(Juneau, AK) – Alaskan Brewing will release an Imperial IPA next year.
[12/17 Update: From Alaskan’s Ashley Johnston, “Alaskan Imperial IPA is slated for release in our Pilot Series on March 1, 2011. Like our other Pilot Series releases, this beer proved its mettle through several draft releases in Alaska as part of our Rough Draft program – though then it was known as ‘Alaskan XTRATUF IPA.’” Further specs have been included below.]
The brewery’s first Imperial IPA appears to be next in the cards for the Pilot Series, a limited release 22 oz. bottle program that began last year. This one weighs in at 8.5% ABV. Hop profile and release date not yet known…
From the Juneau Empire:
This month marks the 24th anniversary for Alaskan Brewing Company. Communications manager Ashley Johnston said there are several local events being put together as the company goes into its 25th year, including a special anniversary beer scheduled for release next September. She said big events are being planned for its quarter-century anniversary next year.
Alaskan Amber bottles were the first that the brewery released back in December, 1986, according to the recent Alaskan Barley Wine press release.
12/17 Update:
The story behind the label: Known as the “Alaska Sneaker” or simply “’tufs,” these knee-high brown and yellow rubber boots are an icon in the coastal communities of Alaska, and in brewhouses across the country. In Alaska, these all-purpose kicks are somehow equally appropriate everywhere from whale watching to keg cleaning to walking down the aisle. Because brewing is a water-intensive process and Juneau, with around 90 inches of rainfall each year, a rain-intensive city, Juneauites and brewers alike rely on the durability and versatility of these simple, sturdy boots.
Beer stats:
Original Gravity: 1.079
ABV: 8.5%
Bitterness: 70 IBU
Color: 16 SRM
Hops: Chinook, Amarillo and Centennial
Pairing suggestions: Thai food, gourmet pizzas or sharp cheddar cheese, creamy dishes/textures like King Crab bisque or gorgonzola cheese.
Packaging: 22 oz. bottles, 15.5 and 5.17 gallon Sankey kegs