What happened to June?
The end of winter dragged on endlessly, April and May lasted forever…yet all of the sudden we’re staring down the barrel of July, just ten short days away. Memorial day weekend was forever ago, Flag Day has come and gone, and summer officially kicks off this Sunday.
Oh, and in case you forgot: Father’s Day is also this Sunday. Now, I’m sure all of you reading this have had it marked on your calendars for weeks and have your gifts all wrapped and ready to go, but juuuust in case you haven’t yet, here are six last minute gift ideas for your craft beer loving pops.
(First tip: skip the beer of the month club.)
Glassware
With so much time and energy spent into making all the delicious craft beers we have at our disposal today, it’s no wonder that the brewers want to make sure we drink them the way they are meant to be enjoyed. Gone are the shaker pints of yester-year; style-specific tulips, tumblers, and stemware are becoming commonplace in taprooms nationwide.
(Brews News // Source)
My recommendation: give him the glass that started it all. Originally developed as a collab between glass maker Spiegelau and craft giants Dogfish Head and Sierra Nevada, this IPA glass is meant to give you the proper balance and aroma of even the hoppiest of brews. Although if you order online now, it might not get here in time for Father’s Day, but I’m sure he won’t mind.
He’ll be asking for tekus and stanges before you know it.
Bottle Labels
Is it just me, or are those homebrew label maker programs just a little too kitsch? Don’t get me wrong, I like a good label design as much as the next guy, but anything more than coming up with some designs in powerpoint and printing them off myself is going above and beyond what’s really necessary.
(Good Beer Hunting // Source)
For my money, I’d go with these fantastic industrial style bottle neck tags instead. Simple, elegant, and eye catching without being too overbearing.
Beer Themed Cycling Jersey
Bikes and brews go hand-in-hand.
If Dad is a bike-a-holic, a good riding jersey is sure to be a hit. Help him rep his favorite brewery, pub, or organization on the trails this summer with a new kit this Father’s Day. From simple to eccentric, there are dozens out there to choose from.
(IACBT Jersey above no longer available; similar kit found here.)
Wooden Six Pack Carrier
Show off your stash off in style with a handmade wooden six pack carrier (lots of great options on Etsy). I have one myself, and not only does it fit nicely in the fridge, but it’s large enough to accommodate 12, 16, and 22 oz. bottles. Bonus points for an integral bottle opener.
Is dad a handyman? Grab a gift card to your local hardware store and let him DIY his own.
Tickets to a Craft Brew Festival
Still stuck? A ticket to Iowa Craft Brew Festival this weekend is a guaranteed way to win Father’s Day. On Saturday June 20, over 40 local and national craft beer reps will be pouring brews on the Court Avenue Bridge in downtown Des Moines. Now in its fifth year, the ICBF has become one of the state’s premier summer activities; it just happened to line up perfectly with Father’s Day weekend this year.
(Source)
Not in Des Moines? Don’t fret: there are plenty of beer festivals across the Midwest (and country, for that matter) all year long.
Craft Beer
Tails never fails. And neither does craft beer…so if you’re still scrambling come Sunday morning, go make-your-own six pack or spend a few extra bucks on that bomber dad’s been coveting. Better yet, fill up a growler with his favorite brew from your local brewery for him enjoy on the porch after Father’s Day dinner. Some taprooms now even carry stainless steel growlers, which would make for a fine gift in itself.
Just don’t forget to grab some for yourself while you’re there!
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