Alaskan Brewing Company CEO Linda Thomas is stepping down from her role at the Juneau-headquartered craft brewery after three decades.
Alaskan chief operations officer (COO) Max Rule will take over as CEO, effective June 1.
Thomas is not completely leaving the nearly 40-year-old company. She will remain on the executive leadership team and serve on the brewery’s board of directors, “working closely with Max during the transition,” according to a press release.
“I’ve had the privilege to work closely with Linda who has had a tremendous impact on the Alaskan Brewing Company over the last 30 years,” Rule said in the release. “I’m humbled and honored by our board of directors’ confidence in me to follow in Linda’s footsteps.
“A company’s success is not just one person: it’s a team effort,” he continued. “With the contribution of every single member of our crew, we’re proud to deliver to our customers the best quality craft beverages. None of that will change during this transition.”
Alaskan co-founders Marcy and Geoff Larson “will also remain actively engaged in the business,” according to the release.
Rule has served as COO for two years. He previously held leadership and advisory positions at several retailers, including nine years as a part of Northwest Grocers’ board of directors.
“Max’s values are aligned with the brewery’s values,” Thomas said. “He has already proven how tirelessly he will work for the benefit of our crew and our customers. Not only will this leadership transition be smooth; it will drive the brewery’s ongoing potential for the future.”
Alaskan was the 31st largest craft brewery by volume in 2023, moving up one spot from 2022 rankings, according to the Brewers Association (BA). In 2022 – the most recent year specific production numbers are available from the BA – Alaskan Brewing produced 87,900 barrels of beer, and was the third largest BA-defined craft brewery in the Pacific Northwest, behind Oregon-based Deschutes Brewery and Washington-based Georgetown Brewing.
The brewery has recorded several double-digit production declines over the past few years, and recorded a loss of more than 58,000 barrels between 2017 (146,700 barrels) and 2022, according to the BA.
Alaskan’s beers are distributed in 25 states. In 2023, the brewery recorded declines in both dollar sales (-8.1%) and volume (-12.4%) in NIQ-tracked off-premise channels (total U.S. xAOC + liquor plus + convenience). Trends improved slightly in the last 26 weeks, with dollar sales declining -4.6%, and volume -6.8%.