SPIRITUAL REVOLUTION
SASSAN MOSSANEN HAS GROWN DENALI BREWING INTO DENALI SPIRITS, AND TAKEN THE GREAT LAND BRAND TO THE BIG TIME.
Behind Denali Brewing & Spirits is humble and family-focused Sassan Mossanen. Though quick to share his success with his team, Mossanen always had eyes set on big things for brewing and the small town of Talkeetna.
From a young age, Mossanen fell in love with fermenting because he felt a synergy with the process. His passion for fermenting is matched only with his love for the outdoors, which is why he moved to Alaska in 1995 to be close to North America’s largest mountain, Denali. He and his wife built an off-the-grid cabin, accessible only by a flag-stop train, where they lived for 10 years. He divided his time between living off the land and mountaineering, being one of few to have summited Denali.
Mossanen returned to civilization with a bang in 2009, opening Denali Brewery in Talkeetna. His company has since grown exponentially to become the state’s second-largest brewery. Just in the last three years, his company expanded into wine, cider and spirits — and sparked a creative renaissance. One result of this is his signature Hopshine spirit, created from aromatic pellets derived from cryo hops, which is perfect for cocktails.
Reaching these heights in the most challenging and remote environment in the world has kept him on his toes. Even without access to waste treatment, Mossanen is proud to say that he has worked tirelessly to ensure that everything is recycled or composted, and all water leaving is pH neutral — a feat described by the Brewers Association as “impossible.” Mossanen is now working with the state of Alaska to create a model that other Alaskan brewers can use.
Despite all his success, Mossanen still has a deep sense of community and family values. When asked what he did outside of work, he was quick to respond with “spend time with my family.” He even found a way to bring his family into the business, picking spruce tips with his daughters for the flavorful Spruce Tip Ale and Spruce Tip Gin. His wife’s garden and bee farm produce many ingredients used in their beverage recipes.
“The thing I am most proud of — more than the beverages — is our sense of commitment and responsibility that comes with creating year-round jobs in such a small town,” he says. With only 876 people in Talkeetna, Denali Brewing is Talkeetna’s largest employer providing more than 50 full-time jobs, with a goal to become 100 percent employee-owned.