Tasty Gifts For Craft Beer Lovers That Go Down A Treat

The beer revolution is in full swing so make sure your loved one doesn't get left behind with these thirst-quenching craft beer gift ideas. 

Thankfully the days when your only options when walking into a bar were bland, tasteless, mass-produced lagers are over. 

Because nowadays it's all about the craft beer. 

As there are hundreds of independent micro-breweries creating great tasting beers with really distinctive flavours.

So you can choose from a wide variety such as pilsners, pale ales, IPAs, darks, sours, reds, and stouts, to name just a few.

And each one is infused with many different ingredients and types of yeasts, malts, and hops.

Creating flavours ranging from fruity and sharp to chocolatey and sweet.  

This revolution in beer making has made beer drinking a whole different ball game.

And it has created a huge number of craft beer fanatics, who are passionate about great tasting beer and are keen to try each new recipe and flavour. 

However, this has also made buying gifts for beer lovers more difficult. 

Because as people are becoming more particular about the beer they drink, buying them any old case of beer as a gift will no longer do.

Instead you need to seek out the beer and beer related gifts that will pass the test for today's hipsters and craft beer aficionados, and this is what we want to help you with in this article.

So we've split our gifts for craft beer enthusiasts into the following sections to make things easier:

Let's Start With The Most Important Thing - The Beer!

The gift that any craft beer fan will appreciate the most is always going to be the actual beer itself.

After all most of the fun is in the drinking right?

So it's just the logical starting point when buying gifts for craft beer lovers.

And the following unique gifts for beer drinkers will get their taste buds tingling with some awesome beer.

A Selection Of Craft Beers To Sample

The choice and selection of craft beers available nowadays is mind blowing, with new and more adventurous batches being brewed all the time.

Which means there is always something new to try, and a new favourite beer to be discovered.

So why not get someone who loves beer a great selection of interesting craft beers for them to try.

This is one of the best gifts for beer snobs as it shows you've put a bit of thought into it rather than just picking up a case at your local supermarket.

Now you have two options here.

You could go to a bottle shop and pick out a selection of craft beers by yourself.

This isn't as daunting as it sounds, as the staff at these shops are usually very knowledgeable and passionate about beer, so they can help you find exactly what you're looking for.

Alternatively, you could make life even easier for yourself by ordering a sampler pack of craft beers online. 

These are put together by experts and contain beers from the finest microbreweries around, so you're sure to get some great beers.

Some of the best companies that do this are Honest Brew and Beer Hawk in the UK, and Craft Beer Club in the US, where you can find some great gift pack selections at decent prices.

Take It A Step Further With A Monthly Subscription Pack

If you want to really spoil a craft beer lover, then how about getting them a whole years worth of new and exciting flavours.

You can do this by signing them up to a monthly subscription box from an online craft beer company.

This is the gift that keeps giving, as each month a new selection of brewery fresh craft beers will arrive direct to their door for them to try and enjoy.

And these companies pride themselves on only sending out the very best beers in their packs.

So they are all tried, tasted and loved before being considered as worthy, meaning you'll only get the highest quality craft beer from the very best microbreweries. 

You can check out the best of these subscription packs by clicking on the following links, at Honest Brew or Beer Hawk in the UK, and The Craft Beer Club in the US.

A nice selection of craft beers is a great gift for many craft beer lovers.

However there will always be people who know what they like, and would prefer to choose the beer themselves.

So if you suspect your loved one falls into this category, then it may be a better idea to buy them a gift card for their local craft beer bottle shop instead.

This way they can get exactly what they want, and nothing will get poured down the sink in disgust!

Small microbreweries are popping up all over the place nowadays.

They can be on your local high street, on industrial estates, under railway arches, or basically anywhere where the rents are cheap and they can fit their brewing equipment.

And the great news is that many of these working breweries also run tours to show the whole behind the scenes brewing process to craft beer fans.

So you'll get to marvel at the machinery, see how the beer is made, which ingredients go into it, and how it is packaged and distributed.

You'll also get the chance to ask your guide as many questions about the whole process as you like, which is great for increasing your knowledge.

