Craft Brews & Epic Views: Juneau’s Brewery & Sightseeing Tour!

Juneau’s best beer experience pairs three very different breweries with a quick look at the town beyond the cruise-port center. You’ll taste local beer, hear stories about Juneau, and reach Auke Bay, an area many short visits miss.

I like the generous tastings and the small maximum of 14 people. I also like the mix of brewery time and sightseeing, especially Forbidden Peak and the whale statue at Overstreet Park. The main tradeoff is that the Mendenhall Glacier stop is brief and viewed from a distance, so this is not a substitute for a full glacier outing.

Key things to know

• Three brewery stops: Taste a signature flight at Devil’s Club, Alaskan Brewing, and Forbidden Peak.
• Auke Bay access: Forbidden Peak gives you a look at a local part of Juneau that many short visits do not reach.
• About 10 beer pours: The exact number can vary, but one tasting flight at each brewery can add up to a substantial amount.
• Short scenic pauses: Brotherhood Bridge offers views of Mendenhall Glacier, the river, and nearby towers.
• Small group size: The tour accepts no more than 14 people, making conversation with the guide easier.
• Food included: Chips and kelp salsa from Barnacle Foods are served at Alaskan Brewing.

Three breweries, one Juneau afternoon

This tour works because it does not treat Juneau as just a place to pass through on the way to a glacier. You get a taste of the local brewing scene, then move through downtown, the road toward Auke Bay, and the waterfront.

The experience lasts about 3 hours 45 minutes. That is long enough for three brewery visits and a few sightseeing stops, but short enough to fit into a busy day in Juneau. You meet at Elizabeth Peratrovich Plaza and return there at the end.

The tour is offered in English, and the price is $159 per person. That is not a bargain basement beer crawl, but the cost includes three signature flights, snacks, guide service, sightseeing, and the small-group format. If you would otherwise pay separately for several brewery tastings and local transportation, the package can make good sense.

One practical point matters: you are tasting at three stops. Even if each pour is modest, the total can be more than you expect. Eat beforehand, pace yourself, and tell your guide what kinds of beer you prefer. One guide, Scott, was specifically praised for adjusting flights to suit personal tastes.

Devil’s Club Brewing starts the tasting

Devil’s Club Brewing is usually the first stop. It sits in downtown Juneau and offers an easy introduction to the city’s independent beer scene.

The stop lasts about 45 minutes, with admission included. You should expect a signature flight and time to learn about the brewery’s beers. The setting is described as friendly and creative, which gives this first visit a more personal feel than a quick tasting counter.

This is also a useful opening stop because it places you in the middle of Juneau before the tour heads beyond downtown. If you arrive early, Elizabeth Peratrovich Plaza is a sensible place to get oriented, though the meeting-point directions deserve close attention. One person had some trouble finding the exact starting spot, so check the booking information carefully before you set out.

Alaskan Brewing brings the name recognition

Next comes Alaskan Brewing Company, Juneau’s original craft brewery, which has been brewing since 1986. This is the largest-name stop on the route and the one most likely to feel familiar to people who know Alaska’s beer scene.

Its purpose-built taproom offers a warm setting outside downtown. You get another signature flight, plus chips and kelp salsa from Barnacle Foods. That small snack is useful, since the tour involves several tastings and the food gives you something solid between pours.

The Alaskan Brewing visit also adds context. You are not only drinking beer from a local producer, you are seeing a long-running part of Juneau’s brewing story. The stop feels more established than Devil’s Club, while the next brewery offers yet another style.

Brotherhood Bridge gives you a quick glacier pause

The stop at Brotherhood Bridge lasts about 10 minutes. From here, you can see Mendenhall Glacier, the river, and the surrounding towers.

This is a scenic break, not a glacier excursion. The glacier is viewed from a distance, and the visit is too short for a substantial walk or extended photo session. That distinction matters if Mendenhall is your top reason for visiting Juneau.

I see the stop as a useful bonus. It breaks up the brewery visits and gives you a quick look at one of Juneau’s major natural sights without turning the afternoon into a full sightseeing trip. Bring a phone or camera, but keep your expectations realistic. If you want close glacier views, trails, or more time outdoors, you will need a separate plan.

Forbidden Peak reaches Auke Bay

Forbidden Peak Brewing is the final brewery stop and, for me, one of the most interesting parts of the route. It sits above the harbor in Auke Bay, outside the main downtown zone.

The brewery is popular with local residents and is not a standard stop for many people visiting Juneau for only a few hours. That gives the outing a more local feel. You are seeing a working part of the community rather than staying only in the area built around short visits.

The stop lasts about 45 minutes and includes another signature flight. The setting above the harbor adds scenery, while the brewery itself gives you a different point of comparison with the first two stops. Tasting three breweries in one afternoon makes it easier to notice how each place handles styles, flavors, and presentation.

Guide quality matters here. Steve is a brewer as well as a guide, and Scott, Katie, and Derek have also been associated with this experience. Their roles go beyond handing out samples. They can explain the beer, answer questions, and add local background as the tour moves between stops.

