Here’s the good thing about finding a gift for craft beer enthusiasts. They generally love to experiment.
The thrill of the hobby is there’s always something new to try and you’re never sure until you take those first few sips if it’s going to be one of your new favorites – whether it’s your favorite style or one you don’t normally embrace.
Keep in mind, though, that the holidays aren’t a good time to push someone to expand their horizons. If you’re looking for a good beer themed gift – and you didn’t find something in our beer gadget gift guide from last week – you’ll want to pick a style that’s a favorite of your recipient. (And if you don’t know it, don’t guess. Ask.IPAs might be the industry sales leader, but that doesn’t mean they’re universally loved.)
While it is, of course, easy to zip down to the local bottle shop and pick something up, if you’re hoping to really make an impact this holiday, the easiest way to do that is to get them something they can’t get themselves. Live on the east coast? A bottle of AleSmith’s Barrel-aged Speedway Stout could make you a holiday hero. Out west? Cigar City’s Jai Alai is considered a big get.
The trick, of course, is finding those beers. The best way to do that is through social circles. Find a friend who lives far away and ask their advice. If they’re not a beer drinker, dig up a list of the best breweries by state (Thrillest had a solid list this year) and ask them to grab their flagship and send it to you. It takes a little extra time, but it’s an effort that will be appreciated.
Don’t have a lot of time – or all of your friends are nearby? No worries. There are a few standbys that will do quite well. Here are a few of our favorites.
Samuel Adams Utopias – It’s ridiculously expensive (starting at $200 per bottle and often marked up). It has an off the charts 28% ABV. And it’s closer to a cognac than a beer, but having a bottle of Utopias is a big bragging right among craft beer drinkers. It’s something to be savored. And, thankfully, you can reseal the bottle after you open it, enjoying an ounce at a time over the course of several months – or even years. Only released every two years, it’s one of the most unique beers on the market… CONTINUE READING AT FORTUNE
