You have someone on your shopping list that is a beer-lover, and you are wondering what to get. After speaking with other craft beer professionals, noting industry trends and consuming vast amounts of products, most of them locally produced, I’m proud to recommend the following ideas. Cheers!

Local brewery swag. I can never have enough glasses, or winter hats, or T-shirts – and I am not alone. People that enjoy craft beer are known to collect these, not to mention that glasses break, hats get lost, and who doesn’t like a new T-shirt? A great idea is to buy the glass and roll up either the shirt or the hat and stuff it into the glass. Wormtown in Worcester has a glass that resembles a beer can. Treehouse in Monson has a glass that is like a tumbler, and I’ve found it to be more durable than most beer glasses on the market. This is perfect for those on a set budget or gifting in a situation where alcohol is discouraged, like certain workplaces or schools.

Bottle in a bag. This is a take on the familiar wine-bottle-in-a-bag gift. Feel free to keep it a bottle of wine if you wish to broaden the desires of your designated craft beer-drinker. You could even substitute in a nice bottle of craft cider such as one of my favorites from Artifact Cider Project, Bantam Cider or Cider Creek. You could always research my previous article online on thepulsemag.com and see what I recommend for larger format bottes that would fit perfectly in a wine bag. When in doubt, grab something from Allagash Brewing in Maine. I have yet to have a beer from them that I did not enjoy.

Locally roasted coffee. Just about every brewery that I have visited brews some sort of beer with coffee in it. Usually, these beers are some of the most sought-after beers the brewery produces. This, in turn, has fine-tuned the senses of craft beer-drinkers to a better quality of coffee. Local breweries generally get their coffee for these beers from local roasters. I personally cold brew my coffee at home with beans I’ve purchased from Sturbridge Coffee Roasters in Dudley, Armeno Coffee Roasters in Northborough, and Red Barn Coffee Roasters in Upton. Make a nice gift basket with some locally roasted beans and a quality mug. If you do not know what kind to get, ask. I’ve found the local roasters to be quite knowledgeable.

Spice blends. Some beer drinkers like to just enjoy their beer. Others like to keep notes or even post and share these notes to various online forums, touting the various smells and tastes they picked up from beers. If you have read any of my previous columns, I fall into either category, depending on the beer. It has totally changed how I approach food, both at home and when I dine out. My spice cabinet at home has tripled in size over the past few years from my expanding palate, and no doubt, the beer-lover in your life has experienced a similar phenomenon. Head on over to Ed Hyder’s on Pleasant Street in Worcester. They have a wide selection spice blends. BT’s Smokehouse in Sturbridge has a few signature seasonings for sale, as well. Crust Bakeshop, next door to Armsby Abbey on Main Street in Worcester, has a wide selection of spice blends and pre-made gift baskets near the holiday season.

Gift cards. You can never go wrong with a properly purchased gift card. Key words there are “properly purchased.” Make sure to get a gift card from somewhere that the individual will use and use quickly. Get one to a favorite beer bar or, perhaps, a new one that just opened in the area. Our website at thepulsemag.com is a great resource, as you can search my previous columns to see what I have recommended in the past, or you can go by our previous restaurant reviews. You could also use any of the above-mentioned merchants as a guide and get a gift card there, or even a combination of a gift and a gift card. While you are at it, get something for yourself, too. You deserve it. Cheers!

By Kerry Cyganiewicz