Located 500 miles away from the nearest state, there’s likely a lot you haven’t heard about Alaska. Sure, you could probably guess dog mushing is the official state sport, but did you know a 13-year-old boy designed the state flag? Again, not a shocker — 17 of the 20 highest peaks in the U.S. are in Alaska, but did you know Alaska has a law against giving a moose beer? Thankfully, there isn’t a law against Peaks and Pints offering you a beer brewed in Alaskan, which we are doing in today’s beer fight, Craft Beer Crosscut 10.23.18: A Flight of Alaska.
We narrowed our Alaskan flight down to two breweries: Alaskan Brewing Co. and Midnight Sun Brewing Co.
Founded in 1986, Alaskan Brewing Co. is ancient in craft beer years. In fact, it was only the 67th brewery to open in United States history. Beginning as the husband and wife duo of Geoff and Marcy Larson, Alaskan has since traversed as far afield. It’s also the most decorated brewery in Great American Beer festival history.
Head to the highest point in the United States, the untamed tundra of Anchorage, Alaska, and you will find Midnight Sun Brewing Company. Since their kettles fired up in 1995, this brewery and brewpub has been warming the good folks who braved that last frontier with their multitude of year-round, seasonal and specialty brews. Midnight Sun is Alaskan proud. Everything from their beer names to the beer labels portrays the pride they have in their heritage. Even the name of the brewery reminds us of the north — where else but Alaska do you ever see a midnight sun?
Craft Beer Crosscut 10.23.18: A Flight of Alaska
Midnight Sun Modern Romance
10.2% ABV, 37 IBU
A collaboration between Midnight Sun and Modern Dwellers Chocolate Lounge, this dark strong chocolate ale is brewed with chocolate and rye malts, roasted cacao nibs, cacao powder, Maca root powder, brown sugar and Modern Dwellers’ Mayan Spice blend that’s then aged with cocoa powder. Sure, it’s unique but it’s well balanced and remarkably easy to drink. Expect a nose of cacao with a spice. Flavor shows pepper hotness but the chocolate balances it. There may be alcohol here but it is hidden under the pepper and big dark malts. It finishes with some pepper zip.
Alaskan Smoked Porter
6.5% ABV, 45 IBU
A repeated Gold Medal winner at the Great American Beer Fest, Alaskan’s Smoked Porter nearly as old as the brewery itself, dating back to 1988 when it debuted as one of the first smoked beers in the States. A testament to the beer’s lifespan, Alaskan releases Smoked Porter in limited yearly vintages, each with their own unique identities. Relying on techniques derived from Alaskans who brewed more than a century ago, Alaskan uses direct heat from local alder wood to malt its barley — a process also recognizable to those who love smoked salmon. And the water for the beer comes from a nearby glacier. That’s all fine and dandy, but let’s get to drinking. A robust woodsmoke aroma backs up the beer’s name even from a distance. Smoked Porter’s flavor follows suit on the smokiness, though less intensely than the smell. Roasted malts, molasses, plums, and a puckering charcoal all swim up from this complex brew.
Midnight Sun Moscow Russian Imperial Stout
11% ABV, 45 IBU
Moscow Russian Imperial Stout is part of Midnight Sun’s “Alaska’s Most Wanted Series,” first brewed as part of the Alaska brewery’s 2011 World Tour series. It pours a hefty, opaque black liquid that slowly into the glass. A high percentage of spicy rye and roasted dark malts create a dense, chewy yet elegant winter wonderland of flavors. Rich chocolate dominates the aroma. The mouthfeel is thick, creamy and syrupy, with little carbonation and some alcohol warmness. Rye alleviates some sweetness. Lingering chocolate is a constant. Bourbon, roasted malts — all secondary to the chocolate.
Alaskan Hopothermia
8.5% ABV, 70 IBU
Alaskan Hopothermia survives due to Nugget and Apollo hops, providing a green, floral aroma and citrus hop base. Dry hopping with Amarillo, Citra and Centennial hops adds notes of spicy grapefruit and orange to compliment the resilient full malt body. From the first sip to the last, the hop flavors keep changing. It is a double, after all, and a great combination of five different hops. It goes down dangerously easily. If your body begins to lose heat, turn to Hopothermia for warmth.
Alaskan SMaSH Galaxy
9.4% ABV, 86 IBU
Alaskan Brewing’s take on SMaSH — single malt and single hop — is in the form of a double IPA using only Galaxy hops and Northwestern pilsner malt. The label shows a barren icy landscape in the foreground running up to the edge of a dark boreal forest, and stretched out above, in the purple sky is the colored running of the Aurora Borealis; a perfect canvas for the “SMaSH Galaxy” name. The Galaxy hops bring citrus and passionfruit nose. Under the fruitiness is a distinct and interesting herbal quality. The pilsner malt brings its signature sweet malt. That herbal nose note kicks up a couple notches on the tongue, as well as passionfruit, citrus and a little guava. Malt sweetness accompanies the romp, a honey-like character sometimes appearing, without ever tipping the balance away from the galaxy hops.
