Bryan picked us up at the Seward cruise terminal and transferred us to our AirBnB in downtown Anchorage. It was late in cruise season so ended up just being 4 of us which made this an even more amazing, intimate experience. I cannot say enough about what an incredible experience this tour was. To even call it a tour seems inaccurate since it felt more like we were picked up by an old friend that we hadn't seen in a while who wanted to show us the best of Alaska. I highly, highly, highly recommend this as an alternative to a simple bus transfer to Anchorage. The initial 2 hour drive through "postcard Alaska" was breathtaking and Bryan shared a ton of information about the area, including the earthquake that altered the area topography in amazing ways. The tram to the top of Alyeska was stunning and lunch was tasty among such a gorgeous backdrop. The first brewery in Girdwood was by far our group's favorite stop. Every beer was delicious, our host, Jake, was fun and knowledgeable, and they made us feel like family. We could have stayed all day. The second stop at the Anchorage Distillery was super informative, the staff very friendly and the cocktail was superb. We ended at Double Shovel and could not have asked for a better ending to the trip. We were met with a gorgeous day sitting in the open air tasting room and sipping on the tastiest ciders I've ever had. They're truly masters of their craft with a cider for every taste. Throughout all of this I cannot stress enough Bryan's professionalism, kindness, and depth of knowledge about Alaska. You can tell he takes immense pride in what he does and that he's forged deep and meaningful relationships with the vendors on the tour. If cost is making you hesitate, I will say that this was worth every penny and more. Don't hesitate and book today!! read more

See all

Amazing time! Highly recommend this for anyone who loves craft beers and wants to get an authentic experience of the local Alaskan brews. We experienced some of the best beers we have ever drank and loved hearing about the brewing process from the different brewmasters. It was fun, entertaining, and educational. And the charcuterie board was delicious! read more

See all

A personalized hands on brewery tour worth every penny. Shoutout to Bryan for making the best tour experience we had this trip. 10/10 recommend read more

See all

Big Swig Tours is amazing! Bryan offers so many great brewery tours. From bike and brew tours to hops on the rails, and also anchorage brewery tours. The amount of breweries and information that you receive from the whole tour is amazing! Also make sure you are prepared to taste many different beers as most places offer flights for this tour! You also get the behind the scenes tour of every brewery. Also an amazing group of people you will be touring with. Would highly recommend going on this tour. Bryan is amazing and the new tour van is even better! read more

Big Swig Tours - Tours Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

See all

$100 initially seemed a little steep for a four-hour brewery tour, but the experience ended up being fully worth it (and four hours went by quickly). Our tour guide was friendly and informative, as were the guides/hosts at each of the three breweries we checked out. The amount of beer offered was plentiful (I think I had 16 samples?), much of it was delicious, and the well-timed charcuterie plate at the the second stop was of high quality. Good times overall, and I highly recommend a Big Swig brewery tour as part of an Anchorage stay. read more

I was on a solo trip to Anchorage and did the half-day craft brewery tour. This was my first time taking this tour and would do it again. I'm not a big craft beer drinker and I really enjoyed this tour. Bryan is super knowledgeable and took us to 3 different breweries. I learned a lot and have a new appreciation for craft beer. I also loved how excited each of the brewery staff were to see us when we arrived and greeted us with such genuine enthusiasm. read more

Fun date night for my husband and I! Informative and enjoyable. I would recommend to anyone visiting or living locally. Very organized, by the way. read more

We cannot say enough about this tour! Brian was fantastic; knowledgeable, enthusiastic and beyond accommodating. We learned so much, met wonderful people. If you do one Anchorage tour, do this one!! read more

See all

Go! Just get that card out and pay for this fun day while in Anchorage. Alaskan Railroad was the smoothest train ever and then a full day of learning about beer making. Brain is a fantastic tour guy (and human). Go. Budget for some merchandise to take home. read more

See all

Hops and The Rails Amazing tour. Highlight of my visit. Greats views and amazing beer, what more can you ask for! read more

