Alaskans love their beer, especially local, Alaskan beer. In 2017, there were 35 breweries throughout the state, up from 14 in 2007. While overall consumption is down, consumption of local, craft beer increased 35 percent since 2013. Alaska ranks number 3 among states for gallons consumed per capita (for adults over 21), and seventh for breweries per capita. Anchorage hosts 7 breweries, while 23 other communities have their own brewery. Cities large and small are capitalizing on the trend of locally brewed beer in Alaska.
Craft brewers are establishments that produce less than 6 million gallons of beer a year. Most of Alaska’s craft beer comes from either breweries or brewpubs. Breweries produce beer for distribution. This can be in kegs, bottles, growlers or cans and are sold to the public as well as in retail stores. Many Alaska breweries are open for public tasting, but hours are limited and customers are limited on the amount that they can consume on site. Alaskan Brewing Company in Juneau is Alaska’s largest brewery, as well as the oldest. Alaskan Brewing was the 19th largest craft brewery in the US and the 24th largest brewery overall in 2016.
Brewpubs also brew beer to sell to retail stores and customers onsite. They serve a larger variety of food and are often classified as a restaurant and are not limited by the same laws that govern consumption and hours of operation like a brewery.
Craft beer is big business in Alaska. In the 10 years between 2007 and 2017, the amount of locally produced craft beer sold more than doubled. It went from 454,000 gallons in 2007 to 919,000 in 2017. Breweries and brewpubs contributed nearly $36 million in payroll and over 1,250 jobs to the Alaska economy in 2017. Big beer still dominates the market with nearly 70% of beer consumption, but is losing ground to Alaska craft brews and other craft brews. The craft brewing industry doesn’t seem to be fazed by the recession. New businesses continue to open and employment has increased. In 2016, Alaska was fifth in the US for brewery earning per capita with $239 million.
More information can be found in the November Trends magazine.
Comments