A Golden Summer for Alaskan Brewing

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Date: June 9th, 2008

June 2008

Alaskan Brewing Wins Four Medals at World Beer Cup
Brewery brings home gold from the 'Olympics of Beer' World Beer Cup Gold Award

Alaskan Brewing Company brought home four international medals for quality from the World Beer Cup in San Diego, California on April 19. Alaskan Summer Ale and Alaskan Smoked Porter both took Gold medals in their respective categories with Alaskan Barley Wine and Alaskan Jalapeno IPA winning Bronze medals.

"Brewers all over the world participate in order to win recognition for their creativity and brewing ability," said Charlie Papazian, founder of the World Beer Cup and President of the Brewer's Association, the U.S.-based trade association that has put on the competition every two years since 1996. "For a brewer, a World Beer Cup gold medal allows them to say that their winning beer represents the best example of that beer style in the world."

This year, 644 breweries from 58 countries came together at the biannual event to vie for international recognition in the 91 beer style categories. Professional brewers and industry experts from 21 countries served as the judges in the competition. The 129 judges worked in teams to conduct "blind" tasting evaluations of the beers to determine the top awards. The World Beer Cup has acquired the title of "the Olympics of Beer' because it is one of the very few international beer competitions awarding only one gold, silver and bronze in each category.

"It is an honor to come away with even one award from an international competition like the World Beer Cup," said Alaskan's Plant Manager, Curtis Holmes, who was on hand to receive the medals. "But for us to win four medals in a competition where we are judged against nearly 3000 other quality beers from all over the world is pretty amazing, and a testament to our crew's commitment to creating a quality product."

Alaskan Brewing's summer seasonal brew, Alaskan Summer Ale, won its first World Beer Cup Gold medal this year in the Golden or Blonde style ale. Alaskan Smoked Porter, a limited edition brew released in the fall, also was a gold medal-winner this year in the Smoke-Flavored beer category. Alaskan Barley Wine, bottled for the first time this year, won bronze in the Barley Wine-style ale category. The second bronze went to Alaskan Jalapeno IPA, which won a medal in the Fruit and Vegetable beer category. This beer is part of Alaskan Brewing's "Rough Draft" series and only available on draft with limited distribution in Alaska.

Several other breweries located in Alaska fared well at the World Beer Cup, with Midnight Sun Brewing Co. from Anchorage taking bronze in the Other Belgian-Style Ale Category for 'Pride,' and newcomer Kassik's Kenai Brew Stop winning bronze in the Strong Scotch Ale category for 'Caribou Kilt Strong Scotch'.

"Alaska is a difficult place to brew beer and receiving recognition by the industry for that hard work gives everyone a morale boost and validates what we do every day," says Holmes. "We were happy to share in the excitement and support with the other participating breweries and brewpubs based in Alaska, it was a great night for everyone."

Visit the Brewer's Association web site for a complete listing of entries and awards at www.beertown.org.

Alaskan IPA Named the Top New Craft Beer Brand in 2007

Information Resources, Inc. (IRI) listed the newest addition to the Alaskan Brewing family of beers, Alaskan IPA, as the number one new craft brand in 2007 and in the Top 15 fastest-growing new brands across all beer categories. IRI statistics are based on 2007 supermarket case sales.

IRI also listed Alaskan Amber in the Top 15 national craft beer brands based on dollar sales in 2007, and Alaskan Brewing Co. among the top 25 breweries nationwide, which is no small accomplishment, considering Alaskan Brewing products are distributed only in Alaska and nine Western states.

Such positive sales statistics for Alaskan IPA mean great things for the Pacific Ocean and coastlines as well. Alaskan Brewing donates one percent of sales from Alaskan IPA to the nonprofit ocean conservation initiative Coastal CODE. The CODE, which stands for "Clean Oceans Depend on Everyone" awards funding through grants to organizations and individuals dedicated to conserving and cleaning up the Pacific Ocean and shores while also increasing awareness about the need for everyone to do their part for the protection of the world's greatest resource.

