Great northern explorer (Alaskan Brewing) arrives in CBB’s home state (Ohio)

Alaskan Brewing Co. gets it. As Ohio goes, so goes the nation. Hence: Alaskan Brewing, one of the pioneers of the craft beer movement and the nation’s 22nd-largest craft brewery, has officially arrived in the Buckeye State in July with the launch of a range of products sure to excite Ohio beer drinkers (and thus the nation). The tasty voyage begins with a ceremonial first pour at 5:30 p.m. on July 15 at Jungle Jim’s International Market located at 5440 Dixie Hwy in Fairfield, Ohio (a cool location near Cincinnati). The celebration expands into a full launch statewide the week of July 18.

Ohio represents the eastern-most migration for the Juneau-based brewer, and its most recent geographical expansion since Michigan was added in 2014. With the addition of Ohio, Alaskan Brewing beer can now be found in 18 states across the Midwest, Northwest and Western regions.

“This is a big milestone for us because Ohio is home to some great craft beers, and because of that there are a lot of really well educated beer drinkers,” said Andy Kline, communications manager for Alaskan Brewing. “We love the opportunity to introduce our beer to enthusiasts who value quality. We started in 1986, and we still brew and bottle everything in Juneau, Alaska — so we’ve gained a unique perspective that we believe beer lovers appreciate.”

Alaskan Brewing has routinely earned top scores from leading trade publications, including a “world class” ranking from leading publication Beer Advocate for the company’s Hopothermia (American Double/Imperial IPA) recipe as well as an “outstanding” rank for its Icy Bay IPA (India Pale Ale). Both will be introduced in Ohio this month.

The full list of new beers available in Ohio includes: Amber (Alt Style Ale), Kicker (Session IPA), Icy Bay IPA (India Pale Ale), Hopothermia (American Double/Imperial IPA) and a rotating number of seasonal ales. In addition, Ohio consumers will be able to buy two different variety packs to sample a wide array of brews.

Alaskan Brewing is also recognized as a leader in innovation, as the only brewery in the world to use its spent grain as the sole fuel source in a boiler that creates the steam that powers the brewhouse. By reusing what would otherwise be a waste product left over from the brewing process, Alaskan creates beer powered by beer.

“That innovative approach comes from our founders and can be directly traced to the people who have always lived and thrived in Alaska — you either invent new approaches, or you don’t make it,” said Kline. “Those challenges continue to inspire us, and we try to put a little bit of that inspiration and a little bit of Alaska in every bottle of beer we brew.”

Alaskan Brewing will partner with a number of distributors to introduce its beer to watering holes and retailers across the state, including Columbus Distributing, Heidelberg Distributing, House of La Rose, Matesich Distributing and R.L. Lipton Distributing.