Corks & Hops

Corks & Hops Corks & Hops is Eagle River's Wine Bar for food lovers. Scratch made comfort food, Alaskan Seafood, and award winning Certified Angus Beef steaks.

Wine Spectator Award of Excellence 2026.

It's Thursday, which means it's Pour Decisions night!If you've been curious about wine but weren't sure where to start, ...
07/24/2026

It's Thursday, which means it's Pour Decisions night!

If you've been curious about wine but weren't sure where to start, this is exactly why we do it. Four wines, great conversation, no pressure, and maybe you'll find a new favorite.

Also on the lineup tonight-

Fresh Alaska Halibut
Our new Burrata Board, loaded with creamy burrata, house-made basil pesto, cherry tomatoes, crispy prosciutto, balsamic reduction, and grilled bread for sharing.

Whether you're here to explore some wine, enjoy fresh Alaska seafood, or just split a Burrata Board with friends, we've got you covered tonight.

See you at Corks & Hops!

SUPER BEEF NERD ALERT. A lot of you asked what those 10 Certified Angus Beef specifications actually are. Here they are...
07/23/2026

SUPER BEEF NERD ALERT. A lot of you asked what those 10 Certified Angus Beef specifications actually are. Here they are in simplified terms.

1. More Marbling
Certified Angus Beef starts with beef that has abundant marbling. Those tiny flecks of fat melt as the steak cooks, giving you more flavor, juiciness, and tenderness.

2. Evenly Distributed Marbling
It's not just how much marbling there is, it's how it's spread throughout the steak. Even marbling means every bite is consistent.

3. Younger Cattle
Only younger cattle qualify. Younger beef is naturally more tender than beef from older animals.

4. The Right Size Ribeye
The ribeye muscle has to fall within a specific size range. Too small or too large can affect quality and consistency, so Certified Angus Beef keeps it in the sweet spot.

5. Not Too Big
There are weight limits, too. Extremely large animals can produce tougher muscle fibers, so Certified Angus Beef avoids them to help maintain tenderness.

6. Just the Right Amount of Exterior Fat
Enough fat to protect the beef during aging and cooking, but not so much that you're paying for excess trim instead of steak.

7. Well Muscled Cattle
Strong, well developed cattle produce steaks with better shape, texture, and eating quality.

8. Clean Appearance
Certified Angus Beef rejects beef with defects like capillary ruptures. It doesn't affect flavor, but appearance matters.

9. No Dark Cutters
Dark cutting beef can have a different texture, flavor, and shelf life. If it doesn't meet the standard, it doesn't earn the Certified Angus Beef label.

10. True Angus Genetics
Only cattle with the proper Angus characteristics are eligible. That's where the "Angus" in Certified Angus Beef comes from.

Because we keep getting asked, here's a very nerdy beef lesson. USDA Prime vs. Certified Angus Beef... What's the Diffe...
07/22/2026

Because we keep getting asked, here's a very nerdy beef lesson.

USDA Prime vs. Certified Angus Beef... What's the Difference?

USDA is a grading system. Beef is graded on marbling and maturity (younger cattle produce more tender beef). That's how a steak earns the grades Select, Choice, or Prime.

Certified Angus Beef is a quality program.

To earn the Certified Angus Beef label, a steak must first grade in the upper two thirds of USDA Choice or higher. THEN it has to meet 10 ADDITIONAL quality specifications for consistency, including maturity, marbling texture, muscling, size, and several other standards.

Certified Angus Beef can be USDA Choice or USDA Prime, but not every USDA Prime steak qualifies to be Certified Angus Beef.

If it doesn't meet all 10 Certified Angus Beef standards, it doesn't earn the Certified Angus Beef name.

When you order a steak at Corks & Hops, you're not just getting a steak with a high USDA grade. You're getting beef that has been selected through an even more demanding process designed to produce exceptional tenderness, flavor, and consistency.

It's the reason we're proud to serve Certified Angus Beef ® brand, and why we were honored to win the 2025 Certified Angus Beef Chef Challenge.

It's Trivia Tuesday at 7:30... and we've got something NEW!Tonight we're officially launching the STEAKHOUSE BURGER.We s...
07/21/2026

It's Trivia Tuesday at 7:30... and we've got something NEW!

Tonight we're officially launching the STEAKHOUSE BURGER.

We started with our Certified Angus Beef tenderloin smash patties, then added Gruyère and American cheese, our Steakhouse Sauce (garlic aioli, horseradish, and Dijon), and finished it with the onions from our French Onion Soup that have been cooked down with au jus until they're rich and packed with flavor. All of it goes on a buttered brioche bun.

This isn't one of those burgers with a bunch of toppings just for the sake of it. Every ingredient is there for a reason, and together they make a fantastic burger.

Come get beads thrown at you by Ashlyn, scream wrong answers confidently, and try the Steakhouse Burger! Let us know if it deserves a spot on the permanent menu.

And we're doing the Burrata board tonight, come early...

I have a lot of conversations about the restaurant, with guests, purveyors, employees, potential employees... pretty muc...
07/21/2026

I have a lot of conversations about the restaurant, with guests, purveyors, employees, potential employees... pretty much everyone has ideas.

Some of those ideas are fantastic, and I love them. Some make perfect sense from the outside but just aren't realistic once you're the one running the restaurant. And some are simply for show.

The longer we've been open, the less interested I am in trying to impress people with things that don't matter.