See all

Saying that I enjoy beer and beer tours is the understatement of the century. Like many people who take this tour I have been on beer tours all around the world. This was easily the best one I had ever been on. First shout out to Bryan. He knows tourism and he knows beer so well. He is kind, funny and is incredible at this. He brought some small touches that made the tour go smoothly. One example is that while we were at our first brewery after a few a samples, before anyone had a chance to ask, he went and brought us a growler filled with water that we could pass around as we got thirsty. This is just one example (want to leave some surprises for y'all!) of how he went out of his way to ensure that our tour went perfectly. And the beer. We went to three breweries: King Street, Midnight Sun, and Turnagain. It was such a perfect combo! We got to meet brewers and other professionals in the beer scene who keep things running smoothly. I loved learning about what makes the Alaska beer scene special from the people who do. So thank you Bryan and Big Swig Tours for the best beer tour I have ever been on in my life. I loved getting to meet the other participants. I might just have to make a trip back to Anchorage to do all of your other tours! read more

The best beer tour ever! My husband and I went on an Alaskan Cruise with two other couples. We were looking for a fun way to get from Seward to Anchorage for our flight home after the cruise. We had a blast on this tour! Bryan is amazing! He is fun and entertaining and just so nice! Great scenery! Great beer! We plan to go back to Alaska and will absolutely book another tour with Big Swig Tours! read more

Skeptical initially but the access to the brewers was amazing. Get to try unlimited beers but the real key is the chances to hear about the process of brewing the beer. Getting the experience with the "mad scientist" discussion of the independent brewers is amazing. He has the inside route to just get so much information and perspective on the brewing process is well worth the time read more

We are on a 14 day Alaskan cruise with Holland America Amsterdam. Picked up by Bryan C with Big Swig Tours for a big day planned out. Nice ride to the train picked up at the train went to the tram at Girdwood Ski Lodge. Tastings at Girdwood Brewery, Anchorage Distillery and Double Shovel Cider Company. Bryan is friendly knowledgeable and very accommodating. One of our best excursions ever. Thank you Bryan! read more

Big Swig Tours - Tours Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

See all

Super Fun for Visiting Family and for us Locals! We hopped on the 3 hour tour around Anchorage and had a blast! Bryan was a fantastic guide- giving us information about Anchorage as well as the individual breweries we visited. You could see the relationships he has formed with the breweries we've visited, and the master brewers (and sometimes owners) that gave us a tour were happy to stop and meet with us. It did not feel like people were just doing the motions- everyone we met enjoyed their job and enjoyed telling us about the craft beer each brewery specialized in. I live here- I drink all these beers...I LOVED getting to go behind the scenes and see the entire process of how our favorite beer is brewed! I cannot say again what a wonderful host Bryan was. His sprinter van was extremely clean, comfortable- our tour group had people 6ft and taller and we climbed in and out with ease. We appreciated the snacks he provided and couldn't help purchasing a tee shirt at the end of the tour! Thanks Bryan! We'll see you next time! read more

We were looking for away to get from the cruise terminal in Whitter to Anchorage and I came across the Big Swig Cruise Transfer. Since we had over 12 hours until our flight this was just PERFECT! Bryan was a great guide and took us to some great places. His shuttle was very large, comfortable and had plenty of room for all our luggage (we were a group of six). We had a great lunch at the top of Mt. Alyeska, the food was great and the views even better. We had a 45 minute drive from there, which was actually perfect since we were a little tired from the cruise, so a few of us grabbed a quick nap. We stopped at 3 places for tastings and then were dropped off in downtown Anchorage to grap a quick dinner. Bryan gave us some great suggestions for dinner, which we chose 49th State and it was as great as he recommended. If your looking for a way to get from the port to the airport...this is definitely the way to go!! Don't let the price tag discourage you. Princess wanted $60 for the transfer and we got a much better experience. read more

