Gift Guide:
The Craft Beer Snob
“Beers of the World” print by Stuart Gardiner Design
01
$43
Stuart Gardiner Design out of the UK designed this fun beer print illustrating 59 beer styles from around the world. Each one lists specific characteristics like bitterness & strength, as well as 2 prime commercial examples. Get it as a 19.6x27.5” screen print or A2 size giclée print, both signed & shipped in protective cardboard tubes.
Beer soap gift set
02
$12-38
Beer soap is actually pretty cool – it’s not just a gimmick. Made with real high-quality ingredients by small companies, you can support entrepreneurs & give the beer lover in your life something different. We recommend Swag Brewery’s 6-pack set for a little bit of everything or one of Handbrewed Soaps’ beer style-specific 3-packs if you know your gift recipient’s favorite beer style. Swag Brewery’s 6-pack comes with the following soaps: oatmeal stout, hoppy IPA, vanilla porter, apricot wheat, Belgian witbier, & honey pilsner. Handbrewed Soaps has 3 different 3-packs: IPA Lover (tobacco & bay leaf IPA, hazy IPA beer soap, & ‘Get Some’ IPA), Stout Lover (oatmeal stout, vanilla stout, & almond stout), and Summer Ale Lover (French farmhouse ale, orange honey wheat ale, & lemon hefeweizen).
Get the Swag Brewery 6-pack here or the Handbrewed Soaps IPA set, Stout Lover set, or Summer Ale collection (or a 6-pack of your choice here).
Outdoor beer table
05
$58
“Grassy glades are perfect for picnicking, but definitely not ideal for keeping beer bottles or cans upright. Michael and Ania Shepler's clever table is designed to hold everything you need when it—s beer o—clock and just too beautiful to be indoors: Holders for two cans, bottles, or glasses, a bowl for beer pairings, and a built-in bottle opener so you never have to do the picnic table pound. Plant the fiberglass spike securely in grass or sand, then remove the leg to easily tote and stow. Handmade from Baltic birch plywood in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.” – Uncommon Goods
Fancy beer glass set by Pretentious Beer Glass Company
06
$189
This set includes the Etsy shop’s 5 top sellers: THE Beer Glass (versatile ale glass), Subtle (lager/blonde/light beer glass), JuicyY (hazy/juicy IPA glass), The Sequel (aromatic enhancing glass), & Big Sexy (dark beer glass). This handmade glassware is artisan quality and is truly beautiful.
uKeg Go 64
08
$99
A long-lasting gift for craft beer lovers, who can take this along to any brewery/taproom & get 64oz of a favorite beer on tap to go. Unlike smaller, less expensive growlers (which many beer drinkers already have), this growler has a built-in carbonation system that keeps beer fresh for weeks. It comes in tungsten (dark grey), chili (red), or midnight (blue), and has a built-in tap for easy serving. This one is durable, lightweight, and by a super reputable brand (homebrewer approved!)
Bottle cap map
09
$25-75
Get one from Beer Cap Maps online: USA full map here, USA desk version here, an individual state here, or a world map here.
An epic beer-themed tea towel by Stuart Gardiner Design
10
$13.50 each (both for $27)
For a fun graphic gift, go with one of these tea towels designed by Stuart Gardiner Design. “The Beer Towel” has all sorts of brewing facts, ingredient information, and a glass guide. “A Guide To Pairing Beer With Food” matches 40 beer styles to 61 food entries in an illustrated chart covering 2,440 possible combinations. Both tea towels are 100% organic cotton and made in Britain. The overall beer one also comes as a print, though more expensive at $43.
Get "The Beer Towel" or "A Guide To Pairing Beer With Food" from Stuart Gardiner.
Craft beer subscription box such as Craft Beer Club or Beer Across America
12
$39+
Get one from Beer America, Craft Beer Club, or do your own research with these recommendation/review articles from Liquor.com and GearMoose.
Beer caddy
13
$30
“‘I could get used to this,’ said the IPA as it settled into this stylish carrying case. It gives park picnics or backyard barbecues—aka eating and drinking on grass—a snazzy touch, with a removable six-pack separator to keep brews safe and ice cold. And should you forget to pack a bottle opener, there's no need to turn to one of nature's methods (opening a beer with a rock isn't cool): The pack includes an attached steel opener. Give one to a beer buff or outdoor adventurer to inspire the question, ‘Where to next, brew crew?’ In Eco Navy/Gray. Made partly with recycled materials in China.” – Uncommon Goods
Beer fridge
15
$275+
Books
Where to Drink Beer by Jeppe Jarnit-Bjergsø
17
$30
ABOUT PLACES TO DRINK. “Jeppe Jarnit-Bjergsø, arguably the world's most knowledgeable person about global craft beer and breweries, has surveyed experts from across the globe to create the ultimate guide to beer. Where to Drink Beer is the ultimate guide by the real experts - 500 of the world's most revered brewers reveal the little-known, eclectic, and surprising destinations they visit for their ultimate beer. With 1,600 listings in more than 70 countries - and detailed maps, reviews, key information, honest comments, and suggestions - there is nothing like it.” – Phaidon Press
A book by the beer god Michael Jackson (not that MJ – this one’s a writer)
18
$42+ or $27-38 (can get either cheaper used)
THE CLASSIC FROM A WELL-RESPECTED BEER GURU. The originator of beer styles, beer & whiskey reviewer and journalist Michael Jackson is credited with helping to start the renaissance of interest in beer & breweries worldwide in the 1970s, particularly in the United States. His books have sold over 3 million copies worldwide and have been translated into 18 languages; his influential TV show The Beer Hunter was shown in 15 countries. You can’t go wrong with any Jackson beer book, but we recommend The Great Beers of Belgium: a complete guide & celebration of a unique culture or The New World Guide to Beer.
