The 5 best beers to pair with barbecue, according to Pinehurst’s head brewer

Welcome to Clubhouse Eats, where we celebrate the game’s most delectable food and drink. Hope you brought your appetites.

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There’s no better companion for finger-lickin’ barbecue than an ice-cold brewski.

Lucky for you, Pinehurst Brewing Company has a rotating selection of house-made suds that are perfect palate partners. Doesn’t matter if you order wings, brisket or ribs: Pair them with a pint of head brewer Hunter Michael Downing’s favorite selections for a post-round meal you’ll tell your friends about.

1. 1895 German Lager (5.1% ABV)

Light-bodied with prickly carbonation, the 1895 is described by Downing as a true golf-course beer: “Crafted Bud Light on steroids.” Brewed with a German yeast, it is a perfect post-round selection.

2. Pivot New England IPA (6.5% ABV)

This citrusy, hazy beer has notes of tropical fruit and is the brewery’s most popular pint. “It’s the peoples’ beer,” Downing says. “Pivot has a more pillowy mouth feel and isn’t as abrasive as traditional IPAs in terms of bitterness.”

3. Golden Age American Blonde (4.7% ABV)

One of the brewery’s flagship selections, this traditional blonde is light-bodied with notes of bread and a touch of tropical fruit.

4. Halfway In-Between Amber Ale (7.3% ABV)

This full-bodied selection has notes of caramel and toffee. Downing says the Halfway In-Between is his favorite beer with ribs and brisket because the beer’s malty sweetness is the perfect complement to the brewery’s barbecue sauce.

5. Breakfast Ball Coffee Stout (6.4% ABV)

Notes of vanilla, chocolate and coffee allow this stout to pair well with barbecue despite being heavier because it doubles as a palate cleanser. “Think salty sweet,” Downing says. “You’re diving into the smokehouse sampler, you have your ribs and brisket overwhelmed with the smoky, salty, vinegary acidity. The Breakfast Ball is the port wine — a good closing beer.

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As a four-year member of Columbia’s inaugural class of female varsity golfers, Jessica can out-birdie everyone on the masthead. She can out-hustle them in the office, too, where she’s primarily responsible for producing both print and online features, and overseeing major special projects, such as GOLF’s inaugural Style Is­sue, which debuted in February 2018. Her origi­nal interview series, “A Round With,” debuted in November of 2015, and appeared in both in the magazine and in video form on GOLF.com.