Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Flip

Original poster

Real ale gift for DH?

24 replies

lisbapalea · 21/10/2013 15:58

Hello all,

I saw on another thread, which I can unfortunately no longer find, a recommendation for either a Real Ale delivery service, or for a mixed case of Real Ales. Either of these sound ideal for my DH for Christmas, but having done some googling I am a bit overwhelmed by all of the options!

I got very excited by one company but they only deliver in South West London / Middlesex, and I am in the Midlands, so that's a no go...

Would love to get recommendations from people who have bought this kind of thing before!

Thanks in advance!

OP posts:

MaryBS · 21/10/2013 16:00

I usually get mine from the supermarket, plenty to choose from! What sort of thing does he usually drink?

Original poster

lisbapalea · 21/10/2013 17:35

Eeek, I am no expert but know he likes things like Tribute, Tim Taylor's and some of the Purity beers.

I have seen some bespoke Real Ale online shops which prepare selection boxes with 12 bottles or 11 plus a 'tasting glass' (whatever that is, probably money for old rope) and I just thought one of those packages would seem a bit more special than a selection of his usual drinks. I just didn't know if there was a recommendation on which company to use for that kind of thing - I know I have seen a mention on here for something similar before, but can't find that thread!

My rationale for it being hopefully an OK gift for him is that we're expecting DC2 in December, so it will be positioned as "you may not be able to get to the pub over the next few weeks/months, but with this the pub can come to you".

I suppose I could just get some of his usuals from Sainsburys though, and make up a hamper myself - hadn't really thought of that - pregnancy is making me want to take the easy way out!

OP posts:

HappyHippyChick · 21/10/2013 17:38

If you're near a lidl my dh has been buying a box there, 'classic beers of England' which is two each of six different beers, with details of the brewery each is from on the box.

It's £15 for 12 bottles.

sonlypuppyfat · 21/10/2013 17:43

Last saw some fab ales in Sainsburys really unusual stuff from brewerys I'd never heard of before

DeathMetalMum · 21/10/2013 17:46

We have a specialist alcohol shop (can't think of the correct name) and they stock a lot of independent ales bottles from local brewerys you don't happen to have one of those around do you?

When I first read the title I thought you were just asking for a general real ale related gift at which I was going to suggest a brewery tour.

jennimoo · 21/10/2013 18:28

I think beer bods might be good. A box of beers to taste every week / month along with everyone else.

ProfYaffle · 21/10/2013 18:30

Where abouts are you? Do you have any local micro breweries locally?

KarenHL · 21/10/2013 18:33

There are specific ones I like that aren't sold locally. I am in the Midlands and buy through Tuckers Maltings in Newton Abbott.

If you're anywhere near Brum, try and include a bottle of Banks bitter (my fave). Luffly stuff.

ProfYaffle · 21/10/2013 18:33

Sorry, just seen that you're in the Midlands.

These two are local to me and do mail order. I can recommend both!

www.oldchimneysbrewery.com/index.html
www.grainbrewery.co.uk/index.php

Lexilicious · 21/10/2013 18:39

this might bust the budget but I have booked DH on a one day foundation course at www.beeracademy.co.uk for his birthday. I also want to do it and am dropping heavy hints it's a real course though, counts as a level 1 NVQ so I hope he puts it on his CV

Original poster

lisbapalea · 21/10/2013 18:45

Wow lexi that looks amazing! But given I am going to be on maternity pay it may be a bit of a stretch this year (especially as I have already got him a few bits and bobs), but it's his 40th in 2015 so will seriously consider it for that!!

jennimoo thank you for saying beerbods! That's the one I had seen mentioned before but couldn't remember, so you have answered that for me!

Thanks everyone for all the other suggestions - will check them out too!

OP posts:

Lexilicious · 21/10/2013 18:51

good luck with baby though! how about some proper glasses? goblet shapes are best for drinking hoppy English ales, these are under £20 for packs of 6.

Follyfoot · 21/10/2013 18:56

Adnams do a couple of mixed boxes here

everydayaschoolday · 21/10/2013 19:36

My DH likes Hobgoblin. They have an ace website. I ordered from them last year (etched pint glass, t-shirt etc) and it was well packaged and quick. www.wychwood.co.uk/#/homehobgoblin/home

To order the ales on line, it's through 'Classic Ales':

www.classicales.co.uk/beers/breweries/wychwood

harbinger · 21/10/2013 19:41

I got the beerbods crate for Dh last Christmas. Probably the best present for at least ten years! He's really into it.

One thing you may not know about Beerbods is that, if you find a beer you really like, you can buy a whole case of it for a cost price.

Hawkmoth · 21/10/2013 19:46

I've sent gift deliveries from Palmers and Cropton breweries with some success and gratitude received!

marssparklesdownonme · 21/10/2013 21:22

Try www.beersofeurope.co.uk they are local to me and have an excellent selection .Look at the mixed cases page . They deliver to your area and have a wide variety and range of prices

MaryBS · 22/10/2013 09:43

They do do boxed taster sets in the supermarkets, I was thinking of those, more than you buying some. Green King at Bury St Edmunds do some nice sets, my DH got some from his work colleagues last Christmas. Or there's the Big Sheep Brewery, in Devon, they may do mail order, their beer is lovely!

MaryBS · 22/10/2013 09:46

Golden Pig is good

www.countrylifebrewery.co.uk/page4.html

MaryBS · 22/10/2013 09:46

www.countrylifebrewery.co.uk/page4.html

Longdistance · 22/10/2013 09:52

Watching with interest.

My dh loves his ales too. He's quite obsessed. Always looking for a new one he hasn't tried yet.

Original poster

lisbapalea · 22/10/2013 09:54

I have loved all the ideas here - thank you all! I am now making DH a 'pub at home' hamper which includes some of your ideas:

tour of a local brewery (surprisingly cheap!)
selection of beers from two of our local breweries (12 bottles from Hook Norton and 14 bottles from Purity - hopefully that will be enough to keep him going for a while!)
Tom Kerridge Real Pub Food cookbook
CAMRA 2014 good beer guide
Book of pub quiz questions
some fancy beer snacks

I also just found a personalised pub sign generator online (from the release of the Worlds End film), so I have fiddled about with that and stuck on a picture of DHs head and called it the [Surname] Arms, so I am going to stick that on the lid of the hamper I make for him to stick all of the above in.

Am now feeling quite pleased with myself as I actually think he'll like this present which makes a change from the usual Christmases when I buy him stuff that he just needs, like jumpers and slippers (he's never bothered - he doesn't really 'do' Christmas and has very low expectations of what makes a good present for himself!), but this is much more entertaining!

Huge thanks to everyone for all the inspiration!

OP posts:

BlueChampagne · 22/10/2013 13:50

Maybe for future reference: www.winegod.co.uk/ - don't be put off by the name - there is an excellent range of bottled beers. I've had some sent to Aberdeen!

onedogandababy · 22/10/2013 13:53

Try www.mybrewerytap.co.uk - I got this one year for dp

Flip