Anchorage is a beer lover’s paradise

The culture of locally made beer has taken Anchorage by storm. In the last year alone, five new breweries opened in Anchorage. There are more than 30 statewide.

Here in Alaska’s largest city, we’ve got everything from upscale brewpub/restaurants downtown, where you can taste the latest creation over a steak, to family-owned packaged brands lining store shelves. Virtually every bar in town offers local beers.

Whether you’ve got a thirst for a bold IPA, smooth stout or refreshing hefeweizen, Anchorage is the place to be. Here are just a few brewpubs we recommend:

 

Moose’s Tooth Pub & Pizzeria

Be prepared to wait in line, but well worth it. Named the 3rd best pizza place in the entire country by TripAdvisor, it’s #1 with everyone in Anchorage. And to go with their great pizza, Moose’s Tooth brews some of the best beers in the state – also available in stores under the brand name “Broken Tooth Brewery.” Go there. Trust us.

Bear Tooth Theater Pub & Grill

Owned by the guys who own Moose’s Tooth, Bear Tooth serves the same beers – but there are a couple important differences. Bear Tooth is divided into two sides: a sit-down restaurant that serves breakfast and great Mexican food, and a movie theater that has a bar inside and tables at every seat. You can order pizza in the lobby and they’ll bring it to you during the show. Movies are late-runs, so tickets are just a couple bucks. You can also catch a concert here.

Glacier BrewHouse

Probably the most upscale brewpub in Alaska, “the BrewHouse” as it’s known locally, is smackdab downtown in the middle of the action. It’s got an open kitchen, so you can watch the chefs roasting ribs over an open-flame rotisserie or whipping up huge salads and fresh, Alaska salmon. The brewery is right in the restaurant, behind a giant glass wall.

Midnight Sun Brewing Co.

Midnight Sun beers are widely available at grocery and liquor stores, but you can also get a great meal and fresh draft at the restaurant on the second floor of the brewery, located just north of the Dimond Blvd. shopping district. The beers are very popular, but lean a bit towards the true beer-lover’s side of the spectrum, with options like double IPA and Belgian quadrupel.

Odd Man Rush Brewing Company

One of the new kids on the block, Odd Man Rush was opened last year by three homebrewers who grew up playing hockey together. The hockey-themed brewery/bar is in the only brewpub in the scenic town of Eagle River, a quick drive up the highway just north of Anchorage. No food, but great environment and, of course, awesome craft beers.

 

Whichever part of town you’re in or wherever you’re ultimately headed, Anchorage has a great microbrew scene that’s well worth checking out. Ask the friendly staff at Puffin Inn for their favorites and for a little help pointing you in the right direction.