And each tour usually ends with a tasting or two in the brewery's tap room.

So these tours make a great gift for craft beer lovers everywhere.

To find your nearest brewery in the UK click here, or If you are in the US click here.

If you're lucky enough to live in an area with a high concentration of small, independent breweries, then another great gift idea for craft beer lovers becomes an option.

Which is taking your loved one on a craft beer brewery trail.

As most of these working breweries also operate a tap room that they open up to the public one day per week (usually on a Saturday), so people can come and experience their beers fresh from the tap.

Which a great way to spend a weekend afternoon.

However, as a lot of these breweries tend to congregate in areas close by one other, craft beer fans have cottoned on to the fact that you can try out a few different breweries on the same day.

So you get to try out a few different beers, while also having a nice stroll to work up a thirst too.

And from there, some great craft beer brewery trails have arisen and become popular, attracting lots of visitors every weekend and being a really fun day out.

In London for instance there is the Bermondsey beer mile, which features over 10 small breweries and bottle shops within a one mile trail that has thousands of people walking up and down it every Saturday.

And you can find similar things happening in other parts of the UK and all over the US too (click here to see some of the best ones).

So in our opinion, taking someone out for the day on one of these brewery crawls is an ideal gift to give a craft beer lover.

Plus you get to enjoy it too!

And if you don't have any breweries near you, why not make a weekend of it and take a trip to a city that has?

Get Them Tickets To A Craft Beer Festival

Craft beer festivals are happening all the time all over the world, and they are a craft beer lovers heaven.

As you get to spend the day sampling beers from as many as 100 of the best brewers around.

This gives the brewers a chance to grow their brand by showcasing their newest and tastiest beers.

So you can always be assured of getting the best tastes and flavours at these events.

And they are great fun too, with live music, delicious street food, and hundreds of other craft beer enthusiasts to meet and mingle with.

So buying someone tickets to a craft beer festival near them will make a fantastic gift and give them something to look forward to.

To find a list of beer festivals near you in the UK click here, or in the US click here.

Just make sure to get your order in early, as these tend to sell out fast every year.

Get Them Something Nice To Drink Their Beer From

No beer lover wants to spend time selecting a nice beer to drink, only to then have to drink it out of an old and boring pint glass.

As not only does it spoil the look, it somehow doesn't seem to taste as good either.

And this isn't just your mind playing tricks with you.

As the type of glass that you drink your beer from will have a direct effect on the flavour.

So get your craft beer lover a glass that will keep their beer tasting great, while also looking the part in the process. 

Get Them A Selection Of Craft Beer Glasses

Craft beer comes in a wide variety of styles and types, and as such you need a selection of different shaped glasses to make the most out of each different type of beer.

Because the perfect glass for an IPA will be different to that of a pilsner or a stout.

This all comes down to the shape needed to get the optimal release of aromas and flavours within each beer.

And the shape of the glasses also affects how the beer tastes too.

For instance, drinking beer from a narrow rimmed glass encourages sipping, sending the beer to the front and center of your tongue, where it tastes a bit sweeter.

Whereas a wide rimmed glass will encourage you to gulp your beer, sending it to the back of your tongue and emphasising a bitter taste.

It all depends on the beer you are drinking and what is the best way to experience it.

Plus the shape of the glass can also keep beer colder, help it maintain a nice frothy head, and prevent it from going flat too quickly.

So all in all, the glass you drink your craft beer out of is almost as important as the beer itself.

Which makes a varied set of craft beer glasses a great gift to help someone enjoy their tipple to it's full potential.

For instance, this craft beer tasting set from Spiegelau is a good choice, as it has four different shaped glasses which are suitable for IPAs, stouts, wheat beers, and barrel-aged beers respectively.

Treat Them To A Beer Glass From Their Favourite Brewery

Branded beer glasses are now commonplace, with most people being able to name which beer someone is drinking simply from seeing the shape and style of the glass.

Which is a great piece of marketing.

However it's not just the big beer companies that do this.

As most small breweries now do their own branded glasses for fans of their beer to buy and use at home.

And these are great.

Because not only are they shaped in the ideal way to maximise the flavour of their beers, they also look cool and make a great souvenir to keep and display at home.

