Christmas time is here! Time for joy and time for…BEER! No matter who you are, it’s almost inevitable that you have a beer lover in some facet of your life. Maybe it’s your husband (or wife!). Maybe it’s a work colleague. Some beer lovers are more technical – looking for that perfect gadget to make their homebrew better. Some are more casual and just want to open a box containing their favorite beer mug on Christmas morning. One thing is for certain, the perfect gift most definitely exists for the beer lover in your life.
We’ve created this handy little guide to ensure that your beer lover is all smiles, full of holiday cheer (and beer) on Christmas morning!
Jenn Chace, Tasting Manager at Port City Brewing
Beer of choice: Port City Monumental IPA
Recommendation: Growler Gift Pack; 1 growler with a fill and 4 Port City pint glasses
Where to get it: Port City Brewing Co. Tasting Room, Alexandria, VA
What it’ll cost you: $29.99
Why it’s better than the rest: What’s better than amazing, fresh craft beer from a fantastic local brewery with enough glasses to share delicious Wit, Pale Ale, IPA or Porter with friends during the holiday season, conveniently all in one box?! Oh, and Growler Refills are only $11 in the Tasting Room.
Mouncey Ferguson, Fire Works Pizza
Recommendation: Gift basket stuffed with a growler, t-shirt and two pints of beer
Where to get it: Fire Works
What it’ll cost you: $39
Why it’s better than the rest: You can also add a gift card of any denomination to the basket!
Aaron Copsey, Beer Director at RFD
Beer of Choice: Sierra Nevada Celebration
Recommendation: Tickets to the January 10th Bell’s Brewery Beer Dinner @RFD
Where to get it: Tickets available soon at www.lovethebeer.com/events.html
What it’ll cost you: $60
Why it’s better than the rest: This will be a great night with a great brewery! Five courses paired with Bell’s brews and a few surprises. Gift is great for a date, friend, family member or just another beer lover! Don’t miss it!
Matt LeBarron, Professional Intoxicator/Bar Manager at Granville Moore’s
Beer of choice: Saison Dupont
Recommendation: A gift certificate for two people for a Granville Moore’s beer dinner
Where to get it: Just call the restaurant after 1 p.m., 202-399-2546
What it’ll cost you: $150 without tax or tip, but by giving the gift you’ve hopefully snagged yourself a seat, too!
Why it’s better than the rest: Great beers deserve great food! Chef Teddy Folkman prepares five or more courses, paired with beers he and I pick from Belgium and North America. Usually the first Tuesday of every month, you’ll have all year to find the time to come.
Laura Starr, Development Director at CFF DC Beer of choice: Flying Dog, Doggy StyleRecommendation: Tickets to the 8th Annual Brewer’s Ball at Nationals Park in DC taking place March 3, 2012 from 7 p.m. to midnightWhere to get it: Visit www.dcbrewersball.org to purchase or call 301-657-8444 x201What it’ll cost you: For $115 per ticket it is an all-inclusive price for a unique micro-beer and food tasting gala to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (drink and eat as much as you would like from 7 p.m. to midnight, no beer tickets involved)! Why it’s better than the rest: It is a fun and exciting night out! It’s DC’s unique micro-beer and food tasting gala at the exclusive Stars and Stripes Club. It offers guests the opportunity to sample a variety of handcrafted microbrews from more than a dozen of the region’s best microbreweries and brewpubs, including Flying Dog, Dogfish, DC Brau, Starr Hill and many more, while also enjoying the cuisine of several popular restaurants such as Mon Ami Gabi, Hank’s Oyster Bar and Cabot Creamery. The evening features live entertainment by a rocking dance club band, The Congress, and guests can enjoy one of the region’s most exciting silent auctions.
