A Local’s Guide to Craft Beer in Anchorage, Alaska

Most people pass through Anchorage en route to more remote points to experience Alaska’s pristine wilderness but anyone lucky enough to spend time in Alaska’s largest city will find a booming craft beer scene. In preparation for my next trip to Alaska I asked one of my closest friends Daniella Shepard, an author and Anchorage local, for her recommendations on Anchorage’s best craft breweries.

The Best Craft Breweries in Anchorage

Humpy’s Alaska Ale House

Started in 1994, it is often credited with kicking off the craft beer scene in Anchorage. Humpy’s offers a great selection of Pacific Northwest beers in a casual environment, with a revolving tap of Alaskan, Washington, Oregon and other great ales. Ray and I love to come here for brunch on the weekends. My favorite weekend fare is their crab cakes Benedict or their Hangover burger. They are family friendly early in the day. During football season, I recommend getting there early as the booths fill up fast with sports fans. They offer live music and pub trivia events throughout the year.

Humpy’s menu and my Left Hand Brewing Chai Porter, Ray’s IPA

Moose’s Tooth/Bear Tooth/Broken Tooth Brewing

Founded in 1996, Moose’s Tooth is ranked the #3 pizza place in the US and is the number one single point of pizza sales for on a Friday night in the US. They eventually opened a theater pub (Bear Tooth/Bear Tooth Grill), where they offer menu items (in addition to their most popular pizzas) like tacos, burritos, wraps and burgers.

Moose’s Tooth Pizza is a favorite any time of year

Did I also mention they are famous for their beer? I know there is a huge debate between the IPA haters and lovers—but I am going to make some of them clutch their pearls. I love a good IPA when the mood strikes me. Sometimes, I enjoy a nice thick stout. Moose’s Tooth has a great selection of both. Their Fairweather IPA is refreshing on a summer day, as is their Raspberry Wheat Ale. The Pipeline Stout is fantastic any time of year. They have a wonderful selection of rotating taps, some of my favorites are the Midtown and Uptown Brown Ales and the Great Scot Scottish Ale.

Warning! This place gets packed during tourist season. Wait times can be in excess of 2 hours during peak times (5-8 on weekdays, pretty much all day on the weekends). If we have family coming from out of town, we typically plan to get there before 4pm on a weekday, or go during the lull between lunch and dinner on the weekend. We also still plan to spend time out on the patio enjoying a beer—because there will still be a wait. Most locals avoid this place until fall.

Midnight Sun Brewing

Located on the south east side of town, Midnight Sun Brewing churns out unique and tasty beers. The Loft/tasting room is small, so once again, get their early. The Rhino Coffee Porter is one of my personal favorites, along with the Panty Peeler Belgian-Style Tripel (warning, at 8.5% abv—drink lightly). They have a great selection of tasty sandwiches at the loft. You won’t leave hungry. My favorite is the Mediterranean Melt with Ancho Beef added. The flat breads are perfect for sharing with a group. Their posole is tasty as well.

How can you NOT smile when you’re drinking a beer called the Panty Peeler?

49^th State Brewing

Located along the waterfront downtown in what used to be the Snow Goose/Sleeping Lady Brewing Co building is 49th State Brewing out of Healy (you can still visit their original location in Healy if you are going to Denali National Park).

They have some of the best views in town of Mt. Susitna, the Cook Inlet, and Denali from their outdoor decks. Not to mention their excellent beer and food selection. My personal favorites are their McCarthy Stout, Just the Tip Cream Ale (seasonal), and Mosaic IPA. For food, you really can’t go wrong with just about anything on the menu. Their Crabby Grilled cheese is the ultimate in comfort food, with its side of chowder for dipping. The King Crab Avocado Toast is a favorite brunch item. For lighter fare, I enjoy their Tuna Poke Bowl.

Crabby Grilled Cheese is the ultimate in comfort food

Matanuska Brewing

Originally from Palmer Alaska, Matanuska Brewing has now opened 2 locations in Anchorage. One in Mid-town on Northern Lights, the other downtown along 3^rd Ave. My favorite offerings from this brewery are their Scottish and Irish Ales. For canned beers, the Long Track IPA and the Pack Raft Red IPA are refreshing to-go options on hot summer days. Their grilled halibut tacos and fresh pico/salsa (in my humble opinion) are the best in town. I’m not a big fan of the deep-fried fish lumped into a tortilla that some places serve. My husband really digs their burgers. The Mid-town location has a stage for live music, and is a fairly decent sized-venue. If you get there early enough in the summers, it is easy to get a seat, but later in the evening, it fills up fast. Family friendly. Their downtown location also has pool tables and a theater pub.

Pack Raft Red IPA

King St Brewing

King Street Brewing has a modern, industrial design, with the tap room located on the lower floor. The upper floors have seating, with a walkway above the brew works for viewing. Located on the South side of town on King Street has no food in house, just popcorn for snacking, but does host a variety of local food trucks. You can order and have the food brought in. Their Nitro Stout is delicious and on par with a Guinness.

King St. Nitro Stout

King St Brew Works

Glacier Brewhouse

Located downtown along 5^th Ave, this is one of the more upscale establishments in terms of breweries, so if you are looking for higher end seafood and steak dishes, Glacier Brewhouse does a decent job (though I would argue 49^th State gives them a good run for their money in terms of quality and lower cost). Their macadamia crusted Halibut is one of my favorites in season, as well as the Rockfish. They do a great job with the calamari at Glacier, and that is one of our go-to appetizers. Two of my favorite seasonal offerings at Glacier in terms of beer are the Blood Orange IPA, and the Jim Beam Stout. Right now they have a Blackberry IPA with Mosaic hops on tap that I am hoping to give a try.

This Asian Seared Cod paired well with their Stout

Double Shovel Cider Co

I realize technically Double Shovel isn’t beer per se, but I couldn’t leave them off this list. You’ll see them as a guest handle just about everywhere you go in Anchorage. They have their own taproom off 58^th Ave in Anchorage, and will bepartnering up with Fat Ptarmigan for their first downtown location. They have a great selection of ciders that may make you change your mind about cider being sweet. My personal favorite at the moment is the grapefruit lavender. They do food trucks at their tap room, and I guarantee you won’t leave hungry.

Honorable Mention…

Girdwood Brewing

So Girdwood Brewing is about a 30-40 minute drive from Anchorage, but is technically considered to be within the southern municipality of Anchorage, so I decided to include them on the list since we have visited them a few times now this winter and they are now a favorite stop when we go for a hike in Girdwood. Their Hippy Speedball Oatmeal Coffee Stout is my current favorite, with No Woman No CRYO NEPA as a close second. For food, like quite a few smaller places, they don’t offer food on site, but instead have a rotating schedule of food trucks.

Girdwood Brewing’s tables have unique stickers related to skiing

Their outdoor firepit is welcoming in any weather

About Daniella Shepard

Daniella pulled up anchor at 18 and joined the Navy to escape a small town in the Mojave Desert. Through many twists and turns, she made her way north to Alaska. She came for a job, but stayed for the adventure. When she’s not playing with live electricity, you can find her out at her off-grid cabin in Chicken, AK, enjoying her beverage of choice, and writing her own unique, Alaska blend of Romantic Suspense, Horror, and Paranormal Romance. Her first novella, The Dark Land, is available on Amazon:

You can also read more of her Alaska adventures on her blog:

http://dmshepard.com/blog/

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