So if you want to get someone a small but thoughtful gift, why not get them a glass from their favourite craft brewery.

And you could even buy them a selection of glasses from different breweries so they can start a little collection.

One of our favourite things to do when visiting a new brewery is to get a flight of their different beers.

This way you can have a little taste of everything, rather than only being able to try out a couple of beers.

And the sight of all the different beers lined up in front of you is a really exciting way to experience craft beer.

Also the smaller glass sizes mean they are great for trying out stronger beers, or beers with a more sickly or adventurous twist (jaffa cake stout anyone?).

So one idea for a gift is to get someone who loves craft beer their own flight board and glasses for their home tasting sessions.

These look good and will give them the feel of being in their favourite brewery while using them.

And if you get them more than one set, they can be great for parties and small gatherings too.

A good one is this flight board from Cathy's Concept.

It has four glasses, and comes with a chalk board where you can write the beer name, type, and strength down, so you know exactly what you're drinking.

A growler is a pretty unusual name, but it's basically an air-tight glass or aluminium container that you put draft beer in to keep it fresh to take home with you.

And these are incredibly popular with craft beer lovers.

Because you can fill your growler with brewery fresh beer straight from the tap, and it'll stay fresh at home for a couple of days.

They have a handle that makes them easy to carry around, and are perfect for maintaining the quality of the beer inside.

And they are easy to clean and re-use, meaning they are great for the environment, as you're not relying on bottles or cans to take your beer home in.

You can get growlers in different sizes, most commonly between 32-64 ounces, so they will hold between 2-4 pints of beer at a time.

And they make a great gift for beer lovers, as they allow someone to enjoy brewery fresh beer from the comfort of their own home.

Now you might be able to pick one of these up from your local brewery if you have one close to you.

But if you don't there are plenty available online, with a great choice being this 64 ounce growler from Yukon.

Get Them Something That Will Keep Their Beer Cold

There's nothing worse than drinking room temperature beer is there?

Even most Brits have gone off this idea by now.

As it can make even the tastiest and most flavoursome of beers almost undrinkable.

So make sure every fan of craft beer can enjoy an ice cold swig of their favourite every time with these gifts that keep beer cool and tasting great.

Something To Keep Their Beer Cold When Drinking Outdoors

Keeping your beer cold when drinking outside in the summer isn't always the easiest thing to do.

And it's pretty frustrating when you find your beer is getting warm before you can finish it.

But this is where the Hydro Flask Beer Cooler makes a terrific gift for beer drinkers.

As it has double-walled insulation that keeps your beer colder for much longer.

In fact, it feels just like drinking out of a pint glass.

And these cups are light, stackable, and easy to pack and carry.

Which makes them perfect to take camping or for days out on the beach.

Just be aware that they are not tumblers as they don't have a lid. They are specifically for drinking out of only.

Alternatively, if you want something that does a similar job but looks more like a traditional beer mug, you could try the Stanley Adventure Vacuum Stein instead.

The only downside to this one is it isn't stackable, so will take up more room in your bag if you have more than one.

Taking a 6-pack of beers with you to barbecues and parties can be a bit of a pain.

Because first of all they aren't easy to carry, and secondly they get warm.

However one gift that will fix both of those problems for any craft beer lover is the L'igloo Neoprene 6-pack Bottle Carrier.

This is insulated and made from a thick neoprene material that keeps the bottles safe from bumps and knocks, while also keeping them cold for up to 4 hours.

You can fit 6 bottles or cans inside, and it will stay upright when placed on the ground.

And with a comfortable handle it's easy to carry too.

So it's perfect for those social animals that have to transport their beer from one party to the next.

And if you want to make it an even better gift, you could always fill it with 6 great beers before handing it over.

Coolers are the ideal way to keep your beer and food cold and fresh outdoors.

And if you want to get someone one that can really stand up to the rigours of outdoor life, then you should consider the Yeti Roadie Cooler. 

This one is solid as a rock, in fact you'd have to try really hard to damage it.

It can hold up to 14 cans along with your ice.

