What a time it is to be alive for all the beer lovers out there. Beer distilleries are everywhere, new craft-beer companies are popping up all over the place, and the amount of beer-related gifts, toys and accessories available for Christmas or birthdays is broad-ranging and diverse.
As we all know, the festive season is a time for making merry, and what better way to do that than with beer (responsibly, of course)? This guide will walk through some of the best gifts for beer lovers this Christmas.
Tennent’s Beer Accessories
Thankfully for those who love traditional Scottish lager, brewers like Tennent’s offer a limited-time Christmas selection with endless amounts of gifts to choose from. If your giftee is an avid fan of Tennent’s, or even if it’s a beer they have yet to try, why not browse what’s on offer from this giant of brewing?
How fun does a Lager advent pack sound? Yes, you read that right; an advent calendar for a lager. Amazing, right? It’s a little something more than chocolate to look forward to. The only downside is you can’t exactly have a can before you go to work in the morning, so maybe save it for the evenings.
Complete with 24 x 240ml cans of the famous lager, you will certainly find a treat behind every door – remember to drink responsibly, of course.
A Tennent’s Christmas gift set might be an even better option. Complete with everything you might need for a gift at an affordable price, and containing a chef’s apron, Christmas coasters, a festive pint glass, and a pair of Christmas socks, it’s the ultimate variety gift set. Cheers!
A Draft Beer Machine and Keg
This gift is best aimed at those with a significant other in mind, as it’s on the pricier side. A draft beer machine is arguably the best high-end gift to surprise any beer lover or aspiring publican, allowing them to fulfil their dream of having a fresh draft pint right at their fingertips. Whether in the converted sports bar in the garden or the kitchen, they won’t be able to thank you enough for a gift like this.
Though it might sound a little extravagant initially, the price tag is actually fairly justified for what you get, with the popular Philips PerfectDraft clocking in at just under £200.
You can’t argue with the fact that it’s a great investment for any beer fanatic. The machines are made up of 6 components:
- Cooler – Set the desired temperature for your cold beer
- Keg – Replaceable keg filled with the beer of your choice
- Coupler – Clamps onto the keg and opens the way for gas
- Gas – Pushes beer out of the keg, usually uses co2 cylinders
- Tubing – Connects the keg to the machine via a tube
- Font – Free flow tap that controls the pour
But you didn’t need to know that just yet, did you? All you need to do is maintain the machine and replace the kegs now and again. If you’re smart, you can use the keg as a repeatable gift over several occasions; keep surprising them with new beers.
A New Beer Glass
A classic, and although it might seem like little thought goes behind it, it’s usually appreciated a lot more than cliched pair of socks or novelty mug. Many beer lovers enjoy drinking a glass that matches their beer, so that is well worth considering. What’s their favourite beer? Do they already have a glass that matches it?
If you can’t help but feel like it isn’t enough, why not combine it with another gift? It’s the perfect addition to any gift set. Alternatively, consider personalising the glass with your beer-loving friend or family member’s name on.
Read: 8 gifts to give your grandpa this Christmas
A Brewery Tour
If ‘experiences’ are more your loved one’s thing, then booking a brewery tour could well be the best gift you could get a beer lover. It allows them to get right into the behind-the-scenes and discover what the beer is all about and how it’s made and sent out. It’s interesting and informative, and you usually get a free drink at the end of it!
Some of the best brewery tours in the UK include the Beavertown (of Neck Oil fame) Brewery tour in Tottenham, the Hawkshead Brewery tour in the Lake District, and the Bristol Beer Factory.
The Bucket List Beer: Beer-Themed Adventures
If one of your friends or family members is truly passionate about their favourite refreshing drink, then you should consider buying Justin Kennedy’s great book The Bucket List: Beer. Aimed at those who enjoy a beery break, and offering over one thousand exciting beer-related adventures, from pop-up beer gardens to pub crawls, brewery tours and Bavaria, this is ideal for the thirsty traveller, make no mistake.
The Bottom Line
Christmas is approaching fast, so it’s best to avoid bouts of frantic panic buying. Instead, give a gift that’s assured to go down well in more ways than one!
Now, we just have one more question… Pint?