Alaskan Winter Ale Returns

Winter is coming to Alaska, but Alaskan Brewing is undeterred, welcoming the cool and wet winter weather with the always-anticipated release of its seasonal Winter Ale. "This beer is one of our favorites in the brew house–especially as it gets colder here," says Alaskan brewer Greg Morgan. "Sitka spruce trees carry a special significance to brewers, not just because we see them through every window of the brewery. In beer, the spruce tips add this really great, floral aroma that fills the brewery, and a subtly-sweet flavor that you’d never expect."

      
Alaskan's Winter Ale is brewed in the style of an English Old Ale–a traditionally malty, warming beer brewed in the fall and consumed through the winter. Alaskan’s take on this style is inspired by the seafaring adventurer Captain Cook, who discovered the pleasant flavor and scurvy-preventing value of spruce tips during one of his 18th century voyages in search of a Northwest Passage.

This ale balances the sweet, heady aroma of Sitka spruce tips with a clean, crisp noble hop finish and its malty richness complements the alcohol warmth.
  
        
 
History: From seafaring adventurers to the homebrewers of today, adding spruce tips to beer has a rich history in Southeast Alaska.
 
Recommendations: A perfect winter warmer or accompaniment to holiday fare. Serve with roast goose, turkey, lamb or as a nice complement to holiday breads, pound cake, or apple pie. Visit our online recipe database for a collection of Winter Ale recipes.

Packaging: Available throughout the western states in 15.5 and 5.17 gallon Sankey kegs and in the 12 oz 6-pks, 12pks and caseware, and 22 oz 12 pks.

The Story Behind the Label
Throughout Southeast Alaska, bald eagles can be spotted landing atop the towering old growth forests of Sitka spruce trees. As many as 3,000 bald eagles congregate among these evergreen trees on the shores of the Chilkat River for the last large run of salmon before winter. Sitka spruce trees carry a significance of their own to local Alaskans. The tender new growth of the spruce tips lends a delicious, yet subtly sweet floral aroma to teas, jelly and now our Alaskan Winter Ale.