The next time you pour a cold one, you might stop and propose a toast to Alaska mined metals. Come again? That’s right, various metals play an important role in the beer brewing process, either as essential elements in trace amounts or as components of specific equipment. 

Ingredients like hops, barley, and wheat are certainly key to infusing craft beers with specific characteristics, but using the right metals in brewing equipment can really raise the bar in the flavor equation. 

Farfetched? Hardly! There’s more than a grain of truth here. Metals in a brew pot or fermenter, for example, can greatly impact the essence of your favorite IPA, ale, or lager. Different metals have their own subtle characteristics that help to create the taste and even aromas of your number one imbibable, making them pitcher-perfect. Additionally, all of these metals can be mined responsibly in Alaska.

How Stainless Steel Is A Metal Used In Brewing

Stainless steel is commonly used in brewing equipment such as fermentation vessels, kettles, and piping. It is preferred for its corrosion resistance, durability, and ease of cleaning, making it a suitable material for maintaining the cleanliness and purity of the brewing process. This essential metal shows how Alaska metals in beer brewing keep equipment durable and efficient.

Copper in Brewing 

Copper is traditionally used in brewing kettles. It has good thermal conductivity, aiding in the boiling and heating processes during brewing. It is often the metal of choice for do-it-yourself brewers. However, modern breweries may use stainless steel for most equipment. From kettles to piping, metals in brewing, like copper, help craft the perfect pint.

Zinc As A Mined Metal in Brewing

Zinc is an essential trace element that yeast needs for fermentation. It is naturally present in malt and water, and its levels are typically sufficient for yeast health. Vital for galvanizing tanks and parts, Alaska mined metals in brewing, like zinc, protect equipment from corrosion.

Did You Know? The largest producing zinc mine in the United States is Red Dog Mine near Kotzebue, Alaska.

Iron In The Ingredients

Iron is another trace element required for yeast metabolism, and it is usually present in brewing water and ingredients. Strong and reliable, iron reflects the connection between Alaska mining and brewing that powers the local industry.

Alaska’s resources play a key role in every pour you make, and every cheers…even if you don’t realize it. The same metals that come from Alaska’s mines help build the tanks, pipes, and tools that make great beer possible. It’s a reminder that mining is good for Alaska, and mined metals and brewing are connected. Local materials support local industries, create jobs, and keep communities thriving.

Raise a glass to metals! Cheers!

‍Frequently Asked Questions About Mining In Alaska

Can mining actually provide environmental benefits in Alaska?

Yes – especially when it’s tied to materials used in clean tech. Take Graphite Creek, near Nome. It’s being developed for battery-grade graphite, which is needed in electric vehicles and solar power systems. Cobalt, zinc, and copper from Alaska mines also show up in clean energy projects. Red Dog, for example, produces critical minerals that reduce corrosion in turbines and improve battery performance. Mining is good for Alaska because companies pay into funds that help restore wildlife habitat and monitor water quality. Some even over-reclaim land – planting more than they remove. Environmental impact can be measured both ways.

Which types of careers are available in Alaska’s mining sector?

You’ve got equipment operators, drillers, electricians, millwrights, engineers, geologists, heavy-duty mechanics, safety officers, cooks, medics, environmental techs – and that’s just the start. Some jobs are seasonal, but many are full-time, year-round positions with housing, travel stipends, & training programs. Fort Knox and Red Dog have been running apprenticeship partnerships for years. College grads, trade school folks, high schoolers looking for a path other than college – all can find a way in. Mining hires people who know how to build, fix, lead, and plan.

How much money do mining workers make in Alaska?

Wages in the industry run well above average. In 2023, the total payroll across mining was $1.1 billion. Jobs at producing mines often pay six figures. Mining is good for Alaska because an entry-level equipment operator might start around $60,000 to $70,000, while experienced tradespeople and technical staff pull in much more. Some senior roles break $120,000 or more, with housing and meals included. Workers also get good benefits – health care, retirement, training, bonuses. People build long-term careers in mining, and the paychecks reflect the skill and commitment needed.

Sources:

https://beerandbrewing.com/dictionary/DEIMHAaIoY/

https://byo.com/article/metallurgy-for-homebrewers/ 

https://www.micetcraft.com/what-materials-are-used-in-craft-beer/

https://www.craftbrewingbusiness.com/equipment-systems/five-facts-steel-beer-brewing/