See all

We had a great time on our tour despite the rain. Bryan drove us safely to the 3 breweries and told us interesting stories/info about them. We went to 3 places: King St, Midnight Brewing, and Koot's. At first, our tour was a no go since it'd just be two of us, but thank goodness for the alcoholics that needed a drink (or several) on a random Thursday afternoon. I don't know much about craft beer or home brewing systems, so I felt really out of place when others started asking questions, but at the same time it doesn't really matter how much you know or don't know. If it tastes good, drink it. The more you drink, the more relaxed and better time youll have. King St had really great beer and we got free pint glasses as keepsakes. I especially liked their HoPenweiss. Midnight Brewing had really nommy appetizers. Their beer was good - I really enjoyed the Panty Peeler; not a fan of IPA and wasn't a fan of theirs. Koot's was an all around awesome time and very different from the others. Even though it was only 3 breweries, Koot's was like going to 7 bars in one. If we had more time in AK, we would've definitely gone back to Koot's. If you're ever in Anchorage and a fan of drinking/beer, go on the Big Swig tour. You get a lot for a little. read more

See all

We had a fantastic time on the big swig beer tour! We had a day to kill after getting off a cruise ship before heading home and chose this tour to check out the local beer scene. Not only did we get to stop at some great breweries, we had the opportunity to meet the brewmasters at each stop and enjoyed some great conversation. We come from a big craft brew town and we were impressed with the quality and variety of beer. Bryan, the owner/operator is crazy knowledgeable and tons of fun from start to finish!! read more

Bryan is amazingly knowledgeable and a wonderful host. We had such a good experience, from having fun, learning all about making beer, meeting locals and going to breweries off the beaten path. My initial thought when looking at their site is that it is an expensive tour. However, it was worth every penny!!! We had a great day and a one of a kind experience. read more

My husband and I had a wonderful time with Bryan and Big Swig Anchorage Brews Tour. Due to Bryan's close relationship with each of the featured breweries, all of us on the tour felt very comfortable asking questions throughout it. As a result, we learned more on this tour than on any others we have attended in the past. And we've attended quite a few! In addition, because of Alaskan law (which we also learned about on this tour), most of Anchorage's major breweries are located outside of the downtown area. Big Swig is a perfect (and safe!) way to visit these breweries while on vacation. The charcuterie and cheese board midway through the tour was an unexpected (and absolutely delicious) bonus. My only complaint about this tour is that it did not last longer. We would have gladly hung out with Bryan, his brewery buds, and our new tour van companions for the rest of the evening. Big Swig Anchorage Brews Tour is a must for any beer-lover who visits the city. read more

Big Swig Tours - Cynosure Brewery - Tours Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

See all

Whether you're a fan of craft beer, learning from Brewers, or enjoying a few with good natured friends, Big Swig tour delivers. Bryan was a great guide, and his passion for Anchorage history and craft beer really shine. It was one of the big highlights of our visit in Anchorage. And I'm one of those full of questions type of traveler, and everyone was go cool, giving as much info as they could about Anchorage and beer brewing. Pros: you're driven to 3 breweries you wouldn't always hit on your own. Lots of locals go to these breweries. 2nd brewery comes with a ton of great appetizers to match your delicious beer. You get a behind the brews tour of how each brewery makes their special beers, and get to speak to Brewers themselves. It's a great way to spend 4 hours of your day! Cons: it ended so quickly. Time flies when you're having fun. This tour is worth every penny. Wish he did 2 different routes so we could have seen another line up of breweries before we flew out. read more

This tour is a fantastic choice, whether you are a beer connoisseur or if you are fairly new to the beer world. If we could award more than 5 stars, we would. Bryan is friendly and extremely knowledgeable, and he took the time to get to know us and our taste preferences to make the tour as personal as he could. It was clear that Bryan is passionate about beer and Alaska, and his expertise permeated the entire tour. The train ride was beautiful, the tours at the breweries were informative and enjoyable, and even the packed lunch was delicious! I would recommend this tour to anyone who wants to see Alaska and learn more about beer while you do it. read more

I am not a big fan of beer, and usually stick to my cocktails but after this trip I'm a strong believer in good beer now. It's a must for visitors and beer enthusiasts. read more

