Healy’s Mt. Marathon N/A Is Nobody’s Folly

Photo by 49th State Brewing Company

The N/A revolution extends to our northernmost border, thanks to the 49th State Brewing Company.

Alaska’s Notable N/A: Mount Marathon N/A IPA, made by 49th State Brewing Company.

If you thought N/A beer brewing in the U.S. was limited to the contiguous 48 states, then you thought wrong. Started in a converted Healy bus barn in 2010, 49th State Brewing Company would only brew one barrel at a time in the early days when fans would drive from two hours away in Fairbanks to get hands on their brews, only for some to find out it was already gone before they arrived. Located away from any traditional supply chain, the brewery leaned on their local surroundings and resources for the original taproom, which features wood shelving made from fallen trees, and two large boulders as a community table base. And if that weren’t interesting enough, as September/October is a little late in the season for them to host a traditional Oktoberfest, they instead celebrate it in August, calling it Augtoberfest (Sober Augtober, anyone?).

The brewery’s single N/A offering, Mount Marathon N/A IPA, is believed to be the only non-alcoholic beer currently brewed in the state, and was named after the Seward, Alaska mountain that hosts one of the world’s most grueling 5K races. So if you’re a fan of great stories, running and beer, perhaps this majestic brew made from Simcoe, Citra and Idaho 7 hops is worth the trek into the beautiful Alaskan interior, or for the slightly less-adventurous, the brewery’s more accessible Anchorage location. If you do make the trip into “authentic” Alaska at the doorstep of Denali National Park (open from spring until fall, but closed every winter), you won’t want to miss their above-mentioned taproom, which in addition to their beers and many natural resources also features a collection of over 300 whiskies on display. Which may explain the need for the 49th State Campgrounds that allow you to camp for the night next door. Just make sure not to arrive any later than Augtober.