Gift Ideas 2013: This Brew Is For You

To me this year was “The Year of Local Craft Beer.” Connecticut is now home to more small breweries than I can count … and as a beer aficionado, I really love it. That’s why this year my top locavore gift-giving suggestion is all about beer.

Photo by Renato Ghio

Introduce the beer-lovers on your holiday list to a Connecticut brew or if they already have a local favorite help them show their love for their local brewery.

You can:

• Go to a local brewery and buy a growler along with a couple of branded pint glasses and make a nice gift basket.
• Get a gift certificate for a brewery tour/cafe/restaurant.
• If you can’t get to a local brewery in person, shop online. Okay so you can’t buy the beer online, but lots of local breweries have an online shop where you can purchase apparel and bar accessories, even gift cards.
• Head to your local liquor store and make up a gift basket with beers by multiple local brewers.

Local Breweries

For those of us in CT, here’s a list of local breweries with an online shop and/or are available in retail locations (feel free to let me know of ones I’ve missed):

Thomas Hooker Brewing Company
Olde Burnside Brewing Company
New England Brewing Company
Cavalry Brewing Company
City Steam Brewery Cafe
Back East Brewing Company
Half Full Brewery
Relic Brewing
Two Roads Brewing Company
Beer’d Brewing Co.
Thimble Island Brewing Co.
Southport Brewing Company
Shebeen Brewing
Broadbrook Brewing
Cambridge House Brewing Company
Charter Oak Brewing Company
Firefly Hollow Brewing

If you’re not sure where to begin, just ask at your go-to liquor store. We stock up our bar at Fairgrounds Wine + Spirits in Danbury. They know a ton, have a great selection, and always give great recommendations. Plus, they make fun videos. In fact, check out this review they have of Two Roads’ year-round lineup:

I say everyone should toast to the holidays this year with a local beer! Cheers!