4 Best Bars in Fairbanks, the Yukon, and the Interior, Alaska

A go-to spot for well-crafted beer, HooDoo sells growlers to go, but its beer is best enjoyed outdoors on a sunny afternoon around the brewery's spool tables—or if the weather isn't welcoming, inside the airy taproom. The brewery, which is open till 9, regularly hosts food trucks, and free tours take place on Thursday at 4 pm.

Operating out of a former firehouse, Goldie's swings open its double garage doors to host events like live music, open mic nights, and the occasional drag show. The bar—housed in a converted 1956 Airstream trailer—serves up beer, cocktails, and slushies, with rotating food trucks pulling up to the colorful patio.

A local institution, the Howling Dog specializes in live blues and rock and roll. A party crowd of college students, airline pilots, tourists, miners, and bikers assembles for the cocktails, bar food, and music. Shows are played on a red-carpet stage acquired after Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II's visit to Fairbanks in 1984.

This hip downtown bar boasts 36 taps that highlight a range of Alaska breweries, while the walls feature black-and-white images of Fairbanks history. The small space attracts a younger crowd and fills up quickly with seating spilling out on the sidewalk. TV monitors show sports games, and food trucks park outside in summer.