Outside Magazine names Alaskan Brewing Co. as
"Best Place to Work" in 2008

Alaskan Brewing Company was recently named to Outside magazine's inaugural "Best Places to Work" list. The brewery was ranked No. 5 in the medium companies group, and in the top 15 companies overall. The full list and related stories were published in the May issue of Outside magazine, now available on newsstands. 15 Best Places to Work

"We are all really excited to be a part of this short list of amazing companies," says Alaskan Brewing Co. General Manager, Linda Thomas. "A key part of our mission statement is to have fun growing individually and as a company, so learning that we were selected as one of the best places to work in the nation by such an adventurous publication as Outside Magazine definitely reiterates the 'fun' element of our operations."

Outside's "Best Places to Work" list was compiled with the help of the Outdoor Industry Association and Best Companies Group. The magazine conducted extensive surveys - based on benefits, compensation, job satisfaction, environmental initiatives and community outreach programs - designed to identify, recognize and honor the best employers in the country.

The extensive, year-long process initially identified a wide range of non-profit and for-profit organizations with at least 15 employees working in the United States. The companies were then sent a confidential employee-satisfaction survey and employer-questionnaire to collect information about benefits, policies and practices.

The result is a list of 30 U.S. companies that make it possible for employees to balance productivity with an active, eco-conscious lifestyle. Alaskan Brewing is the only company from Alaska named in the list of 30. Other listed companies include Patagonia, Smith Optics and Clif Bar & Co.

Alaskan Brewing has a long tradition of investing in their employees and their community. The brewery offers a highly competitive compensation and benefits package, including tuition reimbursement and interdepartmental cross training, profit sharing, 100 percent covered medical, dental and vision premiums, as well as employee ownership opportunities. Lunchtime barbeques and regular sponsored events and parties bring together employees and their friends and families to create a fun, diverse and satisfying daily workplace.

"Our employees are all personally invested in Alaskan Brewing and ensure that we produce a high quality product, so we operate more like a family than a business," says Alaskan Brewing Co-Founder Marcy Larson. "We believe in a 'work hard, play hard' environment."

The company has recently involved their employees in additional efforts geared towards sustaining the environment outside the workplace. Alaskan Brewing donates 1 percent of proceeds from Alaskan IPA sales to helping clean up the Pacific coast through their nonprofit ocean conservation initiative Coastal CODE. The brewery provides coordinated opportunities for their employees to join in and do their part for the environment through local cleanups and other events in Southeast Alaska.

"These 30 companies figured out that there is a way to have it all and understand the growing need for work/quality of life balance," said Chris Keyes, Editor of Outside. "These organizations have found a way to bring company morale to a whole new level while at the same time being responsible to their local communities and the environment. It's a trend that we only see increasing in the years ahead."

Alaskan Brewing Co. Answers the Call to Distribute in Colorado
Brewery moves into a new market for the first time in three years

Alaskan Brewing Co. is pleased to announce that after 20 years of attending and bringing home awards from the Great American Beer Festival in Denver, the brewery will finally begin supplying thirsty consumers in Colorado year round.

Inundated over the years with requests from Colorado consumers, Alaskan Brewing has answered the call with the launch of Alaskan Amber along Colorado's Front Range in early spring, with the Alaskan Summer Ale, Alaskan Pale and Alaskan Smoked Porter to following this month. Fans in Colorado who have previously traveled to neighboring states for Alaskan Beer are excited to hear that the wait is over.

"I've heard a rumor today that I can hardly believe! Can it be? That after all these years you'll be coming to Denver, Colorado?" asked Alaskan Brewing fan Boyd of Denver, "Please say it's so! And if it's true, pack in a bomber of Smoked Porter and some IPA for the trip!"

Fresh kegs arrived in late-March for delivery to those pubs and restaurants eager to satisfy their taste for adventure with Alaskan Amber. Alaskan Amber's newly released packaging, with the vivid red and iconic Alaskan commercial fishing boat, is now available alongside Alaskan Pale and Alaskan Summer Ale in retail accounts around Denver, Boulder, Fort Collins and Colorado Springs.

Please contact Communications Manager Ashley Johnston at ajohnston@alaskanbeer.com or 907-780-5866 for more information, beer samples or photos.