Skagway’s world famous craft brewery. Sustainable. Innovative. Exceptional.
There’s a reason your beer tastes tastes so good. Those unforgettable full-bodied flavors were crafted in our cutting-edge brewery using only the finest ingredients, along with our sustainable philosophy. Try a thirst-quenching Spruce Tip Blonde Ale or a velvety Blue Top Porter. Heck, try them both. There are reasons why our micro-brewed beers leave a lasting impression…
Spruce Tip Blonde Ale –
Our Local Tradition
Enjoy a fresh glass of our signature brew, Skagway Brewing Company’s Spruce Tip Blonde Ale. The sweet citrus flavor and smooth finish are created using hydroelectric power to combine the flavors of Skagway’s crystal-clear untreated water with hand-picked locally sourced spruce tips. Master Brewer, Trevor Clifford, perfected his creation into our most popular beer. Bottoms up!
Accolades for our signature brew
Featured in two separate Draft Magazine articles: “50 Beers, 50 States”
– January 2010 and “Pubs we love: Cold weather brewpubs” – February 2011)
Highlighted in Ben McFarland’s World’s Best Beers: 1000 Unmissable Brews from Portland to Prague
Drinking beer – A proud Alaskan tradition
Imagine a world where you’re required to drink beer every day to ensure good health. Sounds like paradise, doesn’t it? It wasn’t so long ago that a certain beer made from spruce needles became synonymous with the north. The history of spruce tip ale is rich and diverse but nowhere is it more renowned than in the Last Frontier.
Spruce beer is a well known part of Alaska’s maritime history. When Captain James Cook made his first voyage into the Pacific during 1784, two sailors were employed as full-time spruce beer brewers. Cook and his men drank the beer to prevent scurvy, which is a disease caused by Vitamin C deficiency. You see, spruce needles are capable of producing a tea with 50mg of Vitamin C per 100 grams.
At some point, someone must have asked, “If we can brew spruce tea, why not brew spruce beer?”
That person is a hero.
How our Spruce Tip Blonde Ale is crafted
Of the 35 species of spruce around the world, the Sitka spruce is considered the tastiest. This is the most common spruce variety found in Alaska, and it’s the one we use to brew our Blonde Ale. Young spruce tips are hand-picked in the spring and give the ale its citrus flavor.
No two spruce beers taste the same, and no brewer is eager to give away their secrets. Many spruce tip ales have a more “piney” flavor, and some have a near-analgesic taste, but Trevor prefers the sweeter notes that set his creation apart. You can enjoy our Spruce Tip Blonde Ale throughout the year because we vacuum-seal and flash-freeze a large batch of springtime spruce tips.
Skagway is also known for its incredible fresh, untreated water. Be sure to drink a glass right out of the tap while you’re in town and you will quickly understand why it’s perfect for creating incredible beer.
We could talk about beer for hours, but the bar just opened for business. See you there.
Cheers!
Our Staple Ales
SPRUCE TIP ALE
Our signature ale, brewed with spruce tips is a favorite of tourists and locals alike.
Boom Town Brown
The nine grain American brown ale has a complex, malty profile and a subtle British hop influence. Traces of nut, chocolate and caramel are woven throughout this approachable version.
Chilkoot Trail IPA
The original India Pale Ales were brewed for export with lots of hops and high gravity to help them survive long journeys by sea. Chilkoot Trail follows suit using Amarillo and Cascade hops for a floral and citrus flavor. An assertive bitterness and soft alcohol warmth are supported by a strong malty backbone.
Farmhouse Saison
Abby-style Belgian Dark
Belgian Candi sugar was used in the brewing process to give it more flavor elements such as caramel and toffee. This beer is. a touch dry and easier to drink than you might think
“This local favorite incorporates hand picked Sitka Spruce tree tips that add a crisp kick to its creamy, slightly sticky body and floral zest to the fruit and spice flavor.”
– Draft Magazine “50 Beers, 50 States” July 2009
Prospector PAle
The copper color American pale ale is clean and dry with a subtle hop character. Initial citrus aromas lend itself to a soft bitterness that lingers into
a smooth finish.
SMaSH IPA
Pilsner malt & El Dorado hops. Bright, slightly floral, & not overly bitter
Helles Lager
Easy drinkin’ light lager. It’s no bud light or PBR, but you’ll never know that 
Blue Top Porter
Blue Top was traditionally brewed to nourish the working class of Skagway and still is brewed to rejuvenate today. Our porter exhibits stout-like characteristics and is near-black in color. Hints of roasty dark chocolate provide a robust flavor and smooth finish.
Get your beer to go…
We offer a variety of options, Crowlers, Bombers and Growlers!
If you’re visiting us via a cruise-ship, check onboard regarding their policy of bringing beer back onboard with you. A few ships will allow you to keep it with you, others will confiscate it until the night before you disembark your ship.
Either way, it makes a great gift for those not fortunate enough to visit the brewery in person!
Thanks for spreading the love!
Skagway Brewing Company strives to build and maintain a sustainable business by purchasing products that are environmentally and socially responsible and utilizing local resources when possible.
