Scooter's Bar Journal » Downtown

Red Dog Saloon

scooterj — Sat, 13 May 2023 17:13:00 +0000

(Downtown, Juneau, AK)

Scooter’s 1655th bar, first visited in 2023.

This Old West themed bar is the traditional bar everyone who visits Juneau is supposed to experience. It proved to be our most challenging bar to visit.

The first day we tried (Thursday), it was already closed well ahead of their posted hours because the last cruise ship was already departing.

The next day (Friday) we tried to visit while all the cruise ships were active, and there was a sign on the door stating that it would be closed for a private event until 3pm. We returned around 3:20pm to find that it was now closed for the day.

We finally found it open on Saturday, but with our group split up we all ended up visiting it at different times, but reunited there at the end of the day before returning to our rental house.

As I mentioned, it’s an old-west themed bar. Unsure how much of the decor is authentic vs how much is manufactured for the tourists. There are two levels, plus an attached gift shop that also has its own entrance from the street so that it can maintain its own separate hours. Food is served.

Their trademark is their Duck Fart shot, so we all made sure to get that. Since we were in a hurry to get back to our house after a very long day, that was the only drink I had.

278 S Franklin St
Juneau, AK 99801
United States
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+19074633658
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Amalga Distillery

scooterj — Sat, 13 May 2023 17:12:00 +0000

(Downtown, Juneau, AK)

Scooter’s 1654th bar, first visited in 2023.

We popped in here for one drink shortly before last call at the end of another downtown shopping trip. This is primarily a gin distillery. Rarely they will make other spirits, but most of the time (like today) it’s only gin. I had a raspberry gin & tonic.

134 N Franklin St
Juneau, AK 99801
United States
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+19072092015
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The Alaskan Hotel & Bar

scooterj — Fri, 12 May 2023 17:14:00 +0000

(Downtown, Juneau, AK)

Scooter’s 1651st bar, first visited in 2023.

We used this historic bar as our meet-up spot after our group converged from three different directions. I was the first to arrive and got us a table upstairs. It was pretty busy when I first arrived, but quickly emptied out as the cruise tourists were called back to their chips.

I have no ideal how “authentic” this all was, but it seemed a perfect representation of what I might have expected to find coming here during the gold rush in the 19th century.

There were two levels, as I mentioned, and a stage for performances.

I had a Solstice IPA by 49th State Brewing, as well as participated in a round of lemon drop shots.

167 S Franklin St
Juneau, AK 99801
United States
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907-318-9470
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Barnaby Brewing Company

scooterj — Fri, 12 May 2023 17:13:00 +0000

(Downtown, Juneau, AK)

Scooter’s 1650th bar, first visited in 2023.

The smallest brewery in Juneau featured a cozy tap room with a handful of tables, a popcorn machine (no other food that I noticed), and a kitty. In accordance with Alaska’s looney brewery laws, no seating permitted at the bar — though in this instance there’s really no room. (It’s also possible this was the brewery where I saw the sign I lost my photo of that listed all the ways Alaska bans fun in breweries.) There is also no outdoor seating, but that’s due to the property not a legal issue.

Rather than get a flight I decided to go with a full pour of the Mittens (Mexican chocolate porter) after reading several comments online about how great it is — it did npot disappoint.

165 Shattuck Way
Juneau, AK 99801
United States
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+19074190916
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Devil’s Club Brewing

scooterj — Fri, 12 May 2023 17:12:00 +0000

(Downtown, Juneau, AK)

Scooter’s 1649th bar, first visited in 2023.

Came in here for a few beers after separating from the rest of the group during a shopping excursion.

For some reason I forgot to take any interior photos except of my flight, but I know they served food and had a merchandise display. There was no apparent outdoor seating.

In accordance with Alaska’s looney brewery laws, there was no seating at the bar counter. I am almost certain that this was the brewery that had a sign listing all the ways Alaska’s brewery laws forbid fun (no NV, no music, no playing games) but I honestly can’t say for sure if that was this brewery or one of the others since that photo has somehow vanished.

I had the Signature IPA, the Cocoroon Imperial Hazelnut-Coconut-Macaroon Pastry Stout, and the Wafel House (Pastry stout brewed with stroopwafel).

100 N Franklin St
Juneau, AK 99801
United States
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+19075232739
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Hangar on the Wharf

scooterj — Thu, 11 May 2023 17:12:00 +0000

(Downtown, Juneau, AK)

Scooter’s 1647th bar, first visited in 2023.

The name is quite literal, it’s one of several restaurants & shops located inside a former aircraft hangar built right on the wharf. It features large plate glass windows looking right out onto the harbor.

In addition to halibut & chips, I had a Quilter’s Irish Death (strong ale) by Iron Horse Brewery.

2 Marine Way #106
Juneau, AK 99801
United States
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(907) 586-5018
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Griz Bar

scooterj — Thu, 11 May 2023 17:10:00 +0000

(Downtown, Juneau, AK)

Scooter’s 1646th bar, first visited in 2023.

We started out trying to go to Red Dog Saloon but it was closed. My wife wanted to buy something at the Harley-Davison store, and we came across Griz Bar right next door to that.

This is an entirely outdoor bar, mostly covered, with firepits at most if not all of the tables. From what I understand, it opened during the COVID lockdowns and for a while was the only bar able to operate in Juneau during that time.

Food is provided by a permanently-parked taco truck right next to the patio.

The adults all had a round of their signature Bear Fart shot, which I chased with a Chuli Stout by Denali Brewing.

210 Admiral Way
Juneau, AK 99801
United States
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+19077233273
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