The countdown to Christmas has begun so I thought it may be appropriate to throw in some gift suggestions, but with a distinct focus on presents for beer lovers.
There’s a wide range of gifts which will suit all budgets and tastes and some may surprise you.
One of the more popular gift ideas is a god old beer hamper.
Yes we all know what a hamper is but there breweries and gift shops putting together selections which bring a smile to any lover of the amber fluid and those who just like to socialise.
James Squire’s Ale hamper offers a selection of five Squire’s brews – The Chancer Golden Ale, 150 Lashes Pale Ale, Nine Tales Amber Ale, The Swindler Tropical Pale Ale and Broke Shackle Lager. It also comes with a selection of savoury snacks from nuts to jerky and olives.
The Beers of Australia hamper features brews from five different brewers, Cricketers Arms Keepers Lager, Young Henrys Newtowner, Little Creatures Pale Ale, four Pines Pale Ale and James Squire Chancer Golden Ale.
Of course, as the old saying goes, “give a man a beer and you make him happy, teach a man to brew beer and you’ll have a friend worth visiting for life”.
Well, it’s not exactly the saying but in this day and age, a home brew kit is certainly a great idea.
Not only will it save you money but it will allow you to explore the wonderful world of home brewing and allows you to experiment with a wide range of brew kits.
Many home brew shops can put together a basic kit that included all the essential equipment, a brew and support in getting you started. But make sure you find out what the best methods of brewing in summer are so you don’t waste your time.
It can be a tricky time of year to start due to the heat but once you have mastered the art, there no better feeling than sitting back and enjoying a cold one, especially if you have made it yourself.
The challenge will be deciding if you are going to bottle your brew or make it as a draft.
Drafts pose a challenge with added expenses such as gas and a set up to keep kegs cold but there’s a certain satisfaction pouring your own from a tap.
There are plenty of books out there to guide you such as Greg Hughes’ A Home Brew How To Guide which is full of vital information and a host of recipes.
If you are after something less serious, Brewed With Balls: The Most Outlandish Beers is worth a read. It features 68 bizarre and sometimes dead-set weird brews from around the world.
From blueberry beer to a drop smoked with sheep poo, beer lovers will find this not only entertaining but full of useless information to impress your friends with.
A beer event calendar is also a novel idea and a great excuse to sampling a different beer daily in the lead-up to Christmas.
There’s the surprise of finding out what each new day brings and while others may not be that excited, but if you are following the calendar who cares?
Of course, if you are looking for something to do over the Christmas holiday break, a brewery tour is always worthwhile.
During the summer months, there are plenty of companies offering packages to sample the delights of breweries, especially on the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast.
There are half day and full day tours, depending on your budget and constitution and these are a great way to learn about a variety of beers from the brewers themselves and also make new friends.
Gifts Australia (www.giftsaustralia.com.au) has a wide range of items ready to surprise and delight any beer lover at Christmas and as an added bonus, if you spend more than $99, you’ll get free delivery anywhere in Australia.
Cheers to a Merry Christmas
Bob Anthony