John Andrade, Owner of Meridian Pint and Smoke & Barrel
Recommendation: Meridian Pint’s new hoodie or Dickies brand work shirts, Smoke & Barrel’s jar of Chef Vincent Waide’s Chipotle Honey Butter or a gift certificate to both
Where to get it: At either bar
What it’ll cost you? Meridian Pint work shirt $40, hoodie $40, T-shirt $15 or Smoke & Barrel’s Chipotle Honey Butter $8
Why it’s better than the rest: Pint apparel shows off your favorite bar while Smoke & Barrel’s Chipotle Honey Butter makes your ribs taste great next to your favorite beer.
Derek Satz, Owner of Jay’s Brewing Supplies
Beer of choice: The one that’s in front of me, or session beers
Recommendation: Home brewing starter kit
Where to get it: Jay’s Brewing
What it’ll cost you: $89.99 for the hardware starter kit, $30 – $50 for recipe kit
Why it’s better than the rest: If you like beer, then why not make it? Make your own brew as a hobby, share it with friends and family. A hobby that everyone will enjoy!
Bill DeBaun, Co-editor of DCBeer.com
Beer of choice: Bell’s Two Hearted Ale
Recommendation: The Complete Joy of Homebrewing, Third Edition – Charlie Papazian
What it’ll cost you: $10-15
Why it’s better than the rest: If you’re a beer lover, but not yet a home-brewer, there’s a whole new level of beer appreciation to be had once you’re brewing your own. An understanding of the time and effort that goes into producing a beer, along with knowledge about the ingredients that comprise it, will add a new depth to what you know about the suds you sip.
Other Fun Gift Ideas for that Special Beer Lover
By James Aprill, thatsalehewrote.wordpress.com
I know that it can be extremely difficult to find the perfect gift for the men in your family. I mean what do we really enjoy? Sports, beer, movies, beer, video games, beer. Do you see a trend? We really love beer. Well, I am here to give you a few options for the beer lover in your life.
The Oxford Companion To Beer - Edited by Garrett Oliver
This is THE beer book to get this season. This expansive book is the first reference work detailing the history and culture of mankind’s greatest creation, beer. Read about beer pairings, pub games and the development of beer styles from around the world. $40 from Amazon.
Homebrew Class and Kit
The best way for someone to learn more about beer is to make a batch of his or her own! Classes are most likely held at your local homebrew shop for no cost or a very minimal fee. Search BeerAdvocate for the shop nearest you. They will guide you through the whole process, and if you buy a kit you will have ready to drink beer in 3-4 weeks. This could quite possibly be the best gift ever. If your family member has already joined the homebrewing community, how about purchasing them an upgrade. I’m sure they would love a new kegging system so they don’t have to waste time and money by bottling. Just ask them what they’ve been drooling over lately. We homebrewers tend to nerd out over our brewing set ups. Kit Prices range from $75-$150+ depending on the type of equipment.
Glassware
Just like wine, beer is best served in its proper glass. There are a whole range of beer glasses and the beer lover in your life may need a different one for all of his favorites! There are shakers, pilsner glasses, goblets, nonic pints, snifters, tulips and many more. Treat your beer right and pour it into a glass.
A Beer-cation (Beer + Vacation)
Do you want to get a gift that will keep on giving? A gift where you can spend time together? Then how about planning a trip revolving around beer? From Portland and San Diego to Asheville and Chicago, there are plenty of beer-filled American cities that are worthy of your vacation time and money. Take a tour of the local breweries and eat/drink your way through many local brewpubs. If you’re a little more adventurous, try planning a trip abroad. Belgium and Germany would make great places to spend some time away from home. Enjoy the brewing abbeys, dubbels and wild ales of Belgium, or take a tour through Munich and Berlin sipping hefeweizens and lagers.
Home Bar for the Man Cave
It is a known fact that every man has at one point in his life wanted to open his own bar. If you have a large garage or basement, let him live out this fantasy by getting him a home bar. If he has already got the home brewing bug, then the home bar will allow them to practically run his own brewpub. Add a super large HDTV and call it heaven. Home bars range from $200 to $1000+ depending on what you are looking for.
