Light brews with mild flavor and floral notes, like the wildflowers that fill the Cascade Mountains in spring and early summer, are excellent summer sippers. Pacific Northwest taps are also flowing with post-hike taste-of-the-forest options such as saisons, farmhouse ales and funky brews that taste piney and wild.
CRISP & LIGHT
La Magie French Pilsner
Wayfinder Beer | Portland, Oregon
Wayfinder Beer’s La Magie French Pilsner is a crisp lager made with Strisselspalt hops. These mild hops with delicate aromas originate from France’s Alsace region near Strasbourg. They give this clear, pale straw–color beer floral notes and light citrus. This food-friendly pint goes well with ribs, barbecue and other items just off the grill.
5.3% ABV | Wayfinder.beer
Works RBW Lager
Recluse Brew | Washougal, Washington
Recluse Brew Works owner and brewer Gus Everson brewed at Widmer and Wayfinder before opening his own place across the Columbia River. RBW lager is his flagship beer. A light, bright straightforward American classic lager that goes well with the food offered from the rotating lineup of food trucks parked outside Recluse’s taproom in Washougal.
4.9% ABV | reclusebrew.works
Kascadia Kölsch
54:40 Brewing | Washougal, Washington
54:40 is another great Washougal-based brewery. Kascadia Kölsh is part of their wheelhouse series that’s available year-round. Traditional imported Pilsner malt and a classic German yeast strain create a light, bright, brew that is perfect for a day at nearby Cottonwood Beach or a hike on one of the many trails just a short drive away in the Columbia Gorge.
4.8% ABV | 5440beer.com
Pils de Pils
Gold Dot | McMinnville, Oregon
After a five year break, the Bitburger Pilsner Challenge returned this year. Twelve breweries from across the U.S. competed over three days at Prost! in Portland to earn the title of best pilsner at this prestigious event presented by Bitburger Brewery of Bitburg, Germany – where the first pilsner was brewed in 1883. Gold Dot Beer Company, a McMinnville, Oregon, brewery, was crowned the winner with their Pils de Pils, a northern German interpretation of pilsner using a single varietal of German barley bittered with elegant and spicy German hops.
5.1% ABV | golddotbeer.com
FUNKY FOREST FLAVORS
Queens & Sons Soft IPA
Kings and Daughters Brewery | Hood River, Oregon
The soft IPA from this Hood River brewery was influenced from the time owners Kyle Larsen and Kacie McMackin spent in England where Larsen was the head brewer at Siren Craft Brew in Berkshire. This pale gold sipper evokes the walled gardens and woodlands of the English countryside. McMackin’s delicate artwork on the can features a small hand carefully holding a bouquet of English roses. Beer can design typically skews masculine, but this lovely drawing matches the subtle hoppiness of the soft IPA inside.
5.3% ABV | kingsanddaughters.com
Second Sight Yarrow Wild Ale
Dwinell Country Ales| Goldendale, Washington
Goldendale, Oregon, based Dwinnell is known for blended wild yeast farmhouse ales. Second Sight, a collaboration with Portland-based Upright Brewing, has the restrained funkiness of Dwinell’s other ales tempered with foraged yarrow, calendula and rue flowers that add honey and floral notes to this gold-hued wheat ale.
5.7% ABV | countryales.com
The Dandy Lion
Threshold Brewing | Portland, Oregon
A summer dandelion-infused saison with light fruity notes as well as a touch of herbaceous green, all of which comes from a surprising addition: honey imported from the Polish town of Pszczółki. Brewed in conjunction with Portland’s Imperial Bottle Shop, this sunny summer sipper is available on tap only at Threshold and Imperial Bottle Shop.
5.7% ABV |threshold.beer
Trail Magic Lager
Reuben’s Brews | Seattle, Washington
Award-winning Reuben’s Brews describes this rustic lager as the perfect beer to enjoy at the end of a satisfying hike. Pilsner, Vienna and rye malt are combined with Hallertau Mittelfrüh and Talus hops, providing a dry finish and notes of spruce tips, grapefruit and a bit of spice.
7.2% ABV | reubensbrews.com
