If you happen to’re in search of the very best presents for beer lovers, don’t have any concern—I’ve obtained concepts. Each pal group has that one one who is waaay into beer. In my pal group, that particular person is me. As an expert brewer, I spend plenty of my time enthusiastic about, making, packaging, and sure, ingesting that the majority worldly of drinks, beer.
For the previous 4 years, I’ve labored at Grimm Artisanal Ales in NYC, principally within the cellar. This implies guaranteeing the “wort” (unfermented malt derived sugar water) turns into the completed product we cherish. That requires plenty of sampling and tasting not solely of what I make, however staying educated concerning the normal panorama of the business. In brief, I strive plenty of beers—and beer accoutrements.
Under, you’ll discover a record of my very own favourite devices and instruments that I exploit at work and at dwelling. They’re certain to impress even the snobbiest beer snob in your record.
A bierstachel, or beer spike, is a good way to deliver out some new flavors in your favourite malty brews, particularly throughout the colder months. This can be a widespread device in Germany, and just a few breweries within the US have picked up on it, so it’s nice to your one pal who likes to be the primary to hop on a brand new pattern. To make use of a beer spike, warmth the forged iron spike to “purple scorching” utilizing both campfire coals or a propane torch, then plunge it right into a glass of beer. The heated spike caramelizes the residual sugars within the beer, making a fantastic layer of dense, marshmallow-y foam. This technique is greatest used for prime gravity beers like pastry stouts, doppelbocks, and winter ales.
Oyster is a Norwegian model that’s disrupting the high-end cooler house, so get this one to your beer-snob pal who doesn’t need the identical Yeti everybody else already has. This mannequin can match a whopping 36 cans of beer, comes with two ice packs, and is constituted of fully-recycled aluminum—so it will get bonus factors for being each sustainable and trendy. Its light-weight physique permits for simple carrying with both an included shoulder strap or the built-in aluminum deal with. Because it makes use of ice packs as an alternative of ice, this cooler is that a lot simpler to deliver to tailgates, the good outdoor, or a cabin within the woods.
A koozie is likely one of the most evident presents for beer lovers, however the Fishpond River Rat has been over-engineered in all the very best methods. Made out of 1680D coated nylon material, it’s extremely sturdy and water resistant, with foam insulated facet partitions that preserve your beverage of selection colder, for longer. Stretch material makes it straightforward to slide onto customary 12-ounce cans or glass bottles, however the detachable and adjustable neck strap is the actual gem of this koozie. It permits for hands-free carrying, and makes questioning the place you place your drink a factor of the previous. It additionally is available in a wide range of colours.
Whereas there’s true “no one-size-fits-all” glass in the case of serving beer, the Teku glass comes fairly shut. It’s nice for a variety of beer kinds, bringing out the utmost aroma via small laser etched marks on the underside of the glass that create an extended lasting head. The etching creates intentional nucleation factors that pressure the trapped CO2 within the answer as much as the floor of the liquid, which in flip creates foam. The foamy head is likely one of the most vital features of any effectively made beer—that is what retains your beer fragrant with each sip, so the longer it lasts the extra enjoyment you get. You’ve in all probability been served beer from a glass like this at your favourite craft brewery.
If you recognize somebody whose beer pastime has develop into a full-blown obsession, then their on a regular basis fridge can not include the multitude of beer they now possess. That’s why a chosen beer fridge is to be able to preserve bottles and cans at their correct “cellar temperature.” With a totally adjustable temperature output, this fridge can preserve your bigger format bottles on the splendid temp of 55-58 levels Fahrenheit, or your cans on the acceptable 38 levels Fahrenheit. In case your giftee can be into wine, that is nice for constructing out a private beverage heart.
If you happen to get your fingers on uncommon large-format bottles from a spot like cult-favorite Belgian brewery Cantillon, you’ll sometimes see each a cork and a cap on the bottle, which suggests you’ll want a wine key. If you happen to’re already splurging on the beer, you would possibly as effectively open it with one thing equally good, like this magnificence from Laguiole. Is it costly? Sure, is it excessive? Additionally sure, nevertheless it’s beautiful.
Just a few good books so as to add to their library
As with all pastime, the extra information you purchase, the extra you may take pleasure in it. The world of beer has been written about for literal centuries, so there’s no scarcity of issues to examine. There are various books written by skilled brewers about understanding the science behind this pleasant beverage. You may be taught concerning the full life cycle of yeast, prolonged cellar getting older and the results it has on these beers, what completely different flavors hops and botanicals can have in your beer. Books written for the dwelling brewer and the completely different components you should use to make your personal distinctive beer. This guide by Randy Mosher is a implausible crash course to understanding beer and tips on how to devour it, and it’s a must-read for anybody who desires to take their Cicerone (beer sommelier) certification course.
Is your native beer connoisseur seeking to take a crack at dwelling brewing? Get them considered one of these nice home-brewing starter kits. It’s value noting that whereas it could appear to be a greater bang to your buck to brew your personal beer, the preliminary start-up value is fairly steep. However on the finish of the day, there’s something immensely satisfying about making one thing utterly your personal from uncooked components.
Anybody who likes, not to mention loves, beer will undoubtedly be excited by the prospect of receiving new brews to strive on a month-to-month foundation, so a beer subscription is a dependable present possibility. Craft Beer Membership’s Beer of the Month enables you to select the quantity of beer—ether 12 or 24 bottles/cans—and their professional curators do the remainder. Every month, your giftee will obtain a wide range of beer kinds from two completely different craft breweries throughout the US.
