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

Beer tastes better with a glacier nearby. This 3-hour-45-minute Juneau outing joins three local breweries with scenic stops, giving you a social look at the city beyond the cruise docks. I especially like the mix of local beer and Juneau scenery, plus the small group size of no more than 14 people. The main drawback is that the Mendenhall Glacier stop is a distant viewpoint, not a close glacier visit.

I also like the guides. Scott, Steve, Katie, and Derek have all led this tour, and each brings a different mix of local stories, brewery knowledge, and good humor. You should also know that the meeting point has caused some confusion, so check your booking details carefully before setting out.

Key points to know before booking

• Three breweries in one afternoon: Taste a signature flight at Devil’s Club, Alaskan Brewing Co., and Forbidden Peak Brewery.
• A local-focused route: Forbidden Peak in Auke Bay takes you beyond the usual downtown and cruise-port circuit.
• Small groups matter: With a maximum of 14 people, it is easier to ask questions and chat with the guide.
• Two quick sightseeing stops: You will pause at Brotherhood Bridge for Mendenhall Glacier views and Overstreet Park for Juneau’s whale statue.
• Snacks are included: Chips and kelp salsa from Barnacle Foods are served at Alaskan Brewing Co.
• Budget around four hours: The $159 price is not a quick tasting crawl. It includes transportation between stops, three flights, guiding, and sightseeing.

Three breweries, two views, and one easy afternoon

This tour works because it does not force you to choose between drinking and seeing Juneau. You visit three breweries, but you also get a look at the Mendenhall area, Auke Bay, Juneau’s waterfront, and pieces of local life that are easy to miss on a short port call.

The pace is relaxed rather than rushed. Each brewery stop lasts about 45 minutes, while the two scenic stops are brief, about 10 minutes each. That means you have time to enjoy a flight and talk with the guide, but you should not expect a full brewery production tour or a long glacier walk.

The experience costs $159 per person. I see the value if you want several tastings, transportation, local commentary, and a ready-made afternoon without arranging taxis or deciding where to go next. It is less attractive if your main goal is a close view of Mendenhall Glacier or if you only want one beer in a taproom.

The tour is offered in English, uses mobile tickets, and returns to the starting point. It is often reserved far ahead, with bookings averaging about 100 days in advance, so cruise visitors should not leave it until the last minute.

Devil’s Club Brewing starts the tasting

Devil’s Club Brewing Company is usually the first stop. Its downtown location makes it a convenient opening to the day, and the brewery is described as one of Juneau’s newer and more creative beer spots.

You get a signature tasting flight here, with admission included in the tour price. The 45-minute stop gives you enough time to sample several beers rather than gulping down a single pour and moving on.

This is also where the tour begins to feel more personal than a standard sightseeing bus ride. Your guide can explain the local brewing scene and help set up what you are tasting. Steve, one of the guides, is also an accomplished brewmaster, which adds useful context when the conversation turns to beer.

Beer preferences vary, of course. One tasting can include styles you already like along with something less familiar, such as a sour. That is part of the fun, but you should be open to trying different flavors. If you prefer only familiar lagers or ales, a three-brewery tour may ask a little more of your palate.

Alaskan Brewing Co. brings Juneau’s best-known name

The second brewery stop is Alaskan Brewing Co., which has been brewing in Juneau since 1986. Its purpose-built taproom is outside the downtown core and offers a warmer, more established setting than a small neighborhood brewery.

You receive another signature flight here. The tastings can add up quickly across three stops, so pace yourself and use the time between breweries to enjoy the scenery and conversation. A review of the experience described the pours as full-sized enough to feel like more than token samples, with around ten tastes across the day, though the exact beers and pour sizes can vary.

This is also where chips and kelp salsa from Barnacle Foods are provided. That small snack matters. Beer on an empty stomach can turn a pleasant afternoon into a tiring one, especially if you are coming straight from a cruise ship or have skipped lunch.

Alaskan Brewing Co. is the most familiar name on the route, but it is not the only reason to book. I like that the tour uses this stop as a bridge between Juneau’s better-known brewery and its smaller local rooms. You get a sense of the city’s beer identity instead of seeing only one polished taproom.

Brotherhood Bridge offers a quick glacier pause

The stop at Brotherhood Bridge lasts about 10 minutes and gives you views toward Mendenhall Glacier, the river, and the surrounding towers. Bring your camera, but keep your expectations in check.

This is a scenic lookout, not a visit to the Mendenhall Glacier visitor area. The glacier can appear distant from this viewpoint, and one guest suggested trading some brewery time for a closer look. That is a fair point if glacier views are your top priority.

Still, the stop adds a useful change of pace. After two brewery visits, stepping outside for mountain and river views helps break up the tasting schedule. It also gives your guide a chance to explain the area and point out the scenery before you return to the vehicle.

I would treat Brotherhood Bridge as a bonus viewpoint rather than the central reason to book. For a close glacier experience, you need a different excursion. For a quick photo stop folded into a brewery route, it does the job.

Forbidden Peak Brewery takes you to Auke Bay

The final brewery stop is Forbidden Peak Brewing in Auke Bay. This is the tour’s most distinctive stop because it takes you away from the usual downtown route and into a place many short-term visitors would not reach on their own.

The brewery sits above the harbor in Auke Bay, giving the stop a strong sense of place. It is popular with locals, and that makes it feel different from simply visiting a taproom built for cruise traffic.

