Cheddar-ale soup Photo by Gretchen WeissAmongst the industrial clutter where Dimond meets Abbott is The Loft at the Midnight Sun Brewing Company. The large logo on the garage door served as a beacon through the maze of warehouses, yet when I arrived I was still not sure I had found the right place. Large signs indicating that the “Loft is Open” were posted and I followed the written reassurance past the beer counter, open manager’s office and up a utility staircase. Bright winter sunlight and a welcoming open space greeted my efforts as the Loft features large windows with mountain views.

Flannel sporting bearded Alaskans shared the café area, which included a beer bar and several small industrial-chic tables surround by colorful art. Selecting a location by the windows I ordered the Cheddar-ale soup (Matanuska sharp cheddar meets Kodiak brown ale - $7 Bowl) and house-made lemon fizz soda ($3). The Cheddar-ale soup comes with stir in options (garlic croutons, spicy nuts, chorizo or broccoli florets) and per a suggestion by my server, I chose the garlic croutons.

The menu features a handful of creatively designed sandwiches, salads and appetizers with suggestions for which beer would compliment each. Hungry for a Three Cheese Squeeze sandwich featuring cheddar, provolone, mozzarella, roasted tomato and caramelized onions ($11)? Try the Kodiak Brown Ale for a complementary flavor or the Ale Slayers pale ale for contrast.

My soup arrived and I thought I was eating my mother’s beer cheese soup. I stirred in the severely garlicky croutons and although they broke up the monotony of the one-textured soup, I found them rather large and tricky to navigate. The lemon fizz soda was sweet and refreshing but in the end tasted like powdered lemonade mix that has been carbonated. The house-made root beer proved more inspiring with a sweetness tempered by the hearty flavor found in specially mixed micro-brews.

The twists on the classic café fare, such as the peanut butter dipper ($8, featuring peanut butter and honey on whole grain bread, grilled, cut into slices and served with mixed berry dipping sauce) will draw me back to this hidden, yet lively, industrial brewery.

Midnight Sun Brewing Company is open daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and is located at 8111 Dimond Hook Drive (344-1179, midnightsunbrewing.com)

--Gretchen Weiss