I agree - it's about a 1.5 hr drive up to Bellingham and the brewery.
http://www.bbaybrewery.com/

Since you're not planning to ride the century, it'd be an easy day trip (maybe you can magnanimously offer to be the designated driver for the homebound trip, so that your DH can enjoy the post-ride brewery experience?!

I don't think that either route has anything other than rollers, so it's a toss-up as to which is flatter...I'm with Knot, though...that the Chuckanut (south) route is slam-dunk perty!
Mary