Talkeetna Brewfest 2014

One of the things I love about Alaska is the tight craft beer community. In a state this big, there are 23 breweries scattered throughout. There are 6 in Anchorage, 5 on the Kenai Peninsula, 2 in Fairbanks, 4 between Anchorage and Fairbanks, 5 in Southeastern Alaska, and one on Kodiak Island. Find out more about Alaska’s breweries from the Brewer’s Guild of Alaska.

Getting all these breweries together in one location can be a little bit on the tough side. I was happy to see quite a few made the trek to one of my fave places – Talkeetna, Alaska. Fall was in the air, the leaves were changing, and the craft beer was flowing… what a pretty fantastic day!

The Talkeetna Brewfest raised money for the Northern Susitna Institute (NSI), which fosters Alaska’s folk art traditions. I  love when companies give back and work together. This event was put on by NSI with help by Denali Brewing Company. The Denali Arts Council graciously rented the hangar space to NSI for the Talkeetna Brewfest – a great event put on by an amazing community. Talkeetna, Alaska is just south of the Denali National Park for those friends of mine in the Lower 48 (which is most of you!).

Now it’s time to enjoy the Talkeetna Brewfest… I mean work. 🙂

 Welcome to the Talkeetna Brewfest… come with me and relive the day through a few pics. Cheers!

 

Denali Brewing Company and the delicious Chuli Stout… definitely one of my fave stouts in Alaska!
Denali Brewing Company: Talkeetna, Alaska

49th State Brewery – the Smoked Marzen is like a campfire in a cup – AhhhMazing.
49th State Brewery: Denali, Alaska 

Erik Slater with Seward Brewing Company. He had a new batch of the Inked Out Stout that I promptly put in my belly. Yes, Please!
Seward Brewing Co: Seward, Alaska

 

 King St Brewing Company is the go-to place for well-balanced beers. Their India Pale Ale is my fave from them, even though I am not the biggest IPA fan.
King Street Brewing Company: Anchorage, Alaska

 

 I was so excited to see Baranof Island Brewing Company as they are in Sitka and I have yet to try their beers. The Baranof Brown Ale was mighty good.
Baranof Island Brewing Company: Sitka, Alaska

 

I love this pic of me SO focused and trying to capture the perfect shot. 

 

 

 I found Sour Heaven in this bottle of Whiteout by Anchorage Brewing Company.
Anchorage Brewing Company: Anchorage, Alaska

 

Kenai River Brewing brought my fave of the day – a Smores Beer that tasted like Chocolate and Marshmallow melted into craft beer heaven.
Kenai River Brewing: Kenai, Alaska

 

 

 Trikster and Bore Tide from Midnight Sun Brewing Company… do you think they’d notice a couple bottles missing? Me neither!

 Hard at work sharing the Midnight Sun love.
Midnight Sun Brewing Company: Anchorage, Alaska

 Twist my arm, Broken Tooth Brewing… this Limited Batch of Gose Hunter is just what I would like to see on a cold fall night.
Broken Tooth Brewing: Anchorage, Alaska

**Disclosure: This was not an overly large event, but I missed seeing and sampling from both Kassik’s and Sleeping Lady Brewing Companies. The following two images are ones I took when I was at their breweries. I am kicking myself as I would have *loved* to have tried the awesome brews from these two stellar breweries.**

 Kassik’s Brewing has a Big Nutz Imperial Brown that I adore as well as their Smoked Russian Imperial Stout.
Kassik’s Brewing: Nikiski, Alaska

 

 I am a big fan of Sleeping Lady’s Scottish Ale, Braveheart. And seriously wish I would have a growler full of their Portage Porter right now.
Sleeping Lady Brewing Company: Anchorage, Alaska

Somehow I didn’t snap a shot of the Alaskan Pumpkin Porter… but let me tell you by friends in the Lower 48 – go buy this beer!
Alaskan Brewing: Juneau, Alaska

 I was a big fan of Akrose Brewery’s Festbier Dunkelweizen!

 

 Akrose Brewing: Palmer, Alaska

 

This crowd was laid back, enjoying the day and noshing on some pretty yummy cheeses, breads, fresh fruit, and prosciutto! Can’t beat that paired with all this incredible craft beer. Everyone was enjoying themselves – outside they were playing a little cornhole. Perfect Saturday, in my honest opinion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Talkeetna Brewfest was conceived by the beer folks over at Denali Brewing as a means to raise funds and awareness about NSI and also about craft beer in Alaska.  One of the classes offered at NSI is a home brew class taught at Denali Brewing, by DBC founder and home brewer, Sassan Mosannen. Beer from that class is sold at the Talkeetna Roadhouse during Denali Brewing’s Beer Trippin’ weekend and proceeds are donated back to NSI. If you are wondering if I am signing up for this, then you would be right in that thought process!

If you haven’t been up for Beer Trippin’ you should definitely try to visit Talkeetna this Spring.  It’s a weekend long celebreation of home brewing in Alaska – you know you want to see Alaska in the Winter just like I do ;). There is a home brew competition and the winner gets their beer produced by Denali Brewing and released at the following year’s Beer Trippin’. I’m already thinking of what I would love to brew!

Want to know more about Alaska Breweries? Check out this book my Bill Howell on The Craft Breweries of Alaska. 

Beer on the Last Frontier: The Craft Breweries of Alaska Book 2 –
Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Everything In Between

 

Disclosure: I received 2 Press Passes to attend the Talkeetna Brewfest in exchange for a blog post. I was not under obligation to share my love of craft beer or to take photos and share this amazing Alaskan event with you. Links within this post may contain affiliate links that I earn commissions from. Example, if you click on the above link and purchase anything from that site I make a small commission, no matter what you purchase. This is how I pay for my travels and this blog. Thank you for supporting me!