You receive a third signature flight and have about 45 minutes to enjoy it. The reviews describe the beer selections at all three breweries as varied and tasty, with some people finding nearly every pour a hit. Your guide may also adjust a flight around your likes and dislikes, although you should not assume every visit will include custom changes.

This stop may be the best fit for you if you want to see how Juneau works beyond the central tourist zone. It is not just another beer room. The trip to Auke Bay gives the day a wider reach and lets you see a harbor community that would otherwise be easy to skip.

Overstreet Park ends the route with public art

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

You get about 10 minutes here. That is enough for photos and a quick look at the waterfront, but not a long stroll along the shore. The statue is an unusual way to finish a brewery tour because it shifts the focus from beer to local public art.

I like this ending. It gives you one recognizable Juneau sight without pretending that a brewery tour is a full city tour. You leave with more than a collection of tasting notes. You have also seen a glacier viewpoint, an Auke Bay harbor setting, and a piece of the city’s modern civic identity.

The guides are a major part of the value

The most praised part of this experience is the guiding. Scott is often described as friendly, funny, and well informed about Juneau’s history and daily life. He is also comfortable introducing people to brewery owners and staff, which can make the stops feel more connected to the local scene.

Steve has strong brewing credentials and brings that background to the tastings. Katie has been praised for explaining the breweries and helping make the beer choices approachable. Derek is a local guide who offers insight into Juneau beyond the tourist areas.

The guide can shape the whole afternoon. A good guide turns travel time into useful context, helps a mixed group get along, and answers questions without making the day feel like a lecture. This tour seems to rely heavily on that personal touch, so the exact mood may vary by departure.

The maximum group size is 14. That is large enough to create a social atmosphere but small enough that you can usually ask a question without shouting across a bus. Solo visitors may appreciate the built-in company, while couples and families can join without committing to a huge group outing.

What the $159 price really buys you

At $159, this is not the cheapest way to drink beer in Juneau. You could visit one downtown brewery on your own for far less. The price makes more sense when you count the whole package.

You receive a flight at each of three breweries, transportation between downtown, the Alaskan Brewing area, Auke Bay, Brotherhood Bridge, and Overstreet Park, plus a guide for nearly four hours. Chips and kelp salsa are also included.

The tour saves you from planning a route across Juneau. That matters because the breweries are not all in the same part of town. You also avoid the problem of drinking and driving, since the guide handles the movement between stops.

I consider it fair value for people who want a planned social afternoon and several tastings. It is a weaker deal for anyone who does not drink much, wants extensive time at the glacier, or prefers to explore at an independent pace.

Youth tickets do not include beverages. That makes the tour possible for mixed-age groups, but the main appeal remains the beer. Families should consider how enjoyable three brewery stops will be for anyone who is not drinking.

Practical details that can affect your day

The tour begins at Elizabeth Peratrovich Plaza in Juneau and ends back at the same meeting point. One person found the meeting location confusing, so check the exact instructions on your confirmation and allow time to find the plaza.

Confirmation arrives when you book, and the experience is near public transportation. Most people can participate, and the tour is conducted in English.

Each brewery stop lasts about 45 minutes. The Brotherhood Bridge and Overstreet Park stops are much shorter, about 10 minutes each. The full outing takes approximately 3 hours and 45 minutes, so leave enough room before any ship departure or other fixed appointment.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund. The tour also requires a minimum number of people, so if that minimum is not met, you will be offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

Who should book this Juneau brewery tour?

I would recommend it to you if you enjoy craft beer, like meeting local guides, and want a structured way to see more of Juneau. It is especially useful during a short port visit, when you want a dependable route instead of piecing together three breweries and scenic stops yourself.

It also suits solo visitors and couples who enjoy casual conversation. The small group helps, and the tastings give people an easy topic to share. If you like local food and drink more than formal sightseeing, this is a natural fit.

You should think twice if your priority is Mendenhall Glacier. The Brotherhood Bridge view is worthwhile, but it is distant and brief. You should also skip it if you want a quiet, private afternoon, since the group format and tastings are central to the experience.

Should you book Craft Brews and Epic Views?

Book this tour if you want three local beer stops, a friendly guide, and a broad taste of Juneau in one afternoon. The strongest reasons to go are the Auke Bay visit, the personable guides, the small group, and the simple mix of beer and scenery.

Do not book it expecting a full glacier excursion or an in-depth brewery production tour. The glacier stop is short, and the day is built around tasting flights and conversation.

For the right person, $159 buys a convenient, good-humored introduction to Juneau’s brewing scene with a few memorable views along the way. If that sounds like your kind of sightseeing, reserve early and confirm the meeting point before you go.

FAQ

How long does the Juneau brewery tour last?

The experience lasts approximately 3 hours and 45 minutes.

How many breweries does the tour visit?

The tour visits three breweries: Devil’s Club Brewing Company, Alaskan Brewing Co., and Forbidden Peak Brewery.

Are beer tastings included?

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

Are snacks included?

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

Does the tour visit Mendenhall Glacier?

The tour stops at Brotherhood Bridge for views of Mendenhall Glacier, the river, and nearby towers. This is a viewpoint stop, not a close visit to the glacier.

Where does the tour begin and end?

The tour begins at Elizabeth Peratrovich Plaza in Juneau and ends back at the meeting point.

What happens if I need to cancel?

You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.