Big Swig Tours - Tours Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

I was flying solo on my first trip to Alaska, looking for fun things to do. I found this tour on Trip Advisor and never looked back. Big Swig Tours exceeded my expectations. First and foremost, big thanks to them for holding the van while I navigated weekend afternoon parking in Downtown Anchorage (definitely factor in parking). I was with a family from Japan, a group of friends, and I think one more lady traveling alone. We hit two breweries - King Street and Midnight Sun - both awesome. Saw the backrooms and operations. Got to ask all of our questions, try the barley, eat good appetizers and taste well-sized samples of local beer. Then we headed to Chilkoot Charlie's, which is a sight to behold. I won't give everything away, but let's just say, that place was much more than meets the eye. And it looks pretty cool on the outside to begin with. All in all, highly recommend this tour. You definitely get your money's worth. read more

One of our favorite parts of our trip to Alaska! We happened to find this brew tour while trying to find a good one in the Anchorage area, and we were definitely happy we spent the money on it! It was well worth it, if not more. It starts off at a great brewery with great classic beers, then to another great brewery with more exotic flavored beers along with some great appetizers, and finishes with a trip to a historic bar like no other featuring local brewed beers and a whole lot of funny memories! You will not be disappointed with this tour! Highly recommended! Enjoy and cheers! read more

See all

Fantastic! From pick up to drop off...true VIP treatment. Such a great experience - personal tours from brewers at each brewery we visited. Learned so much about the craft beer world here in Anchorage. I would highly recommend Big Swig Tours whether local or visiting our great state!l! Be ready for a fun, educational, personalized tour with some of the best craft beers anywhere! Loved King Street, Midnight Sun & Cynosure...and of course our knowledgeable guide Bryan! Thanks Big Swig Tours! read more

Big Swig Tours - Tours Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

See all

We truly enjoyed our tour of 3 Anchorage breweries! Our favorite by far was Midnight Sun, the beers were great and the brewer sat with us and told us stories about all of the beer! Our next favorite was King. We got a behind to curtain tour and everything we wanted to taste. I would highly recommend either of these two breweries! Our least favorite was Cynosure.The beer was okay and when the owners sat with us, it seemed as if they were uncomfortable talking about their products! If I find more time I'll visit Midnight Sun or King ! Thanks Bryan for being our DD and for teaching us about the history of Anchorage . I would highly recommend this tour for all the beer drinkers of the world read more

Great tour with fantastic beers. My wife and I booked this to take up an afternoon and ended up being pleasantly surprised. While we weren't expecting anything negative we were given tours of multiple breweries from extremely knowledgeable brewmasters who clearly love what they do. Also we were given multiple beer tastings that were tailored to your taste. Given the chance we would take this tour or another one of Bryan's beer adventures. read more

Ok so it may seem a little expensive at first but once you experience it you will realize it is 100% WORTH IT. We had so much fun and our tour guide(the owner) was so nice and friendly. Everyone we encountered on the tour was wonderful and the beer was great! We are from Oregon(beer snobs) and went with our family that lives in anchorage. We met some wonderful Canadians(of course) on the tour with us and had some great appetizers. I would do this again if given the chance! It was the highlight of our trip. Thanks so much! read more

The hops on rails tour is a great way to spend the day. Very well planned and great way to cross off a lot of your to do items in alaska. Brian is awesome and caters the trip to your likings. Huge fan of the experience and would recommend to anyone. read more

Big Swig Tours - Tours Near Me - Anchorage, Alaska

Great thing to do in anchorage! Allows you to discover the local beer in the area outside of just the main downtown area. We did this post Alaskan cruise and loved it! I would highly recommend! read more

Plain and simple , "Worth it!" Went spontaneous and booked the tour. Met some great people and life long friends. Brian, our host, was awesome in every way (i.e. Laid back, knowledgable, funny, organized). I liked how each place we went to was different than the last and the staff there were equally laid back, funny, and knowledgable. Loved the beers for sure! read more

