The Loop

The 9 best beers for the back nine

By Coleman Bentley

Beer and golf have gone hand-in-hand since the 19th century, when Old Tom Morris, jug of ale tucked under his arm, wandered the Scottish Highlands smacking a tiny ball with a stick (Fictionalized Account). Things have certainly changed a lot since then. Budweiser was born, became an American icon, and was bought by the French. Golf fell under the rule of a King, a Bear, and eventually a Tiger. And yet today—as our favorite beers for the back nine prove—the bond between birdies and brews remains as strong as ever. So grab the boys, a bottle opener, and your clubs (don’t forget those again), and join us for nine holes worth of swing coaches in a can. Your handicap may not thank you, but your palate definitely will.

Lord Hobo Boomsauce

Location: Woburn, MAABV: 7.8%New England IPAs—a hazy, juicy take on the classic hop bomb—are the all rage, and what better way to get acquainted than with one from, you know, New England. Lord Hobo's flagship is a quintessential example, pouring rich golden orange and bursting with notes of tropical fruit, citrus, and pine. Plus with a name like Boomsauce, it's sure to add 10 yards to your drive.Buy

Evil Twin Citra Sunshine Slacker

Location: Copenhagen, Denmark / New York, NYABV: 4.5%It's all right there on the can. Sunshine. Slacking. A copyright friendly illustration of The Dude. This acclaimed Danish brewer's session IPA (currently brewed at Two Roads Brewing's Connecticut HQ) is the perfect partner for a lazy spring afternoon at the CC or, come the second week of April, in front of the TV. You'll find plenty of citrus, a mellow hop bite, and an ABV that says "I'm an adult and have to stuff to do later...maybe."Buy

Founders Solid Gold

Location: Grand Rapids, MIABV: 4.4%In a sea of goses, sours, double IPAs, and funky farmhouse saisons, it's increasingly hard to just find a plain old beer, let alone one worth drinking. Enter Founders' Solid Gold, a slightly creamy, perfectly frothy elixir thats taste exactly like beer looks like it tastes in episodes of Mad Men. In two years, when the American lager revival is in full swing, remember to thank the Solid Gold.Buy

Breckenridge Brewery Nitro Irish Stout

Location: Breckenridge, COABV: 4.8%You don't have to go all the way to Royal Portrush for a proper Irish stout, no matter how much you might want to. So when the Emerald Isle pilgrimage gets the axe, just opt for Breck Brewing's year-round nitro stout instead, brewed with roasted Irish barley and injected with a healthy dose of nitro creaminess. Somewhere your beloved Guinness is shaking in its kilt.Buy

Savannah River Brewing Co. No Jacket Required Czech Pilsner

Location: Augusta, GAABV: 4.9%Looking to conjure a little Masters magic at the turn? The No Jacket Required Czech Pilsner from Savannah River Brewing Co.—located just down the road from Augusta National—is just the sudsy ticket. A crisp, dry Czech pils and loaded with European malt and Saaz hops, the No Jacket will have beer snobs and weekend warriors alike saying amen (corner, that is).

21st Amendment Brewery Hell or High Watermelon

Location: San Francisco, CAABV: 4.9%A veteran of the watermelon beer wars, 21st Amendment's Hell or High Watermelon is the easy-drinking wheat beer you need to help wash down the chili cheese dog you just scarfed at the turn. Hell even your buddy, who hasn't touched anything but Bud Light since freshman year, might dig its balanced take on the oft overbearing fruit beer. Oh, and if you're worried about manliness factor, just bring a damn coozie.Buy

Saint Archer Gold

Location: San Diego, CAABV: 4.2%If you're trying to get in BK shape this season but can't bring yourself to choke down a Michelob Ultra, look no further than Saint Archer Brewing Co.'s brand-new brew, the Saint Archer Gold. Weighing in at just 95 calories and 2.6 grams of carbs, this svelte can hits shelves in March, furthering Saint Archer's adventurous legacy (the brewery was founded by professional skateboarders and surfers) by going where most craft brands won't: The water-logged world of light beer.

Maine Beer Company Lunch

Location: Freeport, MEABV: 7%The best thing about Lunch, one of the lynchpin IPAs from cult favorite Maine Beer Company, is that you don't have to pack one (though the fresh, piney blend of Amarillo, Centennial, and Simcoe hops is pretty nice too). Someone tell Tiger the banana is sooooo 2008.Buy

Cigar City Brewing Maduro Brown Ale

Location: Tampa, FLABV: 5.5%If you’re trying to cut back on those mid-round cigars, then trade one vice for another with Cigar City Brewing’s Maduro Brown Ale, which approximates the classic stogie style with a smooth blend of roasted malt, oatmeal, and chocolate. Someone tell Miguel Angel Jimenez we found his new favorite beer.