Glacier Brewhouse

February 1, 2010

Written by Michelle McKinley, Anchorage reporter for RateitAnchorage

If you're looking for a popular, well known place to sit down for a comfortable meal with friends, the Glacier Brewhouse will probably be among the first places recommended to you by Anchorage locals. The popular downtown brewery has long been a center of activity for both locals and tourists who want to sample fare from throughout Alaska and the lower forty eight.

The real claim to fame for the brewhouse is its wide array of different in-house beers and barleywines, popular throughout the region and recently the recipients of a number of awards. It's those very beers you'll first smell when you walk into the open space of the Brewhouse on west 5th Avenue in downtown Anchorage. The wood beamed, rustic theme fits the expectations of many Anchorage visitors nicely, and the heady aroma of the in-house brewery is invigorating for any brewery hopping diners.

You’ll quickly find that the Glacier Brewhouse is almost never "quiet," as it is far too popular and generally noisy on all but the deadest of nights in the middle of winter. The cuisine, which is sampled from a variety of American options includes everything from simple barbecue ribs to seafood chowder and fettuccine. You'll find their "world famous" bread pudding proudly displayed on the dessert menu, and of course, there is the beer, which is well known not only in Alaska but throughout America as an award winning barleywine.

The atmosphere is only further enhanced by the open kitchen setting of the brewery, showcasing the hard working chefs as they prepare your dinner. The rustic atmosphere and relaxing surroundings are further enhanced by the open fireplaces and the glass wall separating the restaurant from the in-house brewery. The Glacier Brewhouse is open from 11am-10pm most days. On Sundays, it is open only from 12pm-9:30pm and on Fridays and Saturdays it is open from 11am-11pm. For those interested in a weekend brunch option, you can visit the Orso, located next door and operated by the same owners. Offering a quieter, more intimate dining experience, the food there is equally as good as at the Glacier.

Whether you're a frequent traveller looking for a variety of options in the heart of downtown Anchorage or a fervent fan of in-house brewing, the Glacier Brewhouse has a bit of everything for every diner, one of the prime reasons it has become one of the premiere destinations for anyone staying in Anchorage for even a short time.