And it has 3" of permafrost insulation, meaning your ice won't melt and your beer will stay lovely and cold.

So it's a great option for days out fishing, boating, or camping.

However it is a little on the heavy side, so if you want a more portable cooler try the Yeti Hopper Flip Cooler instead.

This is easy to carry over your shoulder, and has room for 6 cans of beer and ice.

It's leak-proof, waterproof, and still solid enough to stand up to the ruggedness of the outdoors.

If you know someone that enjoys having a beer at home, then a mini beer fridge can make an inspired gift.

These fridges are great for keeping your beer cold, and also come with a glass door so you can showcase the beer inside.

So they are both functional and decorative.

And they are a great thing to have for when friends come over to watch the big game on TV.

Plus having one of these will mean more space in your actual fridge for things like food!

So if you are interested in getting a beer fridge for a loved one, check out the NewAir Beverage Cooler and Refrigerator.

This one holds 90 small cans and can get as low as 34 degrees fahrenheit, so it'll definitely keep your beers cold enough.

And It comes with 5 easily removable racks, so you can rearrange it so bottles will fit in there instead of cans too.

All in all, it would make a great addition to any craft beer lover's games room, man cave, garage, or shed.

Buy Them A Stake In Their Favourite Brewery

Now this gift idea is a bit out of left-field, but it can work really well as an unexpected yet fun gift.

Because there are a few small (and larger) breweries that allow you to purchase a small stake in their business.

Now these stakes are obviously not going to get you a seat on the board, but it can be a real thrill to feel like a part of one of your favourite breweries.

And you usually get a few benefits as an investor, such as:

So it's a fun investment that helps smaller breweries to grow and expand their business.

Meaning you are playing a part in keeping the craft beer movement going.

And with more independent breweries being bought up by the bigger beer companies each year, you may even turn a profit one day!

A quick google search will show if there are any of these investment opportunities available at any of your local breweries.

And to get an idea of what's entailed, take a look at Brewdog's Equity For Punks program, which is one of the most famous ones, with over 86,000 investors and counting.

Help Them Learn More About Craft Beer

There is so much to learn when it comes to craft beer.

From the different flavours and brewing methods, down to finding out how each beer was developed and where in the world it originated from.

And the more you know, the more you appreciate the beer you're drinking.

So help a craft beer fan indulge their passion with these great books on the subject.

The Complete Beer Course by Joshua Bernstein is a real encyclopedia of beer.

As it runs through all the different types of beer available, where they originated from, how they're made, and which ingredients go into them.

So you'll get to know the differences between pilsners, IPAs, sours and stouts in intricate detail.

You'll also learn about the different flavours, plus which beers work well when paired with certain foods (handy for dinner parties).

And you'll gain a good understanding of grains, yeast, hops, and all the different brewing techniques.

So it's a really good book for beer novices and experts alike, which makes it a brilliant gift for any craft beer lover.

Joshua Bernstein has also written a book specifically about the most popular type of craft beer, which is called Complete IPA: The Guide To Your Favorite Craft Beer.

So If you know someone who loves their India pale ales, then this is the go to book for them.

As it takes the reader through all the different variations of IPA, from bitter to citrus to easy drinking session beer.

And it contains recommendations of the world's best IPAs to try, along with the best breweries out there creating them.

So it's a gift to keep any lover of IPA happy.

Best Book For Finding Your New Favourite Beer

The Little Book Of Craft Beer by Melissa Cole is another great book to help you become more knowledgeable on the best craft beers currently on the market.

As it features detailed descriptions of over 100 of the world's best craft beers, as well as how you can pair them with food.

Each chapter also contains a food recipe that you can make using the craft beer type featured.

So it's a great introductory book that makes a suitable gift for someone that is fairly new in the craft beer world and wants to learn more about the beer they're drinking. 

With so many craft beers available nowadays, and so many new batches being created all the time, it can be hard to remember which ones you've already tried.

This is why many true craft beer fans like to keep a notebook with their thoughts and observations on each new beer they try.

You've probably seen them in your local craft beer bar, noting down things in a little pocket book as they sip their beer.

