Welcome to Sip Northwest’s Bar Tab, a weekly selection of what to drink in the Northwest now. Come on in, belly up to the counter and order a metaphorical drink on us. We sense a theme here, summer is coming… And so are the seasonally appropriate beers now available to splash in your glass this week.
Kulshan Brewing Co. Sunnyland India Pale Ale | It’s hard to not think of sunny skies when the singular malt used in this hop-forward, sessionable IPA is called “Golden Promise.” Match that with a fitting title and hops that give juicy citrus aromas and flavors (Citra, Chinook) and Kulshan Brewing, the golden child of Bellingham, Washington’s beer scene, has another zesty, fruity yet chuggable IPA for the masses, availabe at either of its two locations.
Payette Brewing Fly Line Vienna Lager | In the spirit of “where there’s fishing, there’s beer,” Payette Brewing cans a crushable Vienna-style lager for such summer situations. The Garden City, Idaho, brewery just opened up a second location in downtown Boise in April and the subtle, sweet malts and refreshing, crispness of this beer should be enjoyed from its riverside beer garden.
Big Sky Brewing Summer Honey | So many songs reference the greatness of honey in the summer and this Missoula, Montana, brewery did not miss a beat. Big Sky might be best known for its Moose Drool brown ale, but this brighter, tighter rendition mixes a proprietary spice blend with honey, both complementing the use of European hops and countering that bitterness. The ale is full-bodied yet light on its feet, allowing for repeats with only 5 percent ABV.
Pike Brewing Space Needle Golden India Pale Ale | When biking, hiking, camping, fishing or general outdoors-ing, cans are the ideal choice of on-the-go beer consumption. Pike Brewing recently released this perennial favorite (and ode to the mighty Seattle Space Needle) in the al fresco-friendly can packaging. Five Yakima Valley hop varieties and four rich, full-bodied malts are brewed to make this golden IPA, which is later dry-hopped with whole cones for extra aromatic exertion. Aromatic and bold, this ale is for the bigger, brasher summer drinkers who refuse to sacrifice flavor intensity (and ABV) due to heat.
Double Mountain Brewery Devil’s Kriek Flander Red Sour Ale | For tried and tree Northwesterners, few things are more bound to summer nostalgia than cherries. This Hood River, Oregon, brewery seizes this moment of reminiscence and bottles it as a kriek—a Belgian-style sour ale that combines tart Brettanomyces yeast with 200 pounds of Bing cherries grown on its nearby estate orchard. Sweet and sour, this Flanders red-style ale is an annual release not to be missed for memory’s sake.
Buoy Beer Co. Gary’s Buddy Pilsner | This Astoria, Oregon-based brewery matches Northwest hop innovation with classic German refreshment in this lager named for two local besties that love the Oregon outdoors and American pilsner. Cascade and Centennial hops pop on a finely drawn malt bill, allowing for citrus to shine without overwhelming the subtle sweetness of the malt. A thirst-quenching combination perfect for the open air.
