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Juneau is known for its glaciers, whale watching, and jaw-dropping mountain views, but it also happens to have a craft beer scene that punches way above its size. If you are heading to town and want to explore the best Juneau breweries, you are in for a good time. Whether you are a serious craft beer fan or you just want to sip something local while soaking in the scenery, here is where to go, what to order, and how to actually work a brewery stop into your Alaska trip without stressing about your schedule.
Top Breweries in Juneau, Alaska
From the flagship names you have probably spotted at your grocery store back home to tiny taprooms locals love, the breweries in Juneau, Alaska each have their own personality. Here are the spots worth your time, along with a few honest notes on where they are and how to plan around them.
Alaskan Brewing Co.
The most iconic name in Juneau breweries is Alaskan Brewing Co., and for good reason. Founded in 1986 by Marcy and Geoff Larson, it was the first brewery in Juneau since Prohibition, and it helped put Alaska on the craft beer map. You have almost certainly seen their Alaskan Amber in stores across the country, but there is something special about tasting it fresh where it is made.
Here is the part worth planning around. Their tasting room is not actually downtown. It sits about five miles from the city center, closer to the airport, so you will need a car, a rideshare, or their seasonal shuttle to get there. It is genuinely worth the trip, because the tasting room pours around twenty beers on tap, including small-batch releases you cannot find anywhere else.
If you are short on time and staying near the cruise docks, they also run a downtown store called the Depot where you can grab their beer gear and packaged brews without heading out of town. When you do make it to the tasting room, keep an eye out for their spruce tip beers, which use real Sitka spruce needles for a flavor that tastes like Alaska in a glass.
Forbidden Peak Brewery
A short drive from downtown in Auke Bay, Forbidden Peak Brewery trades the busy port energy for wide-open water and mountain views. This family-owned spot is named after one of Juneau’s local peaks, and the vibe matches the setting: relaxed, scenic, and a little adventurous.
The tap list rotates often, mixing approachable classics with more creative brews, and they pour hard seltzers too if beer is not your thing. What really sets Forbidden Peak apart is the patio. Sipping a fresh pour while looking out over Auke Bay is the kind of slow, happy travel moment that makes a trip memorable.
They also serve food, with pub favorites and locally inspired street bites, so it works well as a full stop rather than a quick pint. If you are already headed out toward the Mendenhall Glacier or Auke Bay for an excursion, this one fits naturally into your day.
Devil’s Club Brewing Co.
Right in the heart of downtown Juneau, Devil’s Club Brewing Co. is the easiest brewery to reach if you are exploring on foot near the cruise docks. It sits in a beautiful historic building just steps from the Alaska State Capitol and the State Museum, with a modern, laid-back feel that makes it a favorite lunch spot for locals, not just visitors passing through.
This one is a full brewpub, so you can actually make a meal of it. The kitchen turns out sandwiches, shareable plates, and a famous Wednesday Pizza Nite that regulars plan their week around. On the beer side, Devil’s Club is known for creative takes on classic styles, from a crowd-favorite hazy IPA to bold barrel-aged options and bright, tart sours. Founded by born-and-raised locals, it has been named among the best breweries in Alaska, and it earns the title. If you only have time for one brewery downtown, this is the safe, satisfying pick.
Craft Beer Is Not the Only Thing on Tap
While craft beer is the main event at Juneau breweries, most of these spots pour more than just IPAs and stouts now. Many have added their own hard seltzers, canned cocktails, and even house-made non-alcoholic sodas to the menu, which is great news if you are traveling with a mixed group where not everyone wants a full pint of beer.
It means a brewery stop works for almost anyone, whether you are a hop-head chasing the newest release or someone who would rather sip something light and refreshing. When you sit down, do not be shy about asking what is new or what is only available locally. The seasonal and small-batch stuff is often where the real magic is, and you might walk out with a new favorite you can only get in Alaska.
While craft beer might be the main attraction at Juneau breweries, many of these spots have also started creating their own seltzers. For those who might not be into beer or just want something a little lighter, these locally made seltzers are the perfect alternative.
What to Expect at Juneau Breweries
Every brewery in Juneau has its own atmosphere, but a few things stay consistent across the board. The first is the warmth. Alaskans are known for being welcoming, and you feel it the moment you walk in. Bartenders are happy to talk you through the tap list, offer samples before you commit, and point you toward whatever they are most excited about that week.
The second is the local flavor, literally. Juneau brewers lean hard into their surroundings, working ingredients like spruce tips, wild berries, and herbs into seasonal beers you will not taste anywhere else. Because so much of the menu rotates with the seasons, there is almost always something new to try, even if you have visited before. Come curious, ask questions, and let the staff guide you toward the good stuff.
Pairing Juneau Beer With Fresh Alaskan Food
One of the best parts of drinking your way through Juneau breweries is how well the beer pairs with the food scene. Several breweries serve full menus, and the ones that do not are usually a short walk from somewhere that does. This is Alaska, so we are talking fresh-caught salmon, king crab, halibut, and hearty local plates that stand up beautifully to a cold craft pour.
Devil’s Club makes this especially easy since you can eat and drink in one spot, and Forbidden Peak’s food-and-view combo is hard to beat. If you are at a taproom without a kitchen, grabbing takeout from a nearby spot and settling in with a flight is a beloved local move. However you do it, pairing a local beer with fresh Alaskan seafood is one of those simple travel pleasures that sticks with you long after the trip.
How to Fit a Brewery Visit Into Your Juneau Day
If you are visiting Juneau on a cruise, your time in port is precious, so a little planning goes a long way. The good news is that downtown Juneau is walkable, and Devil’s Club sits right in the historic district near the docks, so you can pop in between shopping, museum visits, and photos of the harbor without ever needing a car. A brewery stop slots easily between the other things to do in Juneau, so you never have to choose between sightseeing and a good local pour.
If you want to visit Alaskan Brewing’s tasting room or Forbidden Peak, plan a little differently, since both are a drive from downtown. Pairing them with an excursion in the same direction is the smart move. Heading out toward Mendenhall Glacier or Auke Bay? Forbidden Peak fits your route. Building a slower, brewery-focused afternoon? Budget time for the shuttle or rideshare out to Alaskan Brewing. A quick tip from experience: build in more buffer than you think you need, because Juneau runs on its own relaxed rhythm and you will not want to rush the good part.
Why You Should Visit Juneau Breweries
Whether you’re a beer lover or just looking for a fun way to experience the local culture, Juneau breweries offer something for everyone. Each brewery has its own personality and story to tell.
Plus, there’s something special about enjoying a locally-made beer in one of the most beautiful places in the world. The scenery, the people, and the sense of adventure all come together to make the breweries in Juneau, Alaska, a must-visit part of your trip.
Making Room for a Pint on Your Alaska Trip
Juneau’s breweries give you a genuinely fun, low-pressure way to experience the local side of the city, whether you are a devoted craft beer fan or just looking for a cozy place to warm up after a day of adventuring. Each spot has its own story, from the historic legacy of Alaskan Brewing to the scenic patio pours at Forbidden Peak, and every pint comes with a side of that unmistakable Alaskan scenery.
When you are mapping out your trip, carve out an hour or two to slow down and sip something local. Grab a flight, chat with the bartender, and toast to being in one of the most beautiful places in the country.
If you want to make a night of it, staying at the Silverbow Inn puts you right in the heart of downtown, steps from the walkable brewery scene. It is a simple, memorable way to make your Juneau visit feel a little fuller, and honestly, it is the kind of small moment that makes a big trip.
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