Outside of the main town of Skagway sits a little
restaurant and brewery called Goldrush.
The walls are covered in the signatures of patrons and out back runs a
river giving you one of the most gorgeous views I have had while tasting
beer. The food is pretty good too!
I visited Goldrush Brewery on what was probably one
of the sunniest days I had my whole Alaska season. After the trek out there and a little bit of sight seeing
along the way I was ready for the 5 beer flight set before me. Here are my tasting notes:
Smuggler’s Cove IPA
At 8% this is the strongest beer the brewery
offers. Gold in colour with a low
head it smells of cider and is a touch solventy. The taste is bitter to start with a sweet, light apple after
taste.
Fireweed Honey
This is the brewery’s most popular brew using local
fireweed. It is clear gold in
colour with a low head. This has a
hoppy aroma with an alcohol background.
The hoppy bitterness continues in the flavour, as does the alcohol hit
with a slight sweetness. I would have liked a little bit more of
the honey to come through though.
Gold Dredge Red
Not the best red I’ve had but not a bad little
offering. Dark amber orange with a
low head this has a warm malty sweet aroma which carries through in the taste.
Blue Collar
This wheat beer was refreshing. It is cloudy and light gold in colour
with a soft floral aroma with a touch of marmalade. It is very carbonated with a light wheat flavour and a
grainy linger.
Coffee Stout
This was my favourite from this brewery. Dark brown, almost black in colour with
a dense tan head it has a strong aroma of hazelnut and coffee. When tasting it begins with a
bitterness that is followed by a coffee taste leading into a roasty burnt
flavour ending in a nutty sweetness.
If you are in Skagway, although it is a bit of a trek
out of town the Goldrush Brewery is a good little stop to make with friendly
staff and some fun activities nearby also.
