Baranof Island Brewing Co. awarded 2014 Business of the Year Award

Baranof Island Brewing Co. was granted the 2014 Business of the Year Award from the Sitka Chamber of Commerce. The award was given to the brewery’s founders Rick and Suzan Armstrong. The award is given in recognition to a local business that not only excels in business but gives back to the community whenever possible. This is the second time Baranof Island Brewing Co. has been recognized by the Sitka Chamber of Commerce. The brewery was also awarded New Business of the Year in 2011.

Baranof Island Brewing Co. was founded in 2009 by Rick and Suzan Armstrong, in a garage 2 miles outside of downtown Sitka. Recently, the brewery was granted $350,000 loan from the City and Borough of Sitka from the Southeast Economic Development Fund for expansion of the brewery. Along with new equipment, the brewery is currently working on installing a new canning line. “This new canning line will put Sitka on the map,” Armstrong said.

For more about excellent Alaskan breweries, read our profile of The Brewer’s Guild of Alaska

In the last six months, the brewery has doubled their production staff and is currently looking for additional help for the summer. “Creating jobs in southeast Alaska is not an easy accomplishment, but we are happy to serve the community in any way we can,” Armstrong added.

Baranof Island Brewing Co. believes in recognizing and giving back to the local community. All of the beers that the brewery produces are named after local hot spots on Baranof Island. Every Wednesday is an opportunity for any local charitable organization or nonprofit to have a fundraiser inside the brewery. Baranof Island Brewing is available as far north as Nome, Alaska, and as far south as Seattle. The company currently produces six main unfiltered and unpasteurized American style ales, with an additional rotating list of seasonal ales.