When I say “Alaska” to you, you probably think of towering totem poles, spectacular mountains, rumbling glaciers, or massive moose. But if you’re anything like me, you might also think of beer. The 49th state may not produce a ton of beer, but it’s one of the best craft brewing states in the nation. In fact, Alaska is ranked 5th in the U.S. in breweries per capita. Even better, many of Alaska’s breweries are located near its bustling ports, which means cruising Alaska’s breweries is an entirely doable proposition.
Because of Alaska’s bustling cruise industry, even small towns like Seward (population 2,625) and Haines (population 1,905) can support one or more breweries. In all, there are close to 50 breweries in Alaska, although many of them operate seasonally (much like cruising).
If you’re a beer enthusiast and you’re planning an Alaska cruise, here are several can’t-miss spots that may be on your itinerary:
Alaska’s Breweries by Cruise Port
Haines, Alaska
Haines Brewing Company
Established in 1999 by a talented home brewer, Haines Brewing Company originally occupied a kitschy but charming home in part of the White Fang movie set at the Southeast Alaska Fairgrounds. Today, it resides on Main Street, just a 15-minute walk from the cruise port. The tap room is still smallish, with a capacity of 49, but the brewery also has an outdoor beer garden for enjoying a cold brew.
Popular beers include Captain Cook’s Spruce Tip Ale, which is brewed with springtime spruce tips. Black Fang is an imperial stout with notes of coffee, chocolate, and a hint of licorice.
One important note– onsite sales are cash only.
Juneau, Alaska
Alaskan Brewing Co.
The most well-known of Alaska’s breweries is Alaskan Brewing Company, which distributes its brews to most states west of the Mississippi (and a few further east). The tasting room is in the Lemon Creek neighborhood, a 10-15 minute drive from the cruise port. It offers 20 taps of flagships and fan favorites,as well as brews not available on tap anywhere else. They also sell cans, bottles, seltzers and even kegs on site.
Alaskan Brewing Company also has Gear Depot in downtown Juneau, where you can buy shirts, koozies, and other tokens of your appreciation. I bought my favorite t-shirt there many years ago and still wear it regularly even though I’ve worn a few holes in it. Just remember if you visit the Gear Depot: There’s no beer for sale at this storefront location.
If you make it to the tap room, make sure to try the Smoked Porter, one of the most decorated beers brewed in the United States. In 2021, it won gold medals at the U.S. Open Beer Championships and at the Australian International Beer Awards. Other award-winning brews include its flagship Amber, its Husky IPA, and two limited-release beers: Midnight Haze IPA, and Strawberry Haze IPA.
Barnaby Brewing Co.
A short walk from the Juneau cruise port, you’ll find Barnaby Brewing Company. One phrase comes up over and over again when asking folks about Barnaby: “Hidden Gem.” This small, veteran-owned brewery focuses on American style ales and lagers while incorporating locally harvested ingredients. You’ll also find sours, stouts, IPAs and other varieties that rotate regularly. You’ll love the vibe here with local art on display and a brewery cat named Simcoe.
Like its much larger neighbor, Barnaby has taken its share of recent awards. In 2020, the brewery won four medals at the U.S. Open Beer Championship and placed fourth overall.
Barnaby Brewing Co. won four medals at the U.S. Open Beer Championship and placed fourth overall. Gold Medal brews include Berryfresh, a blackberry and raspberry saison, and the 3rd Anniversary Pineapple Jalapeno, a tequila barrel aged American sour. Other award winners include Whatever Forever, a hefeweizen, and Hey Victor, a rauschbier.
Devil’s Club Brewing Co.
Named after a medicinal shrub native to the rainforests of the Pacific Northwest, Devil’s Club Brewing Co. is a brewery and restaurant located downtown. Founded in 2018, it’s located in Juneau’s former Palace Theater, just around the corner from Barnaby Brewing. Hungry? The food relies mostly on upscale bar fare– appetizers, sandwiches and pizzas, but with inventive twists (Cubano pizza? Sign me up!).
Devil’s Club has earned its share of street cred. In 2022, the brewery was named the best-reviewed brewery in the state by Yelp. Its more popular beer is likely their flagship, Signature IPA. Their also-popular Silt Milk Stout is a roasty, creamy brew.
One other cool detail. In the summer, Devil’s Club and Forbidden Peak join together for an off-road just-for-fun half-marathon between the two breweries: “Egan is Lava.” (named after the Egan Highway, which participants are not allowed to use in the event)
Forbidden Peak Brewery
Looking for a brew with a view? Forbidden Peak Brewery is located right across the street from Statter Harbor in Auke Bay, about 11 miles northwest of downtown (or a half-marathon away). Also a relative newcomer to the Alaska beer scene, the family-owned Forbidden Peak opened in late 2019. The brewery has a big outdoor patio–the Fire Bar–that gets plenty of use even in the winter months. Food is available in their large taproom from their partners at Red Spruce AK, who offer street grub like burgers, dogs and tacos.
Forbidden Peak’s highest-rated beer is its juicy Low-Viz Hazy IPA. Other top-rated beers include two more IPAs, Auke Bay and Frost Point, both west coast style pale ales. Not into the hoppy stuff? Try AukNess, a black lager/schwarzbier, or Red Spruce, an amber ale brewed with Sitka spruce tips.
Ketchikan, Alaska
Bawden St. Brewing Co.
