Few beers capture the essence of Alaska better than 49^th State Brewing Smōk. This smoked Lager conjures up visions of sitting by a campfire, chowing on some smoked salmon and watching the northern lights.

German Tradition, Alaskan Vibes

Smōk is modeled after German Rauchbiers. The reddish/copper-colored beer starts out pretty standard, with good carbonation and head retention. The first whiff from the glass brings a strong, smoky aroma with a mellow scent like smoked Gouda.

Sipping the beer releases more smoky, savory flavor, reminiscent of a wood smoker cooking pulled pork or chicken. There’s even a hint of char lurking behind the scenes along with a slight bitterness. The intense flavors all do a slow fade into mellow barbecue notes before arriving at a subtle smoky aftertaste.

49^th State Brewing Smōk is definitely an Alaska thing, as few breweries would have the courage to make a smoke beer one of their flagships. The brewery’s commitment to the beer has certainly paid off. Smōk has won multiple medals between the Great American Beer Fest and the World Beer Cup.

Rustic Taprooms

49th State’s woodsy taprooms in Anchorage and outside Denali National Park in Healy, Alaska, pair nicely with Smōk’s outdoors vibe. The Healy taproom is paneled with birch logs and numerous heads of dead things hang on the walls. Out front there’s a massive biergarden with firepits and a stage. On a chilly fall night the Healy location was the happening place in town, though sadly it just closed for the 2024 season.

The gigantic downtown Anchorage location has a little more polish but continues the rustic theme. The multi-level facility includes a huge biergarden, and outdoor roof top decks provide gorgeous views of the Cook Inlet and surrounding mountains on rare clear days.

49^th State Brewing Smōk — Intense Experience

There’s no denying that 49^th State Brewing Smōk is a ruggedly intense beer — my taste buds definitely felt fatigue about halfway through. And of course smoke beers can be polarizing. However even if they’re not your thing, this beer deserves a 4oz taster to appreciate the brewing skill and complexity. Its flavors are so tasty and unique that I couldn’t help but get another the next time I was at 49^th State.

All photos courtesy of Scott Grossman.

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