Brew Review
Coming soon to a Humpy’s near you Downtown alehouse to convert gift shop for pizza, billiards and beer By James “Dr. Fermento� Roberts
H
umpy’s Great Alaskan Alehouse is an institution here in Anchorage and has garnered global recognition for showcasing excellent local, regional, national and international beers. For the longest time, Humpy’s was also recognized for having the most beer on tap under one roof, boasting upwards of 55 beers. But Humpy’s stature is more than just that. I personally credit Humpy’s with busting open the dreary downtown corridor by taking a risk and establishing the alehouse on Sixth Avenue in 1994, a time when just a handful of lower class, often sleazy bars were situated on the outskirts of the core of the downtown area. Serious craft beer lovers drank elsewhere, chasing what little Anchorage had to offer back then. Humpy’s demonstrated that a higher end pub would work and the risk quickly paid off. Other establishments soon followed. I heard of Humpy’s while chasing good beer at another establishment. I spent a lot of time in what used to be Harry’s in the Key Bank Building on Northern Lights Boulevard. A barkeep there, Jim Maurer, confided in me that he and a friend of his, Billy Opinsky, were going to open a real alehouse with a real focus on beer downtown. I remember going there at night after work and helping out here and there, just because I was so excited about such a prospect. I’m proud to say that it’s my dollar framed and hanging on the wall, as I was Humpy’s very first customer. Nineteen years later, Humpy’s still proudly serves excellent beer accompanied by reasonably priced pub grub in a laid-back atmosphere that can get quite boisterous on weekend nights. And, Humpy’s has grown by leaps and bounds. Humpy’s occupied what was the original municipal print shop, but was connected to the entire building which included, way back then, an Italian joint called Lucero’s on F Street and Stephan’s Fine Art on Sixth. Years ago, Humpy’s took over Lucero’s and turned it into the SubZero Bistro and Microlounge, and those that were around during those days will remember the blue-water and bubble filled windows facing the street and the frozen river down the long bar. That’s all changed, but it’s proof that the Humpy’s empire kept moving forward. The original gift shop at Humpy’s was called the Duck Hut and was no bigger than a broom closet. T-shirts, mugs and other paraphernalia were sold out of the booth, which was only manned when someone indicated they wanted something. It was situated facing the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts across the street on Sixth and was actually situated in the entryway of Humpy’s. Humpy’s deemed this too small and eventually took over the part of the building to the east, which used to house Stephan Fine Arts. A few years ago, Humpy’s crossed the ocean and opened Humpy’s Big Island Alehouse in Kona, Hawaii. I’ve never been
“I would have killed for a place to duck in at lunch, get a slice of pizza and knock back some balls.�
to the new place, but it’s on my bucket list. In 2010, in another bold move, Humpy’s established a small bar in Concourse B of the Anchorage International Airport. Located behind security, the only way one can visit the place is with a ticket to somewhere else or as an arriving passenger in Anchorage’s busiest commercial travel hub. There are about a dozen taps, featuring local stuff that outgoing folks are familiar with and incoming folks find as new discoveries.
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ast forward to today. Humpy’s latest move has been to gut the gift shop that occupied Stephan’s and turn it into Flat Top Pizza and Billiards. “We had our T-shirt shop running in there,â€? says owner Billy Opinksy. “I thought‌Tshirts? That’s not what we do.â€? He got to looking around at all the beautiful window space facing the corner of Sixth and F Street, where the gift shop was situated. “We’ve got nice corner windows with a better view than both Humpy’s and SubZero combined and we’re wasting than on merchandise.â€? Opinsky’s past has a little bit to do with the installation of a somewhat billiard-style arrangement, with pizza, beer and pool. “I worked downtown my entire life, since I was 13,â€? says Opinsky. “I Humpy’s is opening a new eatery next door to its original location on Sixth Avenue. would have killed for a place to duck in at lunch, get a slice of pizza and knock back some intends to start with about nine or so draft lines, with the ability balls,â€? he says. to expand to beyond 30 if business and beer demand warrants Opinsky says Flat Top will be “a place where the nearby suits it. And, although details are sketchy, Opinsky’s in the process of can get up and go somewhere for something to eat, stand up and approving a special house beer just for Humpy’s and especially move around a bit rather than just sit at a restaurant table.â€? Flat Top. In fact, the proposed name is Flat Top Pale Ale. Don’t expect your typical coin-operated pool tables either; So, when can you expect to duck in and knock back a slice, a Humpy’s will offer much higher end tables with a “rentalâ€? ar- pint and a few balls? Right now massive remodeling is taking rangement that’s typical elsewhere. place in what Opinsky is calling the “build out stage.â€? The equipThe new Flat Top will be a bigger building than both Stephan ment, pool tables and everything else is on order. Fine Arts and Humpy’s gift shop were. Humpy’s is tearing down “Our target date is May 1,â€? says Opinsky. Initially the place will the current offices, which were situated in the middle of the be open late in the afternoon and into the evening as everything building behind the gift shop. “It’ll basically be from the old gets situated and Opinsky can ensure that patrons are getting front door of the gift shop, all the way around the corner to share the best of the best. Eventually, it’ll expand into a lunch operathe entrance with SubZero on F Street.â€? tion as well. A grand opening will be announced closer to the Humpy’s has been rather loosely in the pizza business for a opening date. long time, having kept the original Lucero’s pizza oven. “We’ve Humpy’s is once again bulging at the seams, and I just wanted been doing pizzas even before Glacier Brewhouse or Moose’s you to get caught up in the excitement as much as I am. Tooth,â€? said Opinsky, in reference to the personal-sized pizzas at Humpy’s. “We’re experimenting with our dough recipe right james.roberts@gci.net now and tweaking the various pies.â€? At Flat Top, there will be a New York style pizza offering for both dine in and carry out from the new joint. For beer, Opinsky
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March 28 - April 3, 2013
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