Alaskan Black IPA brewed by Alaskan Brewing - Juneau, Alaska         

Alaskan Black IPA is a new beer experience created from a combination of traditional beer styles. Alaskan Black IPA has the appearance of a porter or stout but combines the roasted malty characters with the refreshing flavor and bright aroma of an American IPA. This ale features the hop-forward profile of an IPA with the dark black color and flavors of a fuller-bodied porter. A burst of fresh, citrus notes from Cascade and Centennial hops balance the hints of coffee and bitter chocolate with a subtle toasted sweetness and dark fruit highlights leading to a pleasantly dry finish. Alaskan Black IPA is made from glacier-fed water, generous additions of Cascade, Centennial and other Pacific Northwest hops, and an array of eight different pale, caramel and chocolate malts.
     

  
Story Behind the Label
Alaska’s frozen rivers and lakes begin to melt as the rising temperatures of spring breakup release them from winter’s icy grip. Wolves tread carefully on this ever-changing terrain during their daily treks of 30-125 miles through territories that can range up to 1000 square miles. Alaska’s highly social wolves roam in packs, their silver and black coats providing a stark contrast to the icy plains and alpenglow of the snow-covered tundra. Alaskan Spring Ale welcomes the changing season as wildlife and humans alike emerge to savor the arrival of spring.
  

  
Review by Beer Advocate
Appearance: Body is very dark brown/black in color with an almost tint of red. Also a thin layer of tan foam about the width of my pinky.

Aroma: A nice blend of hops, caramel and sort of a roasted coffee/cocoa aroma. Very nice and not overwhelming.

Taste: The a hoppy/bitter flavor hits you immediately followed by a taste of a dark roasted coffee after a second or two. The after taste has a nice, light bitter bite to it.

Mouthfeel: Nice balance, nothing is too overwhelming to throw the taste off. Smooth and velvety feel on the tongue. The flavor hangs on your palette but in a good way.

Overall: The person who referred this particular beer to me hyped it a lot so I went into it with heightened expectations. I must say that it lived up to his praise and I have found a solid black IPA to add to my library. Definitely
 
  
 
History of Alaskan Brewing
Alaska has a rich history of brewing. From the explorers of the 1700s through the Gold Rush, many a thirsty Alaskan has been able to enjoy locally made beers.

In 1986, 28-year-olds Marcy and Geoff Larson reignited that tradition when they opened the Alaskan Brewing Company, the 67th brewery in the country and the first brewery in Juneau since Prohibition. Alaskan beers reflect many of the same characteristics of beers that were brewed here during the gold rush era. From the historically based Alaskan Amber recipe to alder-smoked malts and Sitka spruce tips, Alaskan beers reflect Juneau's local brewing history and innovation.

Marcy and Geoff were drawn to the beauty and adventure of Alaska, but finding a livelihood that would allow them to stay was a challenge. "Why not start a brewery?" a friend suggested. Other than the extreme financial and logistical challenges of brewing beer in the Last Frontier, they couldn't think of why not.
Maybe the idea wasn't so far-fetched. After all, Geoff was a chemical engineer and a homebrewer and was married to Marcy, an adventure-seeking accountant and aspiring bush pilot. Together they brought a unique skill set to the task of opening a brewery in Alaska.

While researching brewing in Alaska, Marcy unearthed shipping records from Douglas City Brewing Co. (1899-1907) that listed ingredients for its popular beers and a newspaper article that described the way it was brewed. Geoff homebrewed a batch of the Gold Rush-era brew and they could see what made it so popular. That beer is now known as Alaskan Amber.

In December 1986, Alaskan Brewing Co. officially began operations when Geoff, Marcy and 10 volunteers spent 12 hours hand packaging the first 253 cases of Alaskan Amber for distribution in Juneau, Alaska. From that very humble beginning, Alaskan Brewing Co. has grown to become the most award-winning craft brewery in the history of the Great American Beer Festival and expanded distribution to 12 western states.