Our toast to the best drinks of the game

Cheers!

Happy golf, the activity we love and hate, that rewards and punishes, that’s the name of this website.

Cheers to you, golfer, for pars, birdies and bogeys, for your one-shot wins and 1-ups, for tips, chips, slices and hooks, even because, hey, worst day to play golf is better than that best day to work, as that random playing partner likes to remind you.

Happy golfing beers, the game’s cold companion, the liquid that honors our victories and soothes our wounds.

And hello to these rankings, which recognize the best in golf products!

Four cheers in all, and that’s by design. This is the fourth annual edition of these awards and the memories are happy and joyful. The first yearwe were capricious; the author simply tried to find the best beers with golf in the name. The second yearour homegrown project grew; Chad Underwood, a golf and beer aficionado from Ohio, joined the panel and together, we ranked the best golf beers in general and the best beers at golf clubs, along with the best beers with golf in the name . Last yearwe added again; Scott Coleman, outstanding co-founder and ever creative Cushwa Brewing Companywas welcomed on board and it gave this exercise additional legitimacy.

Year four sees a similar move, and our glass is similarly brimming with excitement, as Ryan Guthy has set up a bench in our bar. Guthy is one of the co-founders of Creating weedsone of the craft beer powerhouses in the country. Yes, we now have a foursome.

Here’s the best part, though:

The trio and the author went to work. No hangovers here.

We’re ranking the best beers with golf in the name. We’re ranking the best beers in golf clubs. We’re ranking the best golf beers overall. Our findings are below.

But before we begin, two important notes:

Our rankings should be labeled as the beginning of the bar conversation, not the end, be all. Regionality plays a big part here, as does taste, and we’re just four golfers who also like their pool.

So… if you think a beer should be in any of the ratings…

Please email (nick.piastowski@golf.com), or get in touch via Twitter (@nickpia). Bonus points if you want to mail me a sixer, of course. Then, around this time next year, I’ll post the ratings again. Shoot, you might even end up on the panel.

With that, here are the ratings for 2024. Cheers!

Best beers with golf in the name (top five, in alphabetical order)

– Duck Hook by Southern Pines Brewing CompanySouthern Pines, North Carolina: Yes, this will make the list. Now we need someone to pull out a banana slice hefe.

— Pin High Pilsner by Market Garden BrewingCleveland: An obvious returnee. A portion of the beer’s proceeds are donated to support youth golf education programs at Cleveland Metroparks Golf Courses.

– Ridin’ Birdie by Wrong Crowd Beer CompanyWest Chester, PA: One of our reviewers said, “Delicious hazy IPA brewed with Comet and amarillo hops.”

– Highlighted path only from Dogleg Brewing CompanyVista, California: Not surprisingly, Dogleg has several contenders. We are fans of gaming too.

– Yippie IPA from St. John’s Brewing Company AndrewsScotland: We don’t like mentioning the ‘Y’ word, but we’ll make an exception. St. John’s Brewing Company Andrews is also a sponsor of the LPGA pro Gemma Dryburgh, a friend of the ratings.

Bonus! From Guthy, which has named more than its fair share of beers: “White tees. Still not used in the market – but a name I love for a Belgian white / wit. An everyday beer for the everyday golfer.

Best Golf Club Beer (Top Nine, in Alphabetical Order)

– 1854 IPA, brewed for the Philadelphia Cricket Club by Conshohocken Brewing CompanyConshohocken, Pennsylvania: A returnee. Philly Cricket also gets a PGA Tour event this year.

– Allegheny Airstrike, created for Allegheny Country Club by Link Brewing CompanyPittsburgh: From one of our reviewers: “During World War II, Allegheny Country Club was used as an airport and this beer followed. If you’re nice to the staff, you might as well do an ‘airstrike’ on your group.”

– Bandon Pale Ale, brewed for Bandon Dunes by Hop Valley Brewing CompanyEugene, Oregon: Another returnee. Enjoy one of these in between rounds of your days 36 holes.

– Cliff Hanger, brewed for Whistling Straits by Eagle Park Brewing CompanyMilwaukee: Whistling Straits beer returns. Good name, good beer.

– False Front, designed for Rolling Green Golf Club by Levante Brewing CompanyWest Chester, Pennsylvania: One reader wrote, “Don’t forget the False Front. Created for Rolling Green Golf Club, an homage to architect William Flynn’s distressed green designs. A delicious IPA, also sold as Cloudy and Cumbersome.”

