Alaskan Brewing 35th Anniversary Ale

Discussion in 'Northwest' started by Bitterbill, Dec 8, 2021.

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  1. Bitterbill

    Bitterbill Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,036) Sep 14, 2002 Wyoming
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    JUNEAU, AK (Dec. 7th, 2021) – In 1986, two adventurous, young lovers, Geoff and Marcy Larsen, fell in love with the city of Juneau, Alaska. Living on a boat in America’s most isolated capital city, the enterprising couple elected to start a brewery. After discovering the Alaskan Amber recipe from Gold Rush era journals, the pair founded the 67th independent brewery in the U.S. and the first in Alaska. Over the next 35 years, the brewery and the challenges of brewing in one of the most remote regions of the country would change and grow. This year’s re-release of the Anniversary ale is the culmination of a rich history, bottled and eager to be enjoyed.

    This complex and malt forward Imperial Stout is brewed with an array of local ingredients to add a dimension and depth that reflects the state’s natural splendor. This unique stout is brewed with Alaskan birch syrup which lends a deep, almost tart character to the dark malt profile and is combined with wildflower honey bringing with it a delicate sweetness adding floral notes to the aroma and finish. The slight addition of their in-house alder-smoked malt alludes to the distinctive roasted flavor of the turn-of-the-century malting practices that date back to the state’s formation.

    Throughout Alaskan’s 35-year history the brewery has been a leader in innovation, not just as one of the pioneers of the craft brewing industry, but also in their dedicated approach to utilizing locally sourced ingredients and creating breakthrough brewing methods.

    “We have spent much of our time figuring out different ways of operating, because our remote location often did not let us conduct business as usual,” said co-Founder Geoff Larson. “Looking back now, we’ve realized that the challenge of brewing in Alaska has shaped us and made us who we are. After 35 years, it is the challenges that have made us stronger and more able to adapt as our business has needed to change. It’s been quite a ride!”

    Larson says the fact that Alaska has been so much a part of the brewery’s identity is the reason that many of Alaskan’s beers reflect the state through the use of local ingredients, or by re-creating and reimagining historic brews. From adding spruce tips to flavor the iconic Winter Ale, to the use of alder-smoked malt in the highly regarded Alaskan Smoked Porter, and the re-creation of a 100-year-old recipe in Alaskan Amber, the brewery strives to reflect the best of the state in every beer it makes. The Larsons say that locally based focus will remain a guiding principle for Alaskan Brewing for the next 35 years as well.

    The Alaskan Brewing Company is Alaska’s oldest continuously operating brewery, founded in 1986. For more information visit https://www.alaskanbeer.com.

    https://alaskanbeer.com/2021/12/07/bottling-35-years-of-expertise-innovation-and-history/

    I want!!
     
  2. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Me too. Definitely a beer I'll actively be looking for here in PDX. Hopefully it will see widespread distribution.
     
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  3. Bitterbill

    Bitterbill Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,036) Sep 14, 2002 Wyoming
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Well, it doesn't seem to be very beloved on the Untappd check ins but I am still hopeful. It wouldn't be the first time that I disagreed with the majority.
     
  4. vurt

    vurt Grand Pooh-Bah (4,504) Apr 11, 2004 Oregon
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    "Imperial stout with birch syrup" rings a bell. Sounds like their 25th Anniversary brew.
     
  5. jason_nwx

    jason_nwx Pooh-Bah (2,571) Sep 12, 2012 Oregon
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Which was fantastic and I'm very sad I only had two.
     
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  6. QuakeAttack

    QuakeAttack Pooh-Bah (2,353) Mar 19, 2012 California
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Time to turn on my Alaskan radar finder...
     
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  7. jason_nwx

    jason_nwx Pooh-Bah (2,571) Sep 12, 2012 Oregon
    Society Pooh-Bah

    I should clarify - I had the 30th Anniversary, not the 25th. But both of those were imperial stouts with birch syrup. And both called Perseverance Ale. I guess it does say "re-release" in the original release, so yay. Will plan accordingly!
     
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  8. Bitterbill

    Bitterbill Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,036) Sep 14, 2002 Wyoming
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Got the word from Alaskan, no distribution to Wyoming. Oh well.
     
  9. DefenCorps

    DefenCorps Grand Pooh-Bah (4,838) Jan 18, 2007 Oregon
    Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    For these older breweries, UT is basically garbage IMO.
     
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  10. blackcloud

    blackcloud Savant (1,243) Apr 28, 2012 Alaska
    Trader

    There was apparently a legal dispute that prevented them from calling this batch "Perserverance" - at least that's the rumor going around town. The first batch (2011) was stellar, the second (2016) was almost as good. This one seems a little lackluster, but I've only had one pour. They've packaged it in bombers again, so I'd assume that it'll show up anywhere you normally see Alaskan bombers.

    That said, if you can't find it, I'd be willing to work out a trade.
     
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  11. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Ahhhh.... Perseverance ale does indeed ring a bell. I'm pretty sure I've had some of the prior versions. Rather sweet as I recall, with the birch syrup very noticeable.
     
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  12. Bitterbill

    Bitterbill Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,036) Sep 14, 2002 Wyoming
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    That's the one, I reckon.
     
  13. blackcloud

    blackcloud Savant (1,243) Apr 28, 2012 Alaska
    Trader

    It is sweet... but by today's pastry stout standards, I don't think it's the first thing that comes through.
     
  14. John_M

    John_M Grand High Pooh-Bah (6,849) Oct 25, 2003 Washington
    Mod Team Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    No argument there. In comparison to some of the pastry stouts put out by Grape Lotion, perseverance ale was positively bitter.
     
  15. woemad

    woemad Grand Pooh-Bah (5,601) Jun 8, 2003 Washington
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I vaguely remember such a beer.
     
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