And if you know someone like this, The Craft Beer Journal by Papeterie Bleu is an ideal gift for them.

As on each page you can fill in which beer you've tasted, the brewery, the date you sampled it, whether it was from a cask, keg, can or bottle, and your notes on the taste, flavours and aroma.

There are also diagrams where you can colour in the relevant parts to indicate which flavours it had, the type of glass you drank it from, and your overall star rating.

So it's a really unique book that craft beer fans will absolutely adore.

And it's small enough to slip inside your pocket as you make your way to your local tap room.

Brewdog have grown massively since being formed in Aberdeenshire, Scotland back in 2007, expanding their business so their beers are now common not just in the UK, but worldwide too.

And with their Craft Beer For The People book, they do a great job of sharing their extensive knowledge of craft beer.

They also share information and tips on how to brew your own beer and start your own microbrewery too.

Which makes this a great gift for any aspiring brewers out there who need a bit of inspiration.

And being written in Brewdog's unique style, this is a also a good book to keep on your coffee table for guests to flick through.

Stocking Fillers & Fun Craft Beer Gifts

If you're looking to buy someone a small stocking filler rather than a fully fledged beer drinking gift, then check out the following ideas.

As these are fun and novel gifts that can work well for craft beer lovers.

Cycling can be thirsty work.

And while we wouldn't encourage anyone to drink and ride, the Fyxation Leather Bicycle Carrier is a really unique gift idea that can come in very handy.

As it makes it easy to transport beer to and from parties, or back home from the bottle shop.

The leather casing can fit 6 normal sized bottles of beer, and attaches to the frame and seat of your bike.

This is designed to sit perfectly so the beer stays safe and doesn't get in the way as you pedal.

So you can get some exercise in and work up a thirst before getting stuck in.

This is a gift that every craft beer hipster will love.

Something To Turn Used Bottle Caps Into A Work Of Art

A lot of people like to keep their used bottle caps, especially if they try out a lot of different beers.

As being fairly decorative they make nice souvenirs.

And one good way to make your used bottle tops the center of attention is to display them in this Craft Beer Typography Shadow Box.

This has an image of a pint of beer on the front made up with the names of some cool craft beer breweries.

And you gradually fill it up with your bottle caps through the slot at the top.

Creating an attractive piece of beer drinking art that you can either hang on the wall, or display on a desk or mantelpiece.

So this is a good gift idea for any sentimental beer drinker that likes to keep hold of their old bottle caps.

Every bottle of beer needs to be opened.

So don't let someone get caught short and have to use a combination of their keys, lighter and teeth to get at the good stuff.

Instead buy them a nice bottle opener that they can keep on hand to crack their beers open whenever they want.

This bottle opener from Yeti for instance will fit on a keyring, so they'll always have it with them.

As a craft beer lover you run the risk of being thought of as pretentious and fussy by traditional beer drinkers.

And you can't argue with the unenlightened.

So why not help a craft beer fan own the 'beer snob' label by getting them this can holder.

It'll raise a smile, subtly give the naysayers the finger, and keep their beer cold too.

There's nothing like putting your feet up and having a nice cold beer.

And if you know someone who does this literally, these socks can be a fun gift to give.

They can also be a way of giving a hint to your other half to stop being so lazy, and to get their own beer from the fridge rather than ordering you around every Sunday!

A 'Craft Beer Only' Fridge Sticker

Any craft beer aficionado will cringe at the thought of having bland, mainstream beers in their fridge.

So why not get them a sticker to put on their fridge to emphasise this fact.

This may make their other half think twice before putting crap beer in the fridge.

Craft only please!

Rounding Up

As you can see, you have so many awesome beer gift options when buying something for a lover of craft beer.

You could get them a great selection of beers, or something nice to drink them out of.

Or you could get them something that'll help them to keep their beer cold.

You could treat them to a trip to the local brewery, take them on a craft beer crawl, or a day out at a craft beer festival.

And you could even make them an investor in their favourite brewery.

Or you could get them something interesting to read that will increase their knowledge and deepen their passion further.

Whatever you decide to go for, you are sure to find something suitable within these ideas.

Which only leaves one thing to say.

Cheers!