Alaskan Brewing’s Latest Combines Heaps of Hops and Bountiful Berries
Alaskan Brewing Co.
Berry Milkshake IPA latest in Alaskan Brewing pilot series
The bright and bountiful berries of Alaska inspired a pairing with the smooth vanilla creaminess of a milkshake IPA for Alaskan Brewing’s newest Pilot Series offering, Berry Milkshake IPA.
“Our concept was to make a milkshake IPA that first and foremost was still an IPA,” said Alaskan Quality Assurance Analyst Blake Hass, who worked with Brewer Greg Morgan on the first experimental versions of the beer. “We wanted it to have complex layered flavors, where you would taste the hoppy IPA qualities up front, and then the fruit flavors would fill in with vanilla rounding out the finish.”
Wild strawberries ripening along the shorelines and grasslands of Alaska’s wilderness are a mid to late summer treat enjoyed by humans and all manner of wild birds and animals. Berry Milkshake IPA also adds blackberries to bring in a tart and tangy component that counterbalances the smooth vanilla flavor.
“Our hop selection was an interesting part of the process,” said Morgan. “We wanted to accentuate the berry flavors, so we ended up using the fairly new and really delicious Sabro hop, plus we wanted some citrus quality so we also added Citra.”
Current Issue
September 2026
Berry Milkshake IPA is 7% ABV and contains lactose that provides the soft and silky mouthfeel that are the hallmarks of this style. “Think along the lines of a hopped-up vanilla milkshake with a drizzle of berry syrup,” said Hass. “The lactose and berries contribute just enough sweetness to balance the bitterness of the hops.”
This latest edition of the Alaskan Pilot Series will be in stores starting in August and will be available through October. It will be available in most of the twenty-five states where Alaskan is distributed. The best way to see if it is at a nearby location is to check the Alaskan Brewing Beerfinder at alaskanbeer.com/find-our-beer.
What happens when a city with fewer than 300 residents becomes a major freight and tourism hub, despite being accessible only by boat, plane, or a one-lane highway/railroad tunnel managed on a strict schedule?
If you’re in the City of Whittier, you get busy. The city has two separate transportation planning efforts underway, including a safety action plan under the federal Safe Streets and Roads for All initiative, which focuses on improving safety for pedestrians, cyclists, motorists, and emergency responders. The second is Whittier Moves, the city’s transportation master plan, which serves as the long-term roadmap for growth.