Last Minute Gift Guide for Beer Guys

Ever wonder what you should get a beer guy for Christmas? Beer, of course. But what kind of beer, you may ask? Well, the answer to that is not so simple, is it? There are so many choices, and you may not have any clue about which ones are right for the beer drinker in your life. Well, doubt no more, because I am here to plumb my shallow wisdom with a few suggestions.

Beer Gifts

First of all, beer is the best gift for a beer guy. I can't overstress the point enough. You may think a beer book or a beer cozy or a Coors hat might be the best gift, but unless you've specifically been told this is what he wants, steer clear and head straight for beer.

Best Beer for Foodies

If you have a friend who is really into gourmet cooking and eating, and is looking for the perfect beer to go with his refined diet, then I would recommend Boulevard's Tank 7. Saisons in general are good food beers, but of all the ones I've tried, I still like this one the best, and still think it makes the best pairing with a number of meals, especially hot and spicy meals. Boulevard beers are pretty well distributed, and as their Smokestack series has grown in recognition and respect, this beer is becoming available in the better-stocked liquor stores across the country.

Best Beer to Split with a Buddy

Do you have a friend who loves porters, while you love IPAs (or vice versa)? Can you never get together over a beer? Well, fret no more because I have found your beer: Odell's Mountain Standard Double Black IPA. This is the best example of the style I've had, yes, better than Stone's Sublimely Self-Righteous and better than my pet favorite W'10 from Widmer. Putting aside the brewer's visible and justified pride in its hand-picked Western Slope hops and putting aside controversies about the style and what to call it, this beer does the best job of harmonizing the hops and the dark-roasted malt flavors of any black IPA I've had, which, I think, makes it a beer capable of straddling the divide between porterinos and IPAnimos. As a side note, this beer is also relatively strong, and, as such, has the ability to smooth over any difficulties that may remain about which style of beer is better.

Best Beer for a Wine Drinker

Whether you're buying for a friend who likes both beer and wine, or if you're looking to introduce a wine drinker to the delights of beer, look no further than Stone's Vertical Epic 10.10.10. This beer has a strong enough character of its unusual Belgian yeast that it up front presents itself as a Belgian ale with a decidedly odd aftertaste. That odd aftertaste is Muscat, Gewurztraminer, and Sauvignon Blanc grape juice, added during secondary fermentation. The first couple sips might seem a little off, but give it a glass and you'll be glad you did. With each successive sip, the yeast, rye, and grapes weave an intricate tasty spell, that, I think, can probably entrance even the stuffiest wine drinker.

Best Beer for Getting Drunk

Now, any beer will get you drunk, but if you're looking for the shortest, pleasantest beer trip there, I recommend The Reverend by Avery. At 10% ABV, it's not the strongest beer out there by any stretch, but it is one of the best at tucking the taste of alcohol into the beer. With cherries, currants, and spices, this beer feels festive and celebratory. Like getting drunk is its own special occasion. and needs no further excuse.

Best Beer for Hop-Heads

As an admitted hop-head, I gotta say I love my beers in the upper register of the IBUs. I've never yet met one that was too bitter for me, though I have drunk a number where the hops were just out of control, flopping around like a fish out of water. A truly great hoppy beer isn't just about the biggest hop flavor, it's about taking big hop flavor and putting it into a great beer. That said, the best example of distilling the essence of hops into a superb flavor is Odell's St. Lupulin. It's not the most bitter beer out there, by far, but it has something, the apotheosis of hops that transcends bitter to become an almost spiritual flavor. That said, unfortunately, St. Lupulin is a summer beer, so you may not be able to find it anywhere these days.

If you can't get St. Lupulin, then I recommend Hop Wallop from Victory. I've read people who say this beer is too hoppy--blasphemers all!--but I think this beer, although hoppy, is actually really drinkable, and the hops don't run away with the flavor.

Best Beer for Animal Lovers

Do you have a friend who's a sucker for every animal cause? Well, do them a favor and get yourself in good with Silverback Pale Ale from Wynkoop. Not only does it have a cool picture of a gorilla on the can, and not only does it artfully feature grain of paradise--a gorilla staple, so you can drink like a gorilla--but 50% of all profits from the beer go to theDenver-based Mountain Gorilla Conservation Fund. How much of that actually goes to the gorillas I couldn't tell you, but I would bet that in order to keep your eco-cred you'll still have to make sure you're recycling the cans.


Best Beer for Someone Who Hates Frou-Frou Craft Beers

I know there are people out there who think that drinking these small beers is at definitely un-American, probably subversive, and potentially communist. Don't try to tell these people that Budweiser is now owned by the Belgians and Coors by the Canadians (talk about communists--I heard they have universal health care!), they don't listen to that kind of talk. What they might listen to, though, is the taste of a truly historic American beer. For these people I recommend Utica Club. Utica Club was (according to its label and no other research done on the subject) the first beer brewed in the US after prohibition was lifted. It's a relic of the time before the big brewer era when every region had its own beer, and everybody drank locally crafted beers because there was just no reliable way to ship beer from state to state. Share with him this tasty variant on the American pilsner, just different enough from the standard that it is distinctive, but not so different that it risks rejection.

Best Variety Pack

Don't know exactly what your beer buddy drinks? Then it's best to buy a scattershot of beers to increase your odds of hitting something your friend likes. If you're going to go this approach, I recommend Schmaltz's Coney Island Variety Pack. Yes, it's lacking anything too stout, but otherwise, it's got a great variety, from a hoppy lager (which'll be favored by any IPA-drinker) to a rye pilsner to a white lager. Plus, most of the bottles have sweet pictures of busty babes on them--always a plus!