Cascade Golfer’s Favorite Summer Beers

Just like your golf swing, Northwest Microbrews get smoother in the summer. And just down the road from many of your favorite courses, you’ll find a local brewpub pouring fresh, seasonal beers perfect for your post-round round (or two.) So when you reach for a cold one after adding them up, consider these notable potables:

Elliott Bay Brewing Company

4720 California Ave. S.W., Seattle
Summer Beer: 10th Anniversary Ale
Nearest Public Course: West Seattle GC (.75 miles)

An all-star lineup of 10 local brewers each contributed a pound of their own favorite hops to this pale ale, a well-balanced blend of smooth maltiness with a subtle bite. Not as light as your typical “summer” seasonal but no less refreshing. Elliott Bay’s happy hour menu rocks; try the mini shredded pork sandwiches, slathered in BBQ sauce made with their own No Doubt Stout.

Redhook Brewery/Forecasters Pub

14300 NE 145th St., Woodinville
Summer Beer: Blonde Ale
Nearest Public Course: Willows Run GC (4.2 miles)

Redhook’s most popular choice to quench a summer thirst, the Blonde is lightly sweet with a hint of hoppiness at the end. Even your macro-beer drinking buddies can handle its mildness. From the pub menu heavy on salads, burgers and sandwiches, the standout is the Hammer, stacked with all natural smoked ham, havarti, avocado and sprouts.

Scuttlebutt Brewing Co.

1524 West Marine View Dr., Everett
Summer Beer: Homeport Blonde
Nearest Public Course: Legion Memorial G.C. (1.8 miles)

The Homeport Blonde is as drinkable a beer as you’ll find this side of St. Louis; crisp, smooth and flowery. The Scuttlebutt pub is a popular no-frills establishment (two plasmas provide most of the décor) on the waterfront. Try the Amber Ale Tiger Prawns and Chips; these shrimp are massive and the fries are perfectly seasoned.

Diamond Knot Brewery & Alehouse

621 Front Street, Mukilteo
Summer Beer: Hefeweizen
Nearest Public Course: Walter Hall GC (4.6 miles)

Diamond Knot prides itself on distinction and the Hefe is no microbrew clone. This is the real thing in all its aromatic Bavarian glory, the Weihenstephan Yeast tickling your throat. The Alehouse evokes a backroads Irish pub and among the stonegrill sandwiches — served on a hot stone for searing your meat to taste — try the Beerish Dip with steak, swiss and horseradish.

Skagit River Brewing Company

404 S. 3rd St., Mount Vernon
Summer Beer: Dutch Girl Lager
Nearest Public Course: Eaglemont GC (3.8 miles)

Proving that lagers can be just as flavorful as their ale cousins, the Dutch Girl combines generous maltiness with just enough Yakima hops to give it a crisp citrus finish. Wood-fired pizzas are SRBC’s specialty and The Chuckanut is the best, with crust made from scratch, roasted chicken, pesto, red onions and black olives.

Engine House No. 9 Pub and Brewery

611 N. Pine Street, Tacoma
Summer Beer: Potion No. 9
Nearest Public Course: Allenmore GC (1.3 miles)

E9 Brewery, as its known by locals, has been mixing up its Potion No. 9 for years, a singular summer ale that’s light and refreshing without skimping on the flavor. Housed in a 1907 firehouse that was the last in Tacoma to have horse-drawn fire engines, the Pub has served its Famous Soft Tacos for 30 years, augmented by their special E9 sauce.

Fishbowl Brewpub/Fish Brewing Co.

515 Jefferson St. E, Olympia
Summer Beer: Friesner Pilsner
Nearest Public Course: Tumwater Valley G.C. (3 miles)

The Friesner delivers Bavarian malt and Saaz hops in equal measure, striking a flavorful balance between American micro and traditional German styles, light but never bland. Like their beers, the Fishbowl’s grub leans toward the organic, with the Smoked Wild Salmon Sandwich pairing well with the pilsner.