by MattLasher The Thirsty Scholar 12/10/10

Looking for the perfect holiday gift? Well if you’re shopping for a beer lover, here are a few suggestions (not including the

obvious but always welcomed gift of beer).

For the Beginner: A Beer Brewing Kit

• A great six-pack is always appreciated, but giving someone the ability to reproduce that same style— with a personal twist (and atafractionofthecost) — is priceless. Starter kits are available at any homebrew shop and typically cost anywhere from $60-100, depending on the quality of the equipment included.

For more information on brewing your own beer check out the free online edition of John Palmer’s definitive homebrew book How to Brew at www.howtobrew.com.

For the Beer Snob: Beer Books & Magazines

• Magazines like Beer Advocate and All About Beer are great resources for those interested in keeping up with the world of beer in general. But you can also find beer books specializing in topics ranging from

the business of beer to the philosophy of beer—and everything in between.

For the Local Favorite: Gift Certificates to Local Breweries/Brewpubs

• There may be no better gift for a beer enthusiast than a gift certificate to their favorite microbrewery/brewpub. Since many breweries offer tours of their facilities (often at no additional cost), this is a great chance for your beer lover to see what goes into creating some of their favorite beers.

Cheers (with beers)!

Matt@MimiVanderhaven.com