Overstreet Park ends with a whale

The final stop is Overstreet Park, home of Juneau’s well-known whale statue. The statue was commissioned by local community leaders and completed in 2018. It has quickly become one of the city’s most popular waterfront photo stops.

You get about 10 minutes here. That is enough to see the artwork and take pictures, though not enough for a long waterfront stroll. It is a fitting end because it shifts the focus from beer to public art and Juneau’s connection with the water.

The stop also helps round out the tour. You see downtown, a major brewery, Auke Bay, a glacier viewpoint, and the waterfront. None of these stops receives a full afternoon on its own, but together they give you a broad taste of Juneau.

What the beer tasting includes

You receive one signature flight at each of the three breweries. The exact contents can change, and one tasting may include a style you would not normally order. That is part of the fun, but it is also wise to tell the guide if you dislike sour beer, very hoppy beer, or darker styles.

The pours can be more generous than the word tasting suggests. A flight at each brewery may total around 10 individual samples, depending on the selections. If you are not used to drinking several beers in one sitting, pace yourself and use the included snacks.

Youth tickets do not include alcoholic beverages. The supplied information does not state what alternative drink, if any, is provided for younger participants, so confirm that detail before booking for a family group.

The tour provider is Alaska On Tap. The experience is conducted in English, and the maximum group size is 14 people. That is small enough for questions and conversation without promising a private tour.

Why the $159 price can make sense

At first glance, $159 is a serious price for an afternoon tasting. The value depends on what you want from the outing.

The fee covers three brewery admissions and flights, snacks at Alaskan Brewing, guide service, transportation between the stops, and the sightseeing portion. It also saves you the work of deciding how to connect downtown Juneau with Auke Bay and the brewery outside the center.

You are paying for access and structure as much as for beer. Forbidden Peak is not the sort of stop many short-term visitors reach on their own, and a local guide adds background about the area and the breweries. The tour also ends where it begins, which keeps the afternoon simple.

The price is harder to justify if you only want one or two beers, already know Juneau well, or mainly want a close Mendenhall Glacier experience. In that case, a dedicated glacier activity or a few independent brewery visits may fit better. For someone who wants beer, local conversation, and a quick sample of several parts of Juneau, the package offers solid value.

The guides shape the experience

The strongest part of this outing is likely to be the guide. Steve is described as an accomplished brewmaster, while Scott is known for local stories, humor, brewery knowledge, and personal introductions. Katie and Derek have also led the tour.

That range matters because the route includes driving time and transitions between stops. A good guide fills those gaps with useful information about Juneau, local life, brewing, and the places outside the downtown core.

You should feel free to ask questions and mention your beer preferences early. The tour is more rewarding when the guide knows what you enjoy. It is also worth remembering that guide experiences can differ, so booking this tour means choosing the route and format, not guaranteeing a particular guide.

Who should book this Juneau tour

I would choose this experience if you:

• Like craft beer and want more than a single taproom visit.
• Want to see parts of Juneau beyond the main tourist center.
• Prefer a guided outing with transportation between several stops.
• Enjoy local stories, public art, harbor views, and short scenic pauses.
• Have roughly four hours available and want an organized afternoon.

I would look elsewhere if you:

• Do not drink alcohol and are not interested in brewery culture.
• Want a long hike or close view of Mendenhall Glacier.
• Prefer to set your own pace at each brewery.
• Need a fully private tour.
• Have limited time and cannot risk an afternoon activity lasting nearly four hours.

The tour is near public transportation, and most people can participate. Still, it involves several brewery visits and brief outdoor stops, so dress for Juneau’s changeable conditions and wear comfortable shoes.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes made inside that window are not accepted, and the tour requires a minimum number of participants. If that minimum is not reached, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

Should you book Craft Brews and Epic Views?

Book it if you want a social, beer-centered way to see Juneau with a few useful scenic stops mixed in. The best reasons are the three different breweries, the out-of-the-way visit to Forbidden Peak, and the guide’s local perspective.

Do not book it expecting a serious glacier tour. Brotherhood Bridge is a short viewpoint stop, and the glacier remains distant. But if you want good local beer, a small group, a taste of Auke Bay, and a relaxed afternoon that returns to downtown, this is one of the more distinctive ways to spend your time in Juneau.

FAQ

How long does the Juneau brewery tour last?

The tour lasts approximately 3 hours and 45 minutes.

Where does the tour begin and end?

It begins at Elizabeth Peratrovich Plaza in Juneau and ends back at the same meeting point.

Which breweries are included?

The route includes Devil’s Club Brewing Company, Alaskan Brewing Company, and Forbidden Peak Brewery.

Are beer tastings included in the price?

Yes. One signature tasting flight is included at each brewery stop.

Is food included?

Yes. Chips and kelp salsa from Barnacle Foods are provided while you are at Alaskan Brewing Company.

Does the tour visit Mendenhall Glacier?

The tour stops at Brotherhood Bridge for views of Mendenhall Glacier, the river, and the surrounding towers. It does not provide a full glacier visit.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can receive a full refund by canceling at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours in advance are not accepted for a refund.