In search of some gift ideas for the craft beer enthusiast in your life this Christmas? A twenty two ounce bottle of his or her favorite beer makes a good stocking stuffer. If you’re not sure which beer to buy, let me suggest a gift card to a nearby bottle shop.

A membership to a beer club is the gift that keeps on giving. Most places that do memberships will give you the option of month to month, three months at a time and one year commitments. The Rincon Valley Taproom and Bottle Shop, BeerCraft in Rohnert Park and Healdsburg Emporium are just a few bottle shops that offer beer clubs and gift cards in Sonoma County.

Sometimes the best gift of all is a little encouragement. We all know that person that has talked about homebrewing their own beer for months, if not years. A simple homebrew kit can be the start of a wonderful hobby. Many professional brewers that have gone on to open breweries started with simple kits. The Beverage People located at 1845 Piner Rd. Suite D in Santa Rosa can set you up with brewing kits and they offer classes as well.

Most of the local breweries have plenty of swag to choose from. A t-shirt, hoodie, hat or growler from a favorite brewery would be a great choice. Many of them have a section on their website that shows you what is available.

Hunting down a special limited release beer could be a task, but would be appreciated if you’re shopping for a super beer geek. Some beer geeks collect verticals and may be missing just one or two beers to complete their collection.

In the end it’s the thought that counts. Be sure to stop and treat yourself to a good beer between all of the shopping. Cheers!
-Peter Lopez Jr.