Yes—this is our first analysis (notice: the Daily Sips are never reviews) of an Alaskan beer. Because, seriously, what’s more Northwest than Alaska? And who better to start with than the godfather of Alaskan brewing, Alaskan Brewing Company. Founded in Juneau, Alaska in 1986 by Marcy and Geoff Larson (who still lead the now 150,000-barrel company, mind you), Alaskan Brewing was the first brewery to open in Juneau since Prohibition and today, they are the Great American Beer Festival‘s most award-winning craft brewery.
This Thursday, we toast to the prestige and precedent Alaskan set for the American’s “last frontier” with their “fabled” double India pale ale, Hopothermia. Unlike IPAs to its neighbors to the south (especially for double/imperials for that matter), this Alaskan ale is more about the backbone of malts and overall sturdiness than citrus explosions of hops. Coming from a self-confessed hophead, this IPA still offers plenty of citrus to soothe the needs of Northwesterners, with orange rind and grapefruit aromas, just a touch of pine and stabilized with toffee and caramel malts. The palate is equally balanced with a creamy, maltiness and spiced citrus, and while the mid-palate is sweet, the finish kicks up with hops to crisp out the final flavor. Conveniently sold in four-packs, the Hopothermia Double IPA is now officially sold year-round.
