Alaskan Troppelbock brewed by Alaskan Brewing - Juneau, Alaska         

Alaskan Troppelbock is a tawny, copper-colored ale with thick, ivory lacing. Toasty, biscuit, and caramel malt notes dominate the aroma but do not overwhelm the delicate undertones of freshly hewn oak and pecan pie-like nuttiness. The flavor is similarly complex; a huge, toasted malt profile melds with subtle fig, dark fruit, milk chocolate, and vanilla notes. The mouthfeel is warming, soft, and full, with moderately low carbonation and a slightly dry finish.

   
Alaskan Troppelbock is made from glacier-fed water, a blend of German and American hop varieties, premium two-row and specialty toasted malts, and aged on toasted French oak.

History of Troppelbock
The Alaskan Brew Crew set out to create an Imperial Bock that showcases the toasted malt profile of the classic Bock style, in balance with the unique flavors of aging on toasted oak. They devoted many hours to developing the recipe on their small experimental brew system over the last year before perfecting this final release.
     

  
Alaskan Troppelbock Label
If you look closely at the towering peaks above our Juneau brewery, you just might see some of Southeast Alaska’s white, wooly mountain goats hopping nimbly across the imposing mountainsides. These robust and hearty animals brave the harsh cold of Alaska’s winter without the benefit of the malty, warming goodness of the new Alaskan Troppelbock (named so because it’s bigger than the classic, German Doppelbock). Here we depict three of the area’s hooved and horned residents both to honor the local wildlife and to celebrate the centuries-old brewing tradition of adorning bock-style beer labels with imagery of the goat.
 
  
 
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.