Alaskan Raspberry Wheat brewed by Alaskan Brewing - Juneau, Alaska         

Alaskan Brewing Co. is bringing back their much anticipated summer Pilot Series release, Alaskan Raspberry Wheat, for a limited time this June. The beer, which released in Juneau on June 1, sold out at the Brewery’s gift shop and tasting bar in less than one hour, with dozens of fans waiting in line outside before the tasting bar opened for business.

“We couldn’t believe it,” says Alaskan’s Nancy Woizeschke. “There were people lining up in the street as much as an hour before we opened, and we sold our 180 cases of 22oz bottles within the first hour.”

The Alaskan Pilot Series features a rotating collection of big, bold and distinctive brews packaged in 22 oz bottles. The current limited-edition release of Alaskan Raspberry Wheat will be arriving in June at select locations throughout Alaska and the other states where Alaskan Beer is distributed.

Alaskan Raspberry Wheat is an American-style wheat ale highlighting the bright flavors and inviting aroma of more than 3,000 pounds of real raspberries added during fermentation. The tart flavor of raspberries balances the full-bodied wheat profile and malt sweetness of this enticingly red-hued brew. Bigger than most traditional fruit beers, Alaskan Raspberry Wheat has a little extra kick to its dry and effervescent finish.

In 2012, Alaskan plans to release two more Pilot Series beers in addition to the Raspberry Wheat. Alaskan Baltic Porter, another Pilot Series favorite, will return in September for the first time since 2009, and the December release will feature a new Imperial Red Ale.
     

  
Beer Review by Beer Advocate
Ah, the good ol’ Raspberry Wheat. A style that dates way back to when brewers didn’t even have email, and suits were throwing money at the craft brewing industry to see if it would stick. Cloudy burgundy color; white head holds strong. Sweet raspberry fruitiness, some tartness with a bready maltiness ... a clean, fruity nose. Medium body. Raspberry sings strong but stays away from being sweet. Quick flash of tartness, grainy maltiness and alcohol. This fruit beer flexes its brawn while still staying quaffable. Hands down one of the best fruit beers around.
  

  
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.