Fairbanks – Brown Jug, Alaska's first and largest retailer of fine wines, spirits and beer, has opened its first store in Fairbanks. A 14,000-square-foot store featuring more than 1,400 types of beer, 4,000 wines and 3,000 spirits opened on November 24th. The store is located at 559 Harold Bentley Avenue in Fairbanks.
"We are pleased to bring first-class service and a destination experience to Alaska's interior region," said O.C. Madden, Brown Jug director of operations. "Without a doubt, Fairbanks now has the preeminent liquor store in the state."
The Fairbanks Brown Jug will employ 25 to 35 full- and part-time employees. All of the management staff are long-time Fairbanks residents including General Manager Bruce Abbott. The new store was built by Alcan General, Inc. and took about seven months to build.
Brown Jug started as a family-owned business operating taverns and roadhouses in Alaska just after prohibition. The company received one of the first liquor licenses in the state and began operating retail liquor establishments in Alaska in the 1960s. Today, there are 18 Brown Jug stores in Anchorage, two in Wasilla and one in Eagle River, plus the new one in Fairbanks. Statewide, Brown Jug employs more than 250 Alaskans.
Special features of the new store include an expanded selection of Alaska beers and locally produced spirits. A 40-tap growler bar also predominately features Alaska microbrews. The store has a tasting event area and will offer tasting academies, wine tastings and other special events. Personal party planning services, as well as expert individual advice on beer and wine selections is available. The Fairbanks store also offers a low price guarantee – that it will match any price offered by competitors.
Brown Jug has already established itself in Alaska and nationally as a leader in responsible beverage retailing. Madden says all of his staff, including those in Fairbanks, are continually trained and tested to ensure that underage or intoxicated customers are not served. Many of the policies and practices that Brown Jug pioneered in Alaska to enforce liquor laws have been modeled by other retailers in the Lower 48. Brown Jug won the National Distinguished Retailer of the Year from the Responsible Retailers Forum in 2009 and was recognized by the Alaska Department of Public Safety with its Industry Leader Award in 2009.
Brown Jug has proven itself as an excellent corporate citizen in the communities it serves. The company supports the Anchorage Responsible Beverage Retailers Association and supports citywide cleanup efforts, Wounded Warrior and numerous local charities. Brown Jug is sponsoring "Team BRA," a female team that will tackle the Trail Class in this year's Iron Dog Snowmachine Race. Team members Becky, Rachael and April will be making numerous appearances on behalf of the store to share their message of safe riding and the importance of not drinking and riding.
Hours for the Fairbanks Brown Jug are 10 am to 12 pm on Fridays and Saturdays and 10 am to 11 pm Sunday through Thursday. The main telephone number is (907) 456-3833. Learn more at www.brownjugalaska.net or on Facebook.
Brown Jug press release