Alaskan Birch Bock Doppelbock Wins GABF Silver Medal

JUNEAU, Alaska –Alaskan Brewing Co. was awarded a silver medal in the Specialty Beer category this morning at the world’s largest commercial beer competition, the 31^st annual Great American Beer Festival (GABF) in Denver, Colorado.

Alaskan Brewing’s Birch Bock Doppelbock-Style Ale took Silver in the Specialty Beer Category. Birch Bock was released in March 2012 as part of Alaskan Brewing’s Limited Edition Pilot Series. The Specialty Beer category focuses on beers brewed using, as the GABF’s style description indicates, "unusual fermentable sugars." "The distinctive characters of these special ingredients should be evident either in the aroma, flavor or overall balance of the beer."

Birch Bock, a Doppelbock-style ale, does just this, showcasing the rich and spicy notes of 100% Alaska birch syrup harvested in the state’s interior forests by the Alaska Birch Syrup Company and Kahiltna Birchworks. The tawny, copper-colored ale is marked by a lightly malty delicate earthy and floral sweetness.

"Birch Syrup from Alaska is a truly rare and surprising gourmet ingredient so we thought ‘why not create a brew that specifically showcased that great flavor?’" said Alaskan Brewing Co-Founder Marcy Larson. "It’s rewarding to see our hard work and commitment to sharing the flavors of Alaska recognized at the world’s largest beer competition," she continued, adding "The great thing about this beer is that it is really representative of Alaskan history and flavors."
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