Background – 49th State Brewing Healy
Jason Motyka, 26 years old at the time and a lifelong Alaskan purchased the Salmon Bake in Denali Park in 2005. Motyka had turned the restaurant into a popular spot when David McCarthy, while on vacation, rode up on his motorcycle in 2006. McCarthy, who was trained in the culinary arts in Chicago and Motyka, hit it off and McCarthy ended up staying for the summer as a cook, and then joined the company. Between 2009 and 2014, Motyka and McCarthy established the other businesses in Denali Park and Healy including restaurants, rental cabins, an RV park and market.
In 2009 McCarthy attended the Seibel Institute in Chicago for his first round of brewing school. He came back and 49th State Brewing Company got its start in Healy in 2010. Once the brewery was up and running, he went to Germany to finish his education. Over the next few years they continued to increase equipment and still couldn’t keep up with demand.
49th State Brewing Anchorage
With the properties around Denali only open between April and October, the pair had always looked to move into Fairbanks or Anchorage. In 2015 49th State Brewing purchased a restaurant / brewery in Anchorage. After a complete remodel, 49th State Anchorage opened on the Fourth of July in 2016. The Anchorage facility was almost an overnight success. Most recently in late 2018, 49th State purchased another building in Anchorage to be used for a production facility.
Experience
After landing in Anchorage, this is the first brewery I experienced in Alaska. The brewpub is a huge restaurant brewery. We grabbed a table and ordered a flight. The beer drinking laws in Alaska are like none I have encountered. Standalone breweries must close by 8pm. Restaurants serving beer and bars can be open later. And, each brewery can only serve 36 ounces of beer to each patron. Many places pour 12 oz. beers so you can have 3. My favorite was 907 Frontier Style LAGER, a smoked lager. Interesting rustic interior at 49th State with cool moose and caribou skulls on the walls. The best brewery I found in Anchorage, although I did not get to Alaskan Brewing Company.
There is a Hilton Anchorage right down the street on W 3rd avenue. Also visit our review of Matanuska at http://searchfortheholyale.com/matanuska-brewing-company-archorage-ak/
https://www.49statebrewing.com/
