Alaska Beer In The Last Frontier
DRAFT Magazine|January-February 2017

It’s known as the land of the midnight sun, the 49th state and even Seward’s Folly. But one thing we know for sure—Alaska is not only filled with incredible natural beauty, the last frontier has a taste for beer.

Joe Stange
Alaska Beer In The Last Frontier

“Sorry sir, I’m afraid we only allow Bud Light on this boat.”

That was Captain Garrett, unsmiling, when he saw the size and weight of the cooler we had brought on board.

“Um, yeah, it’s all Bud Light,” I lied. 

Later I learned the joke; my uncle had warned the captain of our special interest. So there were no objections to popping several Alaskan Ambers and Midnight Sun Sockeye Reds while we spent the day fishing. After we caught our limit in halibut, plus more in cod, we uncorked a 75cl bottle of Grassroots Arctic Saison and—this really happened—watched a humpback whale breach several times, up close, diving down for long stretches only to dramatically resurface with a satisfying splash.

Then we returned to Homer Spit, with the Kenai Mountains in the backdrop (the captain and his deckhand happily accepted some of our not-Bud-Lights). There, at a dive called Salty Dawg Saloon, fellow tourists and fisher-people were returning to—seriously—swap fish stories. And that was before we headed back to the cabin to fry up some halibut in beer batter.

Fried halibut cheeks, anyone? Oh, my. Try some if you have the chance. They might even taste that good if you didn’t catch them yourself, and if you didn’t wash them down with Alaskan Kicker.

I could gin up a way to describe what makes Alaskan beer different from beer in the rest of the country— like, Alaskan Smoked Porter is meant for the local taste for smoked salmon, and there are a few spruce-tip ales, and about the cool ship capturing local microflora for wild beers at Anchorage Brewing—but it would be contrived. None of those things are unique to Alaska.

The truth is that Alaskan beer is a microcosm of America, and in America’s largest state, its beer is writ small.

Denne historien er fra January-February 2017-utgaven av DRAFT Magazine.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra January-February 2017-utgaven av DRAFT Magazine.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA DRAFT MAGAZINESe alt
Irish Moonshine
DRAFT Magazine

Irish Moonshine

A tradition of illicit whiskey isn’t unique to the States. 

time-read
3 mins  |
September - October 2016; 10 Year Anniversiary Issue
Ditching The Regular Grind
DRAFT Magazine

Ditching The Regular Grind

Why coffee beers are about to get weird—and delicious.

time-read
6 mins  |
September - October 2016; 10 Year Anniversiary Issue
Hip Hops
DRAFT Magazine

Hip Hops

Having ridden freight trains and managed a record label, Brooklyn’s spirited Jesse Ferguson faces his newest adventure: running NYC’s next great brewery and distillery.

time-read
7 mins  |
January-February 2017
The Incredible Edible IPA
DRAFT Magazine

The Incredible Edible IPA

From tacos to milkshakes, food flavors are being cooked into an unlikely beer style: the India pale ale.

time-read
7 mins  |
January-February 2017
Alaska Beer In The Last Frontier
DRAFT Magazine

Alaska Beer In The Last Frontier

It’s known as the land of the midnight sun, the 49th state and even Seward’s Folly. But one thing we know for sure—Alaska is not only filled with incredible natural beauty, the last frontier has a taste for beer.

time-read
7 mins  |
January-February 2017
Spanish Cider from American Soil
DRAFT Magazine

Spanish Cider from American Soil

With the release of first-of-their-kind Spanish cider apple varieties into the U.S., American cider makers have an entirely new set of tools at their fingertips.That’s good news for small cider houses looking to make their mark with funky,tart interpretations of Spanish cider—grown here.

time-read
5 mins  |
March-April 2017
The Next Round
DRAFT Magazine

The Next Round

Much has been made of the creative, bold and entrepreneurial spirit that’s energized the beer industry, but the most seismic shifts in beer may come down to good, old-fashioned science. These technological innovations will undoubtedly shape what—and how—we drink in the future.

time-read
7 mins  |
January-February 2017
Single Malt Whisky Crosses The Channel
DRAFT Magazine

Single Malt Whisky Crosses The Channel

French spirit, Scottish soul.

time-read
3 mins  |
November - December 2016
Top 25 Beers Of The Year
DRAFT Magazine

Top 25 Beers Of The Year

IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, WE’VE WITNESSED AN EXPLOSION of new beer styles.

time-read
10+ mins  |
November - December 2016
An American Beer Style In London
DRAFT Magazine

An American Beer Style In London

The most popular beers in the United Kingdom are starting to look, smell and taste a lot like the most popular beers in the U.S.

time-read
7 mins  |
September - October 2016; 10 Year Anniversiary Issue