There are countless ways to enjoy summer in Bellingham on the water.
Paddling, sailing, whale watching — you name it. And if you don’t have a boat (or better yet, a friend with a boat), it’s easy enough to pay your way onto an evening cruise. Based in Fairhaven, two local businesses offer a variety of outings, from salmon dinner sails to a wine tasting cruise.
For beer fans, San Juan Cruises and Schooner Zodiac each offer brews cruises. I’ve attended and enjoyed both in recent years. San Juan’s cruise is shorter, more affordable and arguably more festive, while Schooner Zodiac offers an authentic sailing experience on a historic vessel. Whichever cruise you choose, enjoying brews on the bay is a quintessential Bellingham summer experience.
Bellingham Bay Brewers Cruise
A collaboration dreamt up by San Juan Cruises owner Drew Schmidt and Boundary Bay Brewery owner Ed Bennett, the Bellingham Bay Brewers Cruise launched in 2012. Each Wednesday throughout the summer, Boundary Bay and two guest breweries serve draft beer (in schooner-sized glassware) while cruising around Bellingham Bay.
On a clear summer evening in early July, I boarded San Juan Cruises’ Victoria Star 2. Once used to ferry supplies in the Gulf of Mexico, the 96-foot vessel holds up to 149 passengers. It was pretty packed during our tour, but there was room to spread out with indoor and outdoor seating on both decks. We snagged a table inside on the lower deck (the best seats are outside, at the stern) before grabbing beers and snacks.
With each brewery pouring two beers, there were six options to choose from — ranging from IPA to blonde ale and hefeweizen. While it’s certainly possible to try them all during the 90-minute tour, I’d recommend a slower pace (and plenty of snacks) for the best experience. The crew raffled off brewery swag at several points during our trip, giving away t-shirts and growlers. It’s a festive vibe that almost feels like a floating beer festival.
Departing from Bellingham Bay, the captain set out towards Lummi Island. We encircled Eliza Island before heading back to Fairhaven, enjoying views of the Chuckanut Mountains, Mount Baker and Canadian peaks to the north. Standing out on the bow provides the best vantage point for photos, plus a cool breeze on these hot summer nights.
The 1.5-hour tours (6:30–8 p.m.) include beer tastings and hearty snacks (pretzels, dips, wings, veggies, et cetera). The line begins forming around 6 p.m. outside the Bellingham Cruise Terminal — you’ll want to arrive early for the first choice of seating. Tickets ($44) are available at whales.com and they tend to sell out.
The Brewers Cruise runs each Wednesday through Sep. 18, followed by four additional Oktoberfest cruises in the fall (Sept. 27–28 and Oct. 4–5). $49 Oktoberfest cruises lean into the seasonal theme with harvest brews and German-inspired food pairings.
Ales N’ Sails Brewery Dinner Cruise
For a longer excursion, consider Schooner Zodiac’s Ales N’ Sails Brewery Dinner Cruise. This 3-hour sunset sail (6–9 p.m.) includes a full dinner prepared by the Zodiac’s chef, along with beer from a local brewery. Kulshan Brewing is the main brewery this year (appearing on three of the six sailings), and they brewed a special beer to celebrate the Zodiac’s 100th birthday.
Since the term “schooner” refers to both sailing and drinking vessels, it’s only fitting that the two should come together in the form of a boat beer. Kulshan’s Even Keel is a cold pale ale made with lager yeast. It’s hop-forward and easy-drinking at 5.3% ABV — best enjoyed at sea. Of course, you can also find it at Kulshan’s three Bellingham locations. For this collaboration, Kulshan invited the Schooner Zodiac crew over for a tasting session at the brewery. After brewing, they celebrated the Zodiac’s centennial with cans of Even Keel aboard the historic schooner.
Drinking Even Keel on the Zodiac is an experience you can have this summer, too — if you sign up soon. Ales N’ Sails cruises depart from the Bellingham Cruise Terminal on Aug. 1, 22 and 29, and Sept. 4. Tickets ($79) include beer tastings and dinner. Boarding time is 5:45 p.m. and it’s best to show up early.
I attended the Zodiac cruise with a group of friends and family last summer. Helping hoist the 160-foot schooner’s massive sails was a highlight of the experience — along with the excellent galley fare and well-stocked beer cooler. We even met the schooner’s resident boat cat, Abby. Views (and photo-ops) from the deck are spectacular, and the Zodiac’s friendly crew took a photo of our group at the helm. Info: schoonerzodiac.com.
Brandon Fralic's Drink Cascadia column appears monthly. Reach him at drinkcascadia@gmail.com.