Found it on Yelp and mannn was I impressed... If you like GREAT craft beers and visiting unique local breweries and bars, BOOK IT! NOW! No seriously, NOW! read more

Such a great way to spend our last day in Alaska! Bryan, our tour guide/driver, was right on time picking the 4 of us up at Seward Cruise Terminal and we were very comfortable in his mini bus. We had a scenic drive, took the tram up to the top of Alyeska Mountain, had a delicious lunch on top of the mountain, took amazing pictures of the views, visited a brewery, distillery and a cidery. We all really enjoyed the entire day! Bryan was very professional, knowledgable and personable. I would highly recommend this tour and would absolutely call Bryan if we visit Alaska again. read more

Probably my most favorite part of my 3 1/2 day trip to Anchorage and it's surroundings. Bryan is an excellent tourguide and has made valuable partnerships and connections with the breweries and bars to give you a fantastic opportunity to learn about beer, the beer-making process, and the beer culture (continuously growing in popularity) in Alaska. From the ability to sample SEVERAL different types of beer, to the history lessons you get from Alaska's early years becoming a US State to today, you get to learn A LOT. I'd love to be able to check out the other tours he provides if and when I get back to Alaska in the future! read more

The Big Swig tour was great . We had a blast , We did the Anchorage brewer tour , well worth the money . Bryan was professional and very knowable about Ak and Ak brewers . He was also a lot of fun . If you are wanting to learn about brewing beer or just have some great beers, food and fun or all the above then this tour is for you . read more

Had an amazing afternoon! Visited multiple breweries and had the opportunity to visit behind the scenes and down to the grain on how beer is born. Very worth it, highly knowledge on the history of anchorage. read more

What a great trip. We have lived in Alaska for 2 years and have wanted to ride the train...I do not drink beer but my husband loves all beer, we killed 2 birds with one stone with this trip. The train ride was relaxing and we got to see some beautiful scenery. The brewery tours were fantastic. Everyone was friendly and very knowledgeable about their products and processes. Brian, the owner/guide was awesome and so down to earth. It was a wonderful experience. Even though I do not drink beer I had a great time, my husband the beer enthusiast absolutely loved tasting all the "home" brews. I would recommend this trip for anyone visiting Anchorage, or to people who have lived here a minute and want to do something new and different. Great time had by all. Thank you Brian read more

Discovered the 'hops' on the rails tour, a hidden gem, and being a fan of craft beer and breweries, decided to experience it. Bryan, the owner and guide was great, not only picking me up at the hotel, but being a great conversationalist on the way to the depot. A train ride to Talkeetna (who doesn't like trains), Bryan met our group and took us to our first destination; Denali Brewing. Special thanks to the owner who not only gave us a great tour, but also samples of great crafted beers. A box lunch from roadhouse, included in the tour, was delicious (choose the reindeer option if offered) and Bryan was great explaining beers while driving us to the remaining three breweries on the tour. Again special thanks also to Bear Paw Brewing, Odd Man Rush Brewing and Resolution Brewing Company and their great staff. If you want to sample great beers, look behind the 'curtain' of craft brewing, while escorted by a great and informed guide, this is definitely a great way to spend the day and a must do. read more

Brian, our guide, was fantastic! The breweries, beer, information, and company were second to none. We stopped at King Street, where Max the Aussie guided us through the tight but extensive brewing process at their facility. Then, we went onwards to Darcy at Midnight Sun, where we tasted not only delicious beer, but phenomenal appetizers. The BLT and various cheese dips which carried us through higher ABVs. We tasted the Pleasure Town IPA, the Panty Peeler, and Tundra Wookie. Then, the tour took us to the famous Chilkoot Charlie's. We had a truly wonderful tour guide (that I no longer remember the name of) who showed us all ten bars at Koots and guided us through several yummy samples of beer. Although as a local in Anchorage I have visited Koots on numerous occasions, I learned a ton about the history of the building. We had a grand time and would recommend the tour to anyone local or visiting. Bravo, Big Swig Tours!!!! read more