I’ll Have s’more Sewards
Celebrate Sewards Day with Seward’s Folly Russian Imperial Stout
Celebrate the purchase of Alaska at our downtown pub. For Seward’s Day, we are releasing the new, 2025 Barrel-Aged Seward’s Folly and have a special pairing for our year-round Seward’s Folly. March 28-31st, enjoy a draft of Seward’s Folly paired with our new Campfire S’mores dessert for only $14.99. This deal is as bold and fruitful as the purchase of Alaska from Russia. Untappd just awarded the 2024 BA Sewards Folly a gold medal in Alaska in their 2024 Community Awards and our standard Seward’s Folly a silver medal. Here’s your chance to find out what the fuss is about. Read on for the story of Seward’s Folly, the purchase of Alaska, and the development of our award-winning Russian Imperial Stout.
In 1867, Secretary of State William H. Seward, a visionary, negotiated the purchase of Alaska from Russia for 2 cents an acre or $7.2 million . At the time, the deal was met with mockery and scorn. The land–dubbed “Seward’s Folly” by skeptics–was seen as a barren, frozen wilderness with little to offer. Critics jeered, calling it a waste of taxpayer money, dismissing it as a foolish and extravagant gamble.
In 1867, Secretary of State William H. Seward, a visionary, negotiated the purchase of Alaska from Russia for 2 cents an acre or $7.2 million . At the time, the deal was met with mockery and scorn. The land–dubbed “Seward’s Folly” by skeptics–was seen as a barren, frozen wilderness with little to offer. Critics jeered, calling it a waste of taxpayer money, dismissing it as a foolish and extravagant gamble.
But Seward saw potential where others saw folly. We now know that Alaska was rich with resources as the true fortune lay hidden beneath the surface. In the 1890s, gold was discovered, leading to a rush that brought thousands of settlers. By the 20th century, the discovery of oil turned Seward’s gamble into one of the greatest strategic investments the nation had ever made.
In honor of this famous exchange, 49th State Brewing makes a Russian Imperial Stout called Seward’s Folly. And every year, a barrel-aged version is released to celebrate Seward’s Day. If you’ve seen a barrel-aged Russian Imperial Stout, you might say the dark, viscous liquid reminds you of the oil that made Alaska famous, but you’d find that the barrel-aged Seward’s Folly is anything but crude.
49th State’s Innovation Brewer, Rafael Gonzalez Mosqueda, thinks of the barrel as the final ingredient. He says, “You begin with a beer that’s super rich with full body, Seward’s Folly is perfect. Barrels impart tannins. So you need to account for that before you begin by choosing a beer that can stand up and really develop over time.” And it does take time! The minimum a beer ages in barrels is six months, but it’s usually not less than a year. Time is needed so the beer can mellow out. Rafael draws samples to test periodically looking for the moment when the flavors have developed and the beer has balanced overall. The new release is aged in bourbon whiskey barrels. It has notes of dark roast coffee, dates, and raisins with a hint of oak from the barrel.
You may have seen other releases from 49th State Brewing’s barrel aging program. The award-winning design of the Cache Collection bottles are not only beautiful, but also intended for ageing. The black, 500mL bottles are light tight, and their slightly larger format makes them perfect for sharing on special occasions.
“Seward’s Folly” became a symbol of foresight and opportunity. The acquisition would play a crucial role in America’s expansion and its growing influence on the world stage. The land that had once been the subject of ridicule has now proven its worth. History has vindicated Seward, showing that sometimes, what seems like folly is actually the biggest vision of all. Take the opportunity to celebrate it with a bold, Alaska brew that will stand the test of time. Seward’s Folly Russian Imperial Stout is available year-round on draft and in cans, and the newest barrel-aged version drops in 500mL bottles March 28th.