The Beer Scholar says the following of The Great Beers of Belgium: “Reading this is a rite of passage. I'm not sure you can call yourself a beer geek if you've not read any Michael Jackson. He's the original beer geek. He was one of the first real ‘beer writers’ and his passion & dedication to good beer helped bring about the craft beer movement. He's probably the single most influential beer writer of all time. He deserves a place on this list. Sadly, Jackson passed away too early, with the result that books such as this may come across as slightly dated now, but you owe it to the godfather of good beer to read some of his great work!”
The New World Guide to Beer is a 1997 update of Jackson’s original World Guide to Beer from 1984. Hop Culture recommends this book for the completionist, saying “Every beer lover should be familiar with Michael Jackson’s work (insert not that Michael Jackson joke). He is perhaps the most revered and talented beer writer in the world and his New World Guide to Beer is a must-buy for completing your beer book collection.” These books are craft beer classics – great for a true craft beer snob, but maybe not first choice for cutting-edge beer fans.
The Homebrewer’s Almanac: A Seasonal Guide To Making Your Own Beer From Scratch by Marika Josephson, Aaron Kleidon, Ryan Tockstein
19
$23
THE NICHE BOOK FOR CUTTING-EDGE HOMEBREWERS. This one is for a bit of a niche market: homebrewers who gravitate to the more exotic brews & ingredients (traditionalists, stay far away). While this one won’t appeal to everyone, it’s too unique & well done not to include. Got a hipster homebrewer in your life? This. “Forget hops: The revolution in craft beer is taking place in gardens, farmer’s markets, and deep in the woods outside rural towns across the country. It’s beer that offers a sense of place, incorporating locally sourced & seasonally harvested ingredients into traditional (& untraditional) farmhouse-style beers. The Homebrewer's Almanac is a practical guide for those who are interested in incorporating fresh & foraged ingredients into their beer, written by the brewers of one of the country’s hottest new breweries. Recipes include: Sweet Potato Vienna Lager, Chanterelle Mushroom Saison, Nettle Spicebush Ale, Sumac Sour Ale, Basil Rye Porter. Each chapter offers an overview of what plants to look for in your region, as well as how to harvest and how to preserve them. A brewing guide in the modern DIY tradition with a touch of the retro farmer’s almanac, The Homebrewer's Almanac will be a staple in homebrewers’ libraries and a source of year-round inspiration.” – Goodreads
Tasting Beer: An Insider’s Guide to the World’s Greatest Drink by Randy Mosher
20
$17
ABOUT TASTING & INTRO TO CRAFT BEER. Randy Mosher’s Tasting Beer is the Cicerone Certification Program’s textbook, so you know it’s a trustworthy source. Beer Scholar says it’s an absolute must-read, even for those not concerned with passing the CC exam. “Tasting Beer is the best of the "intro to craft beer" books out there. It manages to cover more material in an in-depth manner than others. You understand Mosher's passion for beer through his writing, but he doesn't try to inject any moronic "internet famous" personality crap into his text like some other books in this category. It's all very to-the-point and includes loads of great insets and graphics. Mosher is an expert and it shows.” – Beer Scholar. Men’s Journal agrees, saying, “Mosher, besides being an eminently likable guy, sits in high regard among many beer enthusiasts for his expertise and thought leadership in the beer industry over the years. Tasting Beer is an ode to the act of consumption, and a wonderful reference for anyone aspiring to think critically, and deliciously, about the beer in their hand. Grab a copy of this book and tell us if you don’t immediately start to enjoy beer at least a little more than you did before.”
How to Brew: Everything You Need to Know to Brew Beer Right the First Time by John J. Palmer
21
$20
ABOUT HOME BREWING. "It goes without saying that the quintessential bible for anyone interested in home brewing is John Palmer’s How to Brew. Palmer breaks down the entire process into easily understandable steps, not only detailing how to do it by why, as well as the science of what is going on in layman’s terms. There are many ‘how-to home brew’ books out there, but this is recognized as the ‘gold standard’ & is useful for both novice brewers and even experienced brewers." – Brew Kiwi, Home Brewing Expert
Get it online from Better World Books.
The Great American Ale Trail by Christian DeBenedetti
22
$11-20
ABOUT CRAFT BEER CULTURE. “The Great American Ale Trail is the definitive guide to the best places to drink craft beer in America. Author Christian DeBenedetti has traveled across the country to find the worthiest beer destinations, from major breweries to tiny farmhouse startups. With hundreds of entries, including top-ten lists for "Best Dive Bars for Craft Beer Lovers," "Best Beer Festivals," and "Best Beer Cities," The Great American Ale Trail is sure to set anyone on their first beer pilgrimage.” – Goodreads
