Less than two weeks to go and, if you’re anything like those of us at Crafty Towers, you won’t have made too much progress with Christmas prezzie buying. So, if you’ve got a beer-lovin' someone special in your life, or want to drop some hints so that friends and family know what to get to have you smiling after Santa’s been, here’s a few suggestions from the Aussie craft beer world.
Red Hill Christmas packs
The Mornington Peninsula brewers have just released their delicious Christmas Ale and are offering mixed packs featuring five of their outstanding limited release beers that are sure to bring some seasonal cheer. Take your pick from:
6 pack of five seasonal beers in a gift pack with souvenir Red Hill glass. Beers are Christmas Ale, Imperial Stout, Weizenbock, Temptation, Bohemian Pilsner – $35
Christmas Ale 6 packs – $30
These can be ordered from the brewery. The following are available from the brewery only:
Christmas Ale goblets – $15
Ceramic medieavel hand-made printed chalice – $30
If you’re keen to make up a hamper, there’s also the Brewhouse Larder range of spicy nuts, pickled cherries, pickled onions and tomato chutney.
Christmas Packs from The Wheaty
Adelaide’s finest always has a selection of handpicked âAss & Class’ six-packs on offer throughout the year. Now they’ve been âblinged-upâ for Christmas. Choose from:
âKick XmAss’ 6 Pack $75 – “In our humble opinion these beers ROCK!"
âWeird XmAss’ 6 Pack $65 – "Christmas in a bottle!"
âCheap XmAss’ 6 Pack $35 – "It’s all relative."
âLocal XmAss’ 6 Pack – "Keeping it in the family⦔
They’re also offering the “Steak Knives” deal: buy any two XmAss 6 Packs and receive a copy of the Beer Lover’s Guide to Australia 2011 free (rrp $24.95) while stocks last.
Beery Maps o' Tassie
Crafty reader Martin von Wyss is the man behind Australian Wine Maps, which produces elegant maps of the country’s wineries, state by state. They feature word by Max Allen and, in the case of Tasmania, also feature the state’s breweries and whisky distilleries.
He’s offering a three-for-two on maps in the run up to Christmas as a internet only special. Head to his website to find out more.
Other online specials
The Adelaide Bier Shop is offering a different gift pack every day in the run up to Christmas. Head to their website for more. If you order before December 13 and enter Xmas at checkout they’re offering free delivery anywhere in Oz.
Meanwhile, the BeerBoys have a selection of gift packs on sale.
Win a load of festie beer
The team behind the Ballarat Beer Festival have a pretty large prize up for grabs. Anyone that buys their tickets to next month’s festival online before Christmas goes into the pot for a chance to win one of every beer that features at the festival. Head here for more.
This is ridiculous
What is the ultimate gift for someone who loves beer and games? How about a sit-in arcade machine for the home, complete with steering wheel, pedals, a couple of hundred games and wireless connection? Oh, and a built in keg cooler and tap system.
The Octane 120 Pro Beer Arcade will set you back a cool USD$5,995 (plus shipping and postage) and is unlikely to arrive before Christmas, but we reckon you’d be forgiven…
Christmas Packs from Josie Bones
With its Christmas Lunch taking place on December 18, the Smith Street beereatery is ramping up for the festive season in fine style. If you fancy taking advantage of their awesome beer fridge, they’re putting together packs of rare and unusual beers, to which can be added vouchers, cookbooks and even some bone-bearing Josie Bones glassware.
Queensland beer in five litre kegs
Wade Curtis, Ipswich craft beer warrior, whose 4 Degrees Pale Ale and Summer Wheat, which he brews at Bacchus Brewing in Brisbