Anchorage Hosts 2026 Alaska Craft Brew and Barley Wine Festival

The Alaska Craft Brew & Barley Wine Festival arrives in Anchorage on January 30 and 31, 2026, running multiple sessions across two days including a Friday evening session and two sessions on Saturday. Organizers say the festival will pour more than 250 beverages from Alaskan and Pacific Northwest producers, expanding beyond beer to include ciders, meads, seltzers, wines and a growing slate of non-alcoholic options.

The festival’s barley-wine competition is a centerpiece attraction and one of the few such contests held in the United States. That focus on high-ABV, specialty winter styles sits alongside a deliberate effort to widen the event’s appeal. Live local music, a variety of food vendors, and family-style festival features such as games and activities are slated to create a more inclusive atmosphere for attendees who want more than tasting samples.

For homebrewers, brewers and regional producers, the festival presents a concentrated audience in the heart of Anchorage’s convention district. Smaller craft operations from across the region will be able to showcase seasonal releases and barrel-aged offerings, while consumers get a rare opportunity to compare barleywines and winter warmers side by side. The inclusion of ciders, meads and seltzers reflects ongoing trends in the craft beverage scene and offers a practical route for attendees who prefer lower-alcohol or alternative formats.

Tickets are available through the festival’s official platform. Organizers warn of ticket resale scams and encourage buyers to purchase only through authorized channels to avoid counterfeit or inflated tickets. Given the event’s multi-session format and the volume of offerings, buying a session ticket early is recommended to secure access to preferred time slots and special pours.

The festival also has implications for Anchorage’s winter calendar, drawing visitors during a quieter tourism season and supporting local vendors and musicians. For those planning to attend, check the festival’s official platform for session times, vendor lists and any updates on non-alcoholic programming. The mix of a rare barley-wine competition and expanded beverage categories makes the event a practical, celebratory stop for anyone following craft beer and the evolving craft beverage landscape in the region.