Ketchikan’s only microbrewery is Bawden Street Brewing Co., located (not surprisingly) on Bawden street, just a five minute walk from the port. The word “cozy” pops up in several reviews, which is a polite way to say “don’t expect to find a seat.” Though the brewery is small in space, its beers are big in flavor. It also has an awesome steampunk octopus logo and fun merch for sale.
Bawden Street specializes in ales, saisons, and sours, but depending on when you visit, you may find porters, IPAs, stouts and other styles on tap. Some of its highest-rated beers include Boom Boat Ruckus, an imperial stout, the Biere de Garde Barrel Aged sour, and Hook Tender, a hoppy farmhouse ale.
Seward, Alaska
Seward Brewing Co.
A brewery that claims it has arguably the best view in town, Seward Brewing Company is a seasonal gastropub and microbrewery. They pride themselves on serving great Alaskan seafood and local produce from local fishmongers, foragers, and farmers. The taproom is a short two-mile drive from the cruise port, although if your cruise ends in Seward, you may be on our way out of town by the time the brewery opens in the afternoon.
Seward Brewing is independently-owned and produces small-batch, unfiltered brews during the summer season (May-September). They spend the off-season brewing longer-fermentation style beers while the brewery is closed. The brewers are particularly proud of their smooth, chocolatey TK-421 Imperial Milk Stout, although their Pinbone IPA earns solid reviews as well. Ask them to suggest a food paring for your brew!
Stoney Creek Brewhouse
The Stoney Creek Brewhouse is located along the Seward Highway, a well-traveled road headed north out of town. It’s only a 10 minute drive from the cruise port, but don’t expect to swing by after your cruise. The tap room is only open in the fall and winter, and even then only a few days a week. However, you’ll likely be able to snag one of their brews at a local restaurant.
Sitka, Alaska
Harbor Mountain Brewing Co.
About a mile east of downtown Sitka, Harbor Mountain Brewing Co. is owned by a veteran of the Alaska beer scene. He earned his brewing chops at Alaskan Brewing Company and Devil’s Club Brewing Company before opening Harbor Mountain.
Harbor Mountain’s brewer likes to give the people what they want, and in Sitka, that means IPAs. Two of its most popular beers are India pale ales: Totally Pitted, an imperial New England style, Tender Luvin’, a west-coast style. If you’re into something a bit maltier, the Oatmeal Stout also earns high marks.
One note if you plan to visit Harbor Mountain: Most cruise ships dock at the Old Sitka Dock, about six miles north of downtown. (A free shuttle service can transport you into downtown). Some larger cruise ships drop anchor in Crescent Bay and will and tender passengers to one of the two downtown docks.
Skagway, Alaska
Klondike Brewing Company
What would you do for a Klondike beer?
Only steps away from the White Pass Railway and the iconic Red Onion Saloon, you’ll find Klondike Brewing Company. This brewery’s decor pays tribute to the region’s gold mining history, and offers table service. Klondike’s beer garden has a great view of the cruise port and surrounding mountains from its roomy Adirondack-style chairs.
Some of Klondike’s top brews include The Revenant, a barrel aged imperial stout, and Hammer Stone, a double IPA. Clearly they like their high-ABV beverages in Skagway. Klondike also brews a root beer that earns rave reviews.
Skagway Brewing Company
If you haven’t visited Skagway since before the pandemic, you may be surprised by the makeover at Skagway Brewing Company. Not only has the brewery moved to a new location, it’s also nearly tripled in size, added a covered outdoor beer garden and a full bar of wine, bottled beer and spirits for non-craft beer drinkers. The new location is slightly closer to the cruise port– but nothing is particularly far in Skagway. Your walk from gangway to the brewery shouldn’t take more than about 10 minutes.
Skagway may be Alaska’s most environmentally-friendly brewery. It has an aeroponic indoor garden powered by the carbon dioxide created in the brewing process. Used fryer oil from the on-site restaurant is used to create biodiesel, which the brewery uses to heat the building.
Like pretty much every brewery in the 49th State, Skagway Brewing makes a spruce tip brew– in this case a blonde ale that is the brewery’s signature beer. The Chilkoot Trail IPA uses amarillo and cascade hops to produce a floral and citrus flavor. The Blue Top Porter is one of the darkest dark beers you’ll ever see, with hints of roasty dark chocolate.
The merch is pretty nice, too. I snagged a great growler koozie on my visit.
Alaska’s Inland Breweries
If you’re cruising Alaska’s breweries, you’re likely also on a cruisetour, with a stop in Denali along with a stay in either Anchorage or Fairbanks. Don’t worry– you won’t go thirsty in any of these locations. As the state’s largest city, Anchorage has roughly 15 breweries, including popular Midnight Sun Brewing Company and Anchorage Brewing Company. Fairbanks’ handful of breweries include Hoodoo Brewing Company. Hoodoo’s head brewer attended brewing school in Munich, so you know they don’t mess around. And even near remote Denali National Park you’ll find 49th State Brewing in Healy and Denali Brewing Company in Talkeetna. Bonus: Denali Brewing is also home to Alaska Ciderworks and Alaska Meadery.
Bring Your Group on an Alaska Brews Cruise
Are you ready to start sampling? Alaska has great breweries and tap rooms in every port you’ll visit. Contact Sea Vixen Voyages to create a special Alaska Brews Cruise for you and your friends! Just complete our inquiry form and we’ll start planning.
