To start our fifth (!) edition of our attempt to rank the best beers in golf for the year that was, we should make it understood that this exercise is harder to perform than keeping our favorite beverage cool during the summer. No, we ask not for pity, as the job of reflecting back on great rounds and great drinks brings more joy than the 19th hole’s first sip. It’s just that there’s this one simple fact:
Any beer is a good golf beer.
The light beer in a can at the muni? Good!
The imported bottle in the grill room? Good!
The hoppy IPA on draft at the country club? Good!
There’s no losing here. But some simply go down smoother than the others. And this is an effort to try to name them.
Some introductions of our four-person panel. There’s the author, a native of Milwaukee who learned the game on parks department courses — and grew up across the street from a bar. There’s Chad Underwood, an Ohioan whose travels around the world in pursuit of great golf and beer make the author envious. There’s Scott Coleman, co-founder of Cushwa Brewing Company in Maryland, a brewery that you must visit if you haven’t and one you’ve returned to if you have. There’s Ryan Guthy, one of the co-founders of Wicked Weed Brewing in Asheville, N.C.,, a brewery whose popularity is unmatched along much of the East Coast.
Our assignments are threefold. We rate:
– The best beers with golf in the name, a nod to creativity
– The best golf club beer, a salute to those courses that invest in their own brew
– The best golf beers, a raise of the glass to the game’s greatest brews
Before we begin, two important notes:
Our rankings should be labeled as a conversation-at-the-bar starter, and not an end all, be all. Regionality plays a large role here, as does taste, and we’re just four golfers who also like their suds.
So … if you think a beer should be in any of the ratings …
Please email me (nick.piastowski@golf.com), or reach out over Twitter (@nickpia). Bonus points if you want to mail me a sixer, of course. Then, around next year at this time, I’ll post the ratings again. Shoot, you could end up in the panel even.
With that, here are the 2025 ratings. Cheers!
Best beers with golf in the name (top seven, in alphabetical order)
— Azalea by Emancipation Brewing Co., Fairbury, Illinois: Easy pick.
— Birdie on a Par 3 by North Pillar Brewing Co, Waukesha, Wisconsin: Good beer, good name. One of the reviewers has stopped at this newer brewery a few times, and was happy to see it add a golf beer.
— Crispy on the Course by Country Club Brewing, South Bethlehem, Pennsylvania: Wrote a reviewer: If there’s anywhere a crispy beer is at home, it’s on the golf course.
— Pin High Pilsner by Market Garden Brewing, Cleveland: Back again. A portion of the beer’s proceeds are donated to support youth golf educational programs at Cleveland Metroparks Golf Courses.
— Ridin’ Birdie by Wrong Crowd Beer Company, West Chester, Pennsylvania: A returnee. A contender for the best use of ‘golf’ in the name.
— Tart Path Only by Dogleg Brewing Company, Vista, California: We’ll bring this beer back again. But several others at Dogleg could have made this list.
— Yippie IPA by St. Andrews Brewing Company, Scotland: Another returnee. The St. Andrews Brewing Company is also a sponsor of LPGA pro Gemma Dryburgh, a friend of the ratings.
Best golf club beer (top 15, in alphabetical order)
— 1854 IPA, brewed for Philadelphia Cricket Club by Conshohocken Brewing Company, Conshohocken, Pennsylvania: Back again. A favorite of the panel.
— Allegheny Airstrike, brewed for Allegheny Country Club by Links Brewing Company, Pittsburgh: Wrote one of our raters: “Very few feelings are as satisfying as seeing your Airstrike arrive on the course.”
— Bandon Pale Ale, brewed for Bandon Dunes by Hop Valley Brewing Company, Eugene, Oregon: An obvious returnee. Just a good golf beer.
— Blue Cup Lite, brewed for Columbia Country Club by Brookeville Beer Farm, Brookeville, Maryland: Wrote a reviewer: “Easy-drinking lager to help you traverse the surprising amount of hills on this Chevy Chase, Maryland, gem.”
— Champions Lager, brewed for Scioto Country Club: Said a reviewer: “The beer from Jack’s home course growing up is a delightfully refreshing beer that can be enjoyed on a hot summer day, preferably after making the turn at the wonderfully redone Andrew Green design.”
— Cog Hill Long Drive Ale, brewed for Cog Hill Golf & Country Club by Pollyanna Brewing & Distilling, Lemont, Illinois: Wrote a reviewer: “Best to down one before breaking out the lumber.”
— Dyeabolical, brewed for Whistling Straits by Eagle Park Brewing Company, Milwaukee: This easily could have fit in the category above.
— False Front, brewed for Rolling Green Golf Club by Levante Brewing Company, West Chester, Pennsylvania: Last year, this beer was suggested by a reader, who wrote: “Don’t forget False Front. Made for Rolling Green Golf Club, an homage to architect William Flynn’s dastardly green designs. A delicious IPA, also sold under the name Cloudy and Cumbersome.”
— Fore Y’all Muni Lager, brewed for Charleston Municipal by Freehouse Brewery, Charleston, South Carolina: A returnee from last year. We’re always fans of muni beers.
— Lark Lager, brewed for Meadowlark Golf Course by Laguna Brewing Company, Laguna Beach, California: Another beer suggested by a reader, who wrote: “An easy-drinking session beer with our inception date (1922) and course layout on the can. We also can get it on draft!”
— Level Par Lager, brewed for Canal Shores Golf Club, by Sketchbook Brewing Company, Evanston, Illinois: The brewery’s description of the beer is how every beer should be described: “The perfect beer for pizza, a round of golf, or a day relaxing in the backyard.
— Oakmont 1903, brewed for Oakmont Country Club, by Links Brewing Company, Pittsburgh: A must-have at the host of this year’s U.S. Open.
— Red Wicker ESB, brewed for Merion by Conshohocken Brewing Company, Conshohocken, Pennsylvania: A couple of years ago, one of our raters described the beer this way: “I don’t know if it’s because it’s poured out of a red wicker basket handle, or because I’m on cloud nine after walking the hallowed grounds of Merion, or because I’m in a daze after their world-famous showers, but this beer, poured into a frosty cold mug, is a delight.”
— Stymie, brewed for Columbia Country Club by Logboat Brewing Co., Columbia, Missouri: One of the best golf beers, for a couple of reasons. The taste is great. And so is the attention to detail — the can is wrapped in a dimpled sticker (!) that shows the logo and course map. The author tried one of these earlier in the year — and saved one to enjoy after this story was written.
— The Ocean Course Pale Ale, brewed for Kiawah Island Golf Resort by Low Tide Brewing, Johns Island, South Carolina: One of the better pale ales you’ll have. Nominated by a few of our raters.
— Bonus! A Masters beer! Crow’s Nest Wheat Ale: The author enjoys this one — after his stories are filed, of course.
— Bonus! A club cocktail! KFC, mixed at the Golf Club: Wrote a reviewer: “This cocktail, which originated at the Golf Club, has been replicated by many clubs throughout the Midwest. A delightful combination of Ketel One, Fresca and cranberry, you won’t be disappointed when you give this one a whirl. I’ve started making it on my own on hot summer days.”
Best golf beers (top 15, in alphabetical order)
— Bourbon County Brand Original Stout, Goose Island Beer Co., Chicago: This beauty is meant to be had post-round, as it’s higher in alcohol, but it’s very, very delicious.
— Genesee Cream Ale, by Genesee Brewing Company, Rochester, N.Y.: Said one of our raters: “After my first go-around at Oak Hill East this summer, I was delighted to hear they had Genesee Cream Ale on tap. While I’ve been drinking it for years on my annual trips to the Finger Lakes, this light and easy drinker took on new meaning after a day facing the East course. It was a revelation, and I even bought a 30-pack to bring home with me!”
— Greenskeeper IPA by Land-Grant Brewing Company, Columbus, Ohio: A mainstay on this list.
— Guinness Draught by Guinness, Dublin, Ireland: Maybe the author’s best beer moment of the year came via a post-round Guinness at the Brazenhead in Dublin.
— Heady Topper by The Alchemist, Stowe, Vermont: The author’s favorite beer. A bit stronger, but perfect for after the round.
— Lakeside Lager, by Ithaca Beer Co., Ithaca, N.Y.: Wrote a reviewer: “Another post-round beer on my trip to Central New York this year. This lager was full of flavor and packed a punch, yet was light and refreshing. A must-try if you’re up in that area, and a perfect beer after a round in the scorching heat of mid-summer.
