KTVA News. Retrieved July 13, 2016. – Skagway St. Elias Brewing Company (est. 2007)Dischner, Molly (January 25, 2011). "Pulling Prizes: Local Brewery's Award Is Part of a Growing Recognition for the Peninsula's Craft Beer", Peninsula Clarion. Retrieved March 5, 2016. – Soldotna Stoney Creek Brewhouse (est. 2021) - Seward Susitna Brewing Company (est. 2022) - Big Lake Turnagain Brewing (est. 2018)Zak, Annie (July 18, 2018). "Open & Shut: Another brewery in Anchorage, plus new restaurants", Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved July 19, 2018. - Anchorage Valdez Brewing (est. 2019) - Valdez
Closed breweries Alaska Brewing Company (1900-1901) - Nome Arctic Brewing (1907-1910) – Fairbanks Baranof Island Brewing Company (2010-2019) – Sitka Barthel Brewing Company (1905-1919) – Fairbanks Douglas City Brewing Company (1902-1906) - Douglas Eagle Brewing Company (1904-1906) - Eagle Fairbanks Brewing (1906-1907) – Fairbanks Gold Rush Brewing (2010-2017) - Skagway Juneau Brewing and Malting Company (1900-1904) - Juneau Pioneer Brewing Company (1934-1937) – Fairbanks Prinz Brau (1976-1979)BurnSilver, Glenn (August 23, 2013). "More beer, breweries bubbling up in Alaska", Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. Retrieved July 13, 2016. – Anchorage Railway Brewing Company (1996-1998) - Anchorage Ravens Ridge (1994-1995) – Fairbanks Regal Eagle Brewing (1995-2003) - Eagle River Resolution Brewing Company (2015-2021) - Anchorage Skagway Brewing Company (1897-1902) - Skagway Sleeping Lady Brewing Company (1996-2015)Caldwell, Suzanna (December 21, 2015). "Snow Goose Restaurant Sold to 49th State Brewing Company", Alaska Dispatch News. Retrieved March 5, 2016. – Anchorage Quake Brewing Company (2016-2017) - Wasilla Valdez Brewing Company (1903-1909) - Valdez
See also Beer in the United States List of breweries in the United States List of microbreweries Mead in Alaska
References
Further reading "Drink Locally", Anchorage Daily News, November 5, 2010
External links Brewer's Guild of Alaska website