5 Best Nightlife in Fairbanks, the Yukon, and the Interior, Alaska

The go-to spot for locals thirsting for well-crafted beer in Fairbanks is HooDoo. The company 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 gets bad, inside the airy taproom. The beer line is often long, but it moves quickly and it's a good place to meet new friends. The only issue is that it closes at 8 pm. Free brewery tours take place on Saturday at 4 pm.

Housed in the former 1930s city hall, this family-staffed distillery is a labor of love for owner Patrick Levy. He provides tours by appointment; downstairs, the whiskey ages in a former Fairbanks Police Department holding cell. Visit any night and you'll likely find him behind the hand-built copper bar, radiating Fairbanks pride while pouring drinks made from local Fox Spring water and Nenana potatoes.

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 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.