Alaskan Brewing

In addition to our monthly beer club meeting we decided to sample some beer from Alaskan Brewing during the Labor day weekend. Non of us had any plans to visit Juneau, Alaska so we brought a bit of Juneau to Portland. Here are the beers we tasted :

Alaskan Summer - They claim this to be a Kolsch style ale with a generous blend of European and Pacific Northwest hops. It does not taste like the typical Kolsch ale. Alaskan did a great job with the flavors in this beer. Our group typically does not favor the Summer ales but everyone liked this one. Easy drinking and a nice surprise.

Alaskan White - The Belgian style witbier. This is a nice blend of wheat and malts. The coriander and orange flavors are present but not overpowering. The group enjoyed this beer also.

Alaskan IPA - This is definitely an IPA but the hoppiness is not quite as intense. Very drinkable IPA.

Alaskan Amber - The Amber to measure all other ambers. It was voted the best beer in the nation in 1988 and you can find it on taps all around Portland....and for good reason...it is a very tasty beer. Balanced, smooth and it leaves you wanting another.

Alaskan Oatmeal Stout - Very dark in color but not too thick for a stout. Oats, malts and a hint of coffee and caramel are detectable in the great flavor of this beer. Again the group enjoyed all of this beer.

Alaskan Barley Wine 2008 - This barley wine had a beautiful deep mahogany color. Compared to other barley wines our group felt this was the best one yet. It was very smooth and easy to drink. The aroma was pleasant and reminded you of the elevated alcohol content.

You wont be disappointed with any of the beer Alaskan Brewing. We look forward to tasting the Pale ale which I could not find in the neighborhood stores. In season we also plan to taste the Winter Ale and the Smoked Porter.

Alaskan Brewing found a great combination of flavors and they blend well with the Juneau Ice Field waters. If you're ever anywhere near Juneau a trip to the brewery is a must.

Cheers,
Todd