I don't care if a dish has 37 useless garnishes. I care that every ingredient on the plate has a purpose and makes the food taste better.

I don't care if we don't have three people standing at the front door waiting to greet you if it doesn't actually improve your night.

I don't care about trends that exist just to get a better Instagram picture if they don't make the food any better.

I do care that your steak is cooked exactly the way you like it.

I do care that your server is genuine and treats you like a guest, not another table.

I do care that your halibut is flaky, fresh, and tastes like Alaska.

I do care that every wine we pour has a story, and that we can share it with you if you want to hear it.

And I do care that when you walk out the door, you feel like your evening was worth every penny.

That's always been the goal at Corks & Hops.

Real food. Real people. No shortcuts. No microwaves. No fryers.

Awards are wonderful. Recognition is appreciated. But they aren't the goal.

The goal has always been to build the kind of restaurant where you enjoy coming back week after week. A place where you know the staff, where you're treated like family, and where you feel like you belong.

As long as we never lose sight of that, I think everything else will take care of itself.

UPDATE: we sold out around 8:30. The Burrata Board will reappear Tuesday! Introducing the Burrata Board.You've been a...
07/19/2026

UPDATE: we sold out around 8:30. The Burrata Board will reappear Tuesday!

Introducing the Burrata Board.

You've been asking for more shareable appetizers, so we finally gave in.

Our new Burrata Board combines one of our most popular catering favorites with a classic charcuterie style presentation. Fresh burrata, prosciutto, kalamata olives, pesto marinated tomatoes, house bread, strawberry jam, and plenty to pass around the table.

We're starting with a limited run while we see what everyone thinks, so once they're gone for the night, they're gone.

Pour Decisions time!While we earned our Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for the breadth and quality of our wine progr...
07/16/2026

Pour Decisions time!

While we earned our Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for the breadth and quality of our wine program, we're not ashamed to admit that California is still the majority of our list.

That's not because I don't love France, Italy, Spain, or the rest of the wine world. It's because for nearly six years, that's what Eagle River has asked for. My goal has never been to build a wine list that impresses other sommeliers, it's been to build a wine list that our guests actually want to drink.

Tonight we're featuring four wines that represent that philosophy perfectly. Great wines from great producers, ranging from Napa Valley icons to one of my favorite wines from France's Rhône Valley.

PlumpJack Reserve Chardonnay

Paul Jaboulet Gigondas

Marietta Christo

Othello by Dominus Estate

It's Wednesday, which means it's Community Night at Corks & Hops.Teachers, military, police, fire, healthcare workers, a...
07/15/2026

It's Wednesday, which means it's Community Night at Corks & Hops.

Teachers, military, police, fire, healthcare workers, and all the folks who keep Eagle River running get 10% off food tonight. We appreciate what you do, even if some of you are enjoying the last few weeks before school starts back up. (too soon?)

We also have something a little unusual for a Wednesday - FRESH Alaska Halibut is on the menu tonight. Normally you have to wait until the weekend for that, but we had SO many requests last night I went and grabbed some.

And since a local food reviewer spent part of yesterday debating where to find the best burger in Anchorage, we'll just say this... our grill was on, the lights were on, and the burgers were available all night.

No need to take the internet's word for it. Come try one yourself.

Fresh Halibut.
Certified Angus Beef Steaks.
Award winning burgers.
Community Night.

Photo reminder that we DID have a summer... a few days anyway...

It's Trivia Tuesday at Corks & Hops!That means three things: Burgers Trivia Apple TurnoversOur Certified Angus Beef burg...
07/15/2026

It's Trivia Tuesday at Corks & Hops!

That means three things:

Burgers
Trivia
Apple Turnovers

Our Certified Angus Beef burgers are on special all night, Trivia kicks off at 7:30, and if you've been waiting for the Apple Turnover to come back, tonight's your night.

The funny thing about Trivia Tuesday is that every week I make a post, and every week people still call to ask if we're doing trivia. So yes, we're doing trivia. We are always doing trivia. Unless the building is floating down Eagle River, we're probably doing trivia.

Come grab a burger, have a drink, argue with your friends about answers you're definitely wrong about, and save room for dessert.

HAPPY BEAR PAW!If you've had enough crowds, traffic, and fair food at Vegas prices, take a short stroll over to Corks & ...
07/11/2026

HAPPY BEAR PAW!

If you've had enough crowds, traffic, and fair food at Vegas prices, take a short stroll over to Corks & Hops this weekend.

A few reasons why:

• 2025 Certified Angus Beef Chef Summit Culinary Challenge Winner
• Recipient of Wine Spectator's 2026 Award of Excellence
• Finalist for Best Burger and Best Steak in the 2026 Best of Alaska Awards

No fryers. No microwaves. No shortcuts.

Just Certified Angus Beef steaks, fresh seafood, scratch made dishes, and one of the best wine selections in Alaska.

Whether you're escaping the crowds for lunch, dinner, or a glass of wine on the patio (sun permitting), we'll be here all weekend.

— Jason

Address

12551 Old Glenn Highway Unit A
Anchorage, AK
99577

Opening Hours

Tuesday 12pm - 9pm
Wednesday 12pm - 9pm
Thursday 12pm - 9pm
Friday 12pm - 9pm
Saturday 12pm - 9pm
Sunday 12pm - 8pm

Website

,

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Corks & Hops posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Corks & Hops:

Shortcuts

Share

Category