Scooter's Bar Journal » Fairbanks

The Local @ FAI

scooterj — Sun, 01 Dec 2019 18:10:00 +0000

(Fairbanks International Airport, Fairbanks, AK)

Scooter’s 1422nd bar, first visited in 2019.

This was not an intended destination, but our flight was delayed by a couple of hours. It was clear that they don’t normally expect a couple hundred stranded people here first thing on a Sunday morning so there was only one employee handling all of the jobs.

I never got a chance to take a picture as I was running back and forth between here and the gate counter, so the pic here is stolen from the airport’s Facebook page.

Not wanting beer this early in the morning, I had a couple of Coffee & Bailey’s.

6450 Airport Way
Fairbanks, AK 99709
United States
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(907) 205-3306
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Lavelle’s Bistro

scooterj — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 18:11:00 +0000

(Downtown, Fairbanks, AK)

Scooter’s 1421st bar, first visited in 2019.

We had started to come here for dinner the previous night, but we were dressed in snow gear and felt uncomfortable about it. We were better dressed for it tonight. It’s a pretty upscale place, located on the ground floor of the Springhill Suites and accessible only through the hotel lobby.

There was a birthday party underway next to us which made things pretty loud initially, but they left about 30 minutes into our visit and after that it was largely empty.

Starving, we had ourselves a full spread of bar appetizers. Beer-wise, I had a Hop Dog IPA by Midnight Sun Brewing.

Note the huge amount of wine offerings…

575 1st Ave
Fairbanks, AK 99701
United States
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(907) 450-0555
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Aurora Ice Bar

scooterj — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 18:10:00 +0000

(Chena Hot Springs Resort, Fairbanks, AK)

Scooter’s 1420th bar, first visited in 2019.

At 99.9 miles south of the Arctic Circle, this is the new northernmost bar I’ve ever been to.

Since the bar is located inside the Aurora Ice Museum, it is only accessible during one of the five daily museum tours. And there’s only one drink served, a $15 apple martini. It’s the martini glass made out of ice, served at a bar made entirely out of ice while you sit on a barstool made of ice, that’s the true experience.

17600 Chena Hot Springs Rd
Fairbanks, AK 99711
United States
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(907) 451-8104
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Bobby’s Downtown

scooterj — Fri, 29 Nov 2019 18:16:00 +0000

(Downtown, Fairbanks, AK)

Scooter’s 1419th bar, first visited in 2019.

While we were at Mecca Bar we mentioned that we were looking for a place to get dinner. Bobby’s was the overwhelming recommendation, and as it turned out the owner was standing right next to us at the time. We were advised to sit at the bar, as some of the best food specials are only available at the bar.

Technically it’s a Greek restaurant, though the only thing Greek about what either of us ordered was the name of my pizza.

Beer-wise I had a Chuli Stout by Denali Brewing. Food wise, see below!

Back home, an ice bar would be considered a perk. Here, the bar rail is heated and believe me that was a very much appreciated touch!

The Aegean Sea — halibut, swordfish, and shrimp on a pizza. I would not get it again, but it was something I had to try because when would I get another chance?

609 2nd Ave
Fairbanks, AK 99701
United States
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(907) 456-3222
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Mecca Bar

scooterj — Fri, 29 Nov 2019 18:15:00 +0000

(Downtown, Fairbanks, AK)

Scooter’s 1418th bar, first visited in 2019.

We didn’t get a chance to visit Mecca when we were here in 2018, but in preparing for both visits I had numerous people tell me to avoid Mecca Bar.

Well, all that did was make me want to go all the more.

Know what? We had a good time here. The bartender was friendly and funny, and the regulars were friendly and welcoming as well. It was a pretty typical dive bar experience.

The only thing I noticed is that this is obviously a bar that the locals hang out in, specifically the Alaskan natives. To which I say, so what? I’ve been to plenty of bars where I was the only customer of my ethnicity, and that doesn’t diminish from the bar experience whatsoever.

I had an Alaskan Amber and some shots.

549 2nd Ave
Fairbanks, AK 99701
United States
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(907) 456-6320
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The Library Bar & Bites

scooterj — Fri, 29 Nov 2019 18:14:00 +0000

(Downtown, Fairbanks, AK)
Formerly Alaska Rag Company

Scooter’s 1417th bar, first visited in 2019.

The name made us think this would be a nice quiet place to get some drinks and a bite to eat. Instead it was the noisiest bar of the entire trip so we didn’t stay very long.

I had a Mat Maid (milk stout) by Bearpaw River Brewing Company. It wasn’t what I had actually ordered, it was so loud in there that the bartender misunderstood me. But I was perfectly fine with this accidental selection.

Apparently they had only opened for business two weeks before we visited!

603 Lacey St
Fairbanks, AK 99701
United States
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(907) 457-1141
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HooDoo Brewing Company

scooterj — Fri, 29 Nov 2019 18:13:00 +0000

(Fairbanks, AK)

Scooter’s 1416th bar, first visited in 2019.

This is one that I was unable to make it to the last time I was in Fairbanks, so I was glad to get another chance! (Little did I know it was right across the street from the train station I had used in our previous visit.)

They have a really nice patio out front with a fire pit. Despite it being snowy and dark we stayed outside, it was quite pleasant and the snow kept the beer cold.

I had their XPA, their IPA, their Vanilla Porter, and ther Stout.

1951 Fox Ave
Fairbanks, AK 99701
United States
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(907) 459-2337
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Black Spruce Brewing Company

scooterj — Fri, 29 Nov 2019 18:12:00 +0000

(Fairbanks, AK)

Scooter’s 1415th bar, first visited in 2019.

Came in here after snowmobiling. I’m not used to the whole arctic winter thing, it felt late at night to me but I think it was still technically late afternoon or early evening.

I had their Aroma Dome IPA, their Vernal Buzz Milk Stout With Coffee & Vanilla, and their Long Nights Imperial Stout (2019).

3290 Peger Rd
Fairbanks, AK 99709
United States
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(907) 328-0448
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Ivory Jack’s

scooterj — Fri, 29 Nov 2019 18:10:00 +0000

(Ester, Fairbanks, AK)

Scooter’s 1414th bar, first visited in 2019.

We came here for lunch after a morning of dog sledding. Good bar food, good beer selection, and seating for a lot of people. We had a really nice visit here.

I had a King Street Stout. I wanted more, but we were going to ride snowmobiles next and I was nervous enough as it was without worryiong about me being buzzed.

It was unclear to me whether they have outdoor seating, since any such seating would have been taken down for the winter. I’m thinking not know since they had signs prohibiting drinks from being taken out on the deck.

2581 Goldstream Rd
Fairbanks, AK 99709
United States
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(907) 455-6665
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The Boatel

scooterj — Sat, 26 May 2018 17:12:00 +0000

(Fairbanks, AK)

Scooter’s 1240th bar, first visited in 2018.

There’s a fireplace inside, and outside there’s a stage and a deck overlooking the Chena River.

I had a Hopothermia by Alaskan Brewing Co.

3368 Riverside Dr
Fairbanks, AK 99708
US
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(907) 479-6537
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Midnight Mine

scooterj — Sat, 26 May 2018 17:10:00 +0000

(Downtown, Fairbanks, AK)

Scooter’s 1239th bar, first visited in 2018.

I never would have guessed that the very first bar I would ever visit in Alaska would be my favorite of the entire trip! Of course, it didn’t hurt that the bartender handed us a puppy when we sat down!

This is a two-story bar, with the basement level (the main level) done up quite well to look like an old gold mine.

There’s a pateio area out back. Inside there is a pool table, darts, foosball, and lots of TVs.

I had a Twister Creek IPA by Denali Brewing Company.

308 Wendell Ave
Fairbanks, AK 99701
US
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(907) 456-5348
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