Red ales are so hot right now. Georgetown Brewing Company has been making its Chopper’s Red Ale for a while, but they now feature a happy accident consistently on tap at the brewery (5840 Airport Way S., round the back), the Superchopp. An extra dollop (dash? flourish? shit ton?) of hops creates a teeter totter effect with the sweet malt element of the beer, adding flowers and spice in the aroma and a great zip to the finish. Superchopp is available only at the brewery by keg or growler.

On the north side of town,

Big Time Brewery (4133 University Wat N.E.) has an Amarillo Hopfest on cask that will mentally put you in the middle of a slightly run amok backyard crammed with apple trees, the herbal and fruit aromas are that forward. The effect is more relaxing than overly intense. Big Time makes Hopfest by changing up the single variety of hops; but this one, with less carbonation from being on cask, is a particularly outstanding effort and great ode to summer.

Did you know? The Seattle Beer Authority (12716 Lake City Way NE) holds an informal tasting every week night from 4:30-7:30pm? They also offer a tasting all day on Saturdays.