Need a Beery gift
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Discussion

bulb763

Original Poster:

870 posts

262 months

Monday 24th January 2011
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I passed my IAM test recently and I'd like to get my Observer a gift as a way of a small thank you. He is into his beers and has mentioned CAMRA and a few festivals he has attended / judged at, so I figured this would be a good place to start.

My knowledge of beers extends to.. well not very far - I drink lagers mostly and only occasionally try whatever beer the local has got. So this is where I'd like some advice.

I'd like to get him a bottle of something special / exceptional that he is unlikely to have tried before. I haven't a clue what he might have tried before but I figure there must be some popular / common beers that he will have had, and I'd like to avoid these. As far as flavour goes: no idea wink but he has mentioned stouts and ales :shrug:

I've checked a few online shops but like I said; I haven't got a clue.

Hope this isn't all to vague! Cheers beer

ETA budget ~£10, inc delivery if I have to get it online

Edited by bulb763 on Monday 24th January 20:20

Ritchie335is

2,118 posts

230 months

Monday 24th January 2011
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williamp

20,325 posts

301 months

Monday 24th January 2011
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Aldi have some old christmas stock at the moment: 2 glasses of Shepherd neame Spitfire (or bishops finger) and a nice presentation pint glass for £5.

sherman

15,178 posts

243 months

Monday 24th January 2011
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Bit over what you want to pay but he would be impressed with your choice.
http://www.whiskyshopdufftown.co.uk/darkislandrese...

sawman

5,163 posts

258 months

Tuesday 25th January 2011
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Woodefords brewery have an on line shop. woodefords

a proper real ale brewery

bulb763

Original Poster:

870 posts

262 months

Tuesday 25th January 2011
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sherman said:
Bit over what you want to pay but he would be impressed with your choice.
http://www.whiskyshopdufftown.co.uk/darkislandrese...
Wish it was a bit cheaper. I've realised my budget isn't going to go very far online - delivery takes up most of it frown

Checked out Morrison's earlier but again, I just don't know what's good / special and what's not. And plus, they were all ~330ml bottles.

sherman

15,178 posts

243 months

Tuesday 25th January 2011
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bulb763 said:
sherman said:
Bit over what you want to pay but he would be impressed with your choice.
http://www.whiskyshopdufftown.co.uk/darkislandrese...
Wish it was a bit cheaper. I've realised my budget isn't going to go very far online - delivery takes up most of it frown

Checked out Morrison's earlier but again, I just don't know what's good / special and what's not. And plus, they were all ~330ml bottles.
Sainsburys usually has a half decent selection of real ales or have a look in whisky shops there is usually a small section for real ales in them.

Bonefish Blues

36,147 posts

251 months

Wednesday 26th January 2011
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Or try a book like this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hops-Glory-search-British-...

Cracking read for the beerily-inclined.

Gold

1,998 posts

233 months

Wednesday 26th January 2011
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Waitrose usually stock Fuller's Vintage Ale. Cracking stuff and good to cellar for the future. Pick him up a couple one to drink now and one in the future.

Comes in a nice presentation box as well.

Cactussed

5,363 posts

241 months

Parsnip

3,253 posts

216 months

Wednesday 26th January 2011
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Would put in another vote for Bredog, but not TNP - aside from being out of budget.

Their Paradox ale is my absolute favorite - tastes like bovril and whisky to my uneducated palette, but I love both of those things smile

Personally, I would rather get a selection of 3-4 from Sainsubury's ale shelf (they usually have a good choice) than a presentation "gift set" or the like - you will struggle to go far wrong.

Something heavy like the Brewdog Paradox (Harvieston Old Engine Oil is another good one)
Somehting a bit lighter like Holt's Maple Moon (which is lovely - as is their honey one, but its a bit less subtle)
and possibly something a bit left field - something American and microbrewed? - they make some cracking IPAs over there (Goose Island to name just one)

In all honesty, if he is a big beer guy, he will have tried almost everything you will be able to get your hands on, but I'm sure he will appreciate the effort in thinking about it a bit, rather than just grabbing a 6 pack of stella and calling it a day.

jains15

1,013 posts

201 months

Wednesday 26th January 2011
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bulb763

Original Poster:

870 posts

262 months

Wednesday 26th January 2011
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jains15 said:
Thanks. Checked already but again, not got a clue what is worth having confused

bulb763

Original Poster:

870 posts

262 months

Wednesday 26th January 2011
quotequote all
Cactussed said:
ah yes! Would like to try some of that myself!

bulb763

Original Poster:

870 posts

262 months

Wednesday 26th January 2011
quotequote all
Parsnip said:
Their Paradox ale is my absolute favorite - tastes like bovril and whisky to my uneducated palette, but I love both of those things smile
Sold out frown

Parsnip said:
Personally, I would rather get a selection of 3-4 from Sainsubury's ale shelf (they usually have a good choice) than a presentation "gift set" or the like - you will struggle to go far wrong.

Something heavy like the Brewdog Paradox (Harvieston Old Engine Oil is another good one)
Somehting a bit lighter like Holt's Maple Moon (which is lovely - as is their honey one, but its a bit less subtle)
and possibly something a bit left field - something American and microbrewed? - they make some cracking IPAs over there (Goose Island to name just one)
Yeah I had considered that. If I knew I could find the ones you have mentioned in a Supermarket I would go and get them now. I don't think I've ever seen anything BrewDog in a shop..?

Parsnip said:
In all honesty, if he is a big beer guy, he will have tried almost everything you will be able to get your hands on, but I'm sure he will appreciate the effort in thinking about it a bit, rather than just grabbing a 6 pack of stella and calling it a day.
Absolutely, but I want to avoid giving him the foulest tasting thing he has ever tried wink

Gold

1,998 posts

233 months

Wednesday 26th January 2011
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If you want it to look more like a present 750ml bottles are always a nice change.

http://www.beersofeurope.co.uk/acatalog/Beers_of_E...

http://www.beersofeurope.co.uk/acatalog/Beers_of_E...

Parsnip

3,253 posts

216 months

Wednesday 26th January 2011
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I know Sainsburys stock brewdog, but they are a Scottish company and I'm talking about a Scottish Sainsburys, so I don't know - strangely enough, one of the bigger supermarkets over here stocks a few Brewdogs, which makes me slightly less homesick when I'm walking through aisles filled with crazy Norwegian food.

In all honesty, you really cant miss with Sainsburys - they usually have a decent selection of ales in the booze aisle in a dedicated area.

Even if you get him something that he doesn't personally like, I guarantee he will find someone who does - when I was in the UK and people came round, I would happily offer up stuff I didn't like that had been accumulated and it always got drunk - over here the beer is crap and costs a million quid - for all the moaning that goes on about the UK, we really do beer well.

bulb763

Original Poster:

870 posts

262 months

Wednesday 26th January 2011
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Close the thread!

Went to Sainsburys earlier... It must be an inferior one since it didn't seem to have that big a range.

Went from there to Portland Wines and asked the chap the same thing I've asked here. Very helpful and chatted for ages about beers. Recommended a Pelforth Brune - French dark beer, caramelly, toasty and malty. Bought it.

Sorted that then I mentioned the Whisky on the shelves, chatted for ages about that too. Then he brought out an open bottle of Springbank 12yo Claret Wood and offered me a taste. Very nice lick Bloke couldn't have been nicer.

So I hope he'll like the Pelforth, and I'll be going back for some of the Springbank when I'm a little more flush. Ta for the help thumbup