Where to find the Best Breweries & Distilleries in Alaska

Raise a glass to Alaska’s booming local beverage scene! With new breweries popping up every year, you could easily plan an entire trip around sampling Alaska’s microbrews, ciders, and other craft beverages. Our world-class craft breweries and distilleries use distinctive Alaska-grown ingredients like spruce tips, berries, fireweed, grains, potatoes, glacier water, and even kelp to create one-of-a-kind flavors. Many breweries and distilleries offer tours with tastings so you can learn about the process and then savor a sip. Most are open year-round and can be enjoyed in any season, whether you're sipping a refreshing cocktail or cold lager under the summer sun on a patio or cozying up with a stout by the fire in winter.  Here’s where to find Alaska’s best breweries and distilleries statewide:

Southcentral Breweries & Distilleries

Anchorage:

With over a dozen breweries and counting, Anchorage could easily be called the brewery capital of Alaska. Ranging from small, intimate microbreweries to bustling brewpubs, Anchorage is a top destination for those in search of quality craft beers. Don’t miss 49th State Brewing Company, Anchorage Brewing Company, Broken Tooth Brewing Co (served at Bear Tooth and Moose’s Tooth restaurants), Cynosure Brewing, Glacier Brewhouse, King Street Brewing Company, Midnight Sun Brewing Company, and Turnagain Brewing. If you’d like a local guide to take you to some of the top breweries, join a tour with Big Swig Tours to explore Anchorage breweries by van or bike.

You’ll find more than beer on tap in Anchorage. Double Shovel Cider Company serves up a wide range of tasty ciders, and Zip Kombucha makes refreshing nonalcoholic kombucha as well as hard kombucha and cider. Visit Two Seasons Meadery for some locally-made honey wine, and be sure to stop by Anchorage Distillery for craft distilled gin, vodka, whisky, and cocktails. 

Kenai Peninsula:

Heading south from Anchorage to the beautiful Kenai Peninsula are more breweries with lots of local flavor. First stop is Girdwood Brewing Company in Girdwood, featuring local favorites like IPAs and saisons plus some fun sours, hard seltzers, and kombucha. At the end of the Seward Highway is the town of Seward, home to Seward Brewing Company and Stoney Creek Brewhouse. A wide variety of breweries are located along the Sterling Highway, including Cooper Landing Brewing Company in Cooper Landing, St. Elias Brewing Company and Kenai River Brewing Company in Soldotna, Naptowne Brewing Company in Sterling, and Kassik’s Brewery in Kenai. At the end of the road is Homer, where you’ll find Grace Ridge Brewing Co., Homer Brewing Company, Sweetgale Meadworks & Ciderworks, and Bear Creek Winery – the largest winery in Alaska. 

Mat-Su Valley:

Alaska’s agricultural hub, the Mat-Su Valley is home to a handful of breweries and distilleries. In Palmer and Wasilla you’ll find Arkose Brewery, Bearpaw River Brewing Company, Bleeding Heart Brewery, Last Frontier Brewing Co., and Matanuska Brewery, along with Susitna Brewing Company in Big Lake and Odd Man Rush Brewing in Eagle River. One of the state’s most popular breweries is Denali Brewing Company, located in Talkeetna. Visit their tasting room along Talkeetna Spur Road or their Brewpub in downtown Talkeetna to try their craft beers and beverages served through their other brands: Denali Spirits, Alaska Ciderworks, and Alaska Meadery.

Prince William Sound:

A little more off-the-beaten track are the breweries found in Prince William Sound. Cordova, only accessibly by boat or plane, is home to Copper River Brewing which serves up beers using local ingredients like spruce tips and kelp. Valdez is located at the end of the Richardson Highway and has two breweries: Valdez Brewing and Growler Bay Brewing Company.

Interior Breweries & Distilleries

With endless summer days under the midnight sun and cold, clear winters perfect for northern lights viewing, it’s no surprise that the Interior region has a robust brewery and distillery scene centered around its largest community: Fairbanks. Black Spruce Brewing Company, HooDoo Brewing Company, Latitude 65 Brewing Company, and Silver Gulch Brewing Company are all in Fairbanks, plus three distilleries: Fairbanks Distilling Company, Hoarfrost Distilling, and Ursa Major Distilling. For a local’s perspective, let Fairbanks Brewery Tours guide you through the town’s brewery scene. You’ll also find Arctic Harvest Distillery, serving up cocktails and Alaska-grown spirits, in nearby North Pole. South of Fairbanks, visitors to Denali National Park can enjoy craft beer and cider at 49th State Brewing Company near the park’s entrance in Denali Park.

Southwest Breweries & Distilleries

If you’re looking for craft brews in the Southwest region, head to Alaska’s Emerald Isle: Kodiak Island. The town of Kodiak is home to the charming Kodiak Island Brewing Company and Still, producing craft beers, spirits, and cocktails. Or, post up at the nearby Double Shovel Cider Co. for some refreshing hard ciders.

Inside Passage Breweries & Distilleries

Alaska’s Inside Passage region is popular with cruise ship visitors and independent travelers interested in exploring the region’s charming towns and rugged coastline, with most major ports of call having at least one brewery and distillery. From south to north (the direction that most cruise ship itineraries travel), you’ll find Bowden Street Brewing Company and Uncharted Alaska Distillery in Ketchikan, Harbor Mountain Brewing Company in Sitka, Icy Strait Brewing in Icy Strait Point, and then it’s off to Alaska’s capital city: Juneau.

Also the culinary capital of the region, Juneau is home to Alaskan Brewing Co, one of the oldest breweries in the state, along with Barnaby Brewing Company, Devil’s Club Brewing Company, Forbidden Peak Brewery, and Amalga Distillery. For guided trips highlighting the local culinary and brewery scene, check out Juneau Food Tours, or join Cycle Alaska for a Bike & Brew tour that pairs a scenic bike ride with a stop a local brewery. Heading north from Juneau, the sister cities of Haines and Skagway each serve up their own local libations. Haines is home to Haines Brewing Company and Port Chilkoot Distillery, and Skagway has Klondike Brewing Company, Skagway Brewing Company (Alaska’s oldest brewery, established in 1897), and Skagway Spirits Distillery.

No matter where your travels take you, remember to drink responsibly. Pick a designated driver or plan on taking a ride share in Alaska’s larger cities, or join a brewery tour in Anchorage, Juneau, or Fairbanks. Most of Alaska’s smaller towns are walkable. Some cruise ship itineraries offer brewery tours and tasting room visits as shore excursion options. Cheers to that!