– Merion IPA, brewed for Merion by Workhorse Brewing CompanyKing of Prussia, Pennsylvania: One of our reviewers said it well last year: “I don’t know if it’s because it’s poured from a red wicker basket handle, or because I’m on cloud nine after walking the land of Merion’s sanctity, or because I’m confused after their world-famous showers, but this beer, poured into an ice-cold mug, is a delight.”

– Pinehurst Deuceland Pilsner created for Pinehurst by Creating weedsAsheville, North Carolina: Guthy said, “One pill we made, we poured it into The Deuce located at Pinehurst No. 2.”

– Pin Seeker Pilsner brewed for TPC Sawgrass by Mocama Brewing CompanyFernandina Beach, Florida: One of our reviewers said, “TPC Sawgrass partnered with Mocama to create this fresh, Czech-style pilsner. Strong consolation after losing a sleeve of balls on number 17.”

– The Ocean Course Pale Ale, brewed for Kiawah by Low tide productionJohns Island, South Carolina: One of our reviewers said, “I’ve been lucky enough to play Kiawah’s Ocean Course a few times and always enjoy finishing a round on their picturesque grounds.”

– Bonus! A muni beer! Fore Y’all Muni Lager, created for Charleston Municipal by Free BreweryCharleston, South Carolina: Said one of our reviewers: “A beer for the common man, often seen in one of the best breweries in the US”

– Bonus! A Masters beer! Crow’s Nest Wheat Ale: Who brews it remains unknown, though GOLF’s Josh Berhow tried to find out.

– Bonus! A club cocktail! Frozen Tomahawk, Blended at Timuquana CC: Said one of our reviewers: “This tops the list of my favorite club drinks I’ve ever had. On a warm Florida day, this concoction of vodka, lemonade, club soda, sugar and lime is as delicious as it is dangerous. Two of these on the back nine at Timuquana and the score won’t matter. Then again, for most of us, we probably shouldn’t anyway!”

The Best Golf Beers (Top 12, in Alphabetical Order)

— IPA all day by Founders Brewing Co.Grand Rapids, Michigan: One of our reviewers said, “As the brewery says, it indulges your taste buds while keeping your senses sharp (until you don’t care anymore).”

— Bad Birdie Juicy Golden Ale by Drinking the Four PeaksTempe, Arizona: A collaboration between Four Peaks and Bad Birdie, this beer is a delight on the golf course. Just the right amount of ‘juice’ flavor. Lower ABV. Big, big fan.

– Del’s Shandy from Narragansett BeerProvidence, Rhode Island: One of our reviewers said, “A summer thirst quencher.”

– Freak of Nature by Creating weedsAsheville, North Carolina: Said one of our reviewers: “This is the best pre-round beer out there. It ignites your confidence and lets you go.”

– Greenskeeper Session IPA by Land-Grant Brewing CompanyColumbus, Ohio: Back again. A nice nod to the people who keep our courses running too.

– Draft Guinness from GuinnessDublin, Ireland: One of our reviewers said: “I made my first pilgrimage to Ireland this year, and while it has been mentioned in this article before, I can assure you that the recommendation is as perfect as you can imagine. My first round in Lahinch started with a jam scone and a pint of Guinness and I couldn’t be happier.”

– Heady Topper by The alchemistStowe, Vermont: The author’s favorite beer. A little stronger, but perfect for after the round.

– Par Punch by Workhorse Brewing CompanyKing of Prussia, Pennsylvania: Pretty quiet. Perfect.

– Salty Golfer Pineapple Blond by Grand Strand Brewing CompanyMyrtle Beach, South Carolina: One of our reviewers said: “I had the pleasure of experiencing this beer with the salty golfer himself, a local legend around Pawleys Island. Just the right amount of pineapple to add a hint of sweetness.”

– Irish Red, Smithwick’sKilkenny, Ireland: noted reviewer who golfed in Ireland this year: “I quickly discovered that for some of us, Guinness doesn’t leave much room in our bellies after a while. After a few days of golfing among the dunes and links of South West Ireland, I found myself drawn to this wonderful Irish beer.”

– Cow contaminated by New Glarus Brewing CompanyNew Glarus, Wisconsin: A returnee. For many, arguably the quintessential golf beer.

– This will play from Cushwa Brewing CompanyWilliamsport, Maryland: A favorite. A light lager with lime, it’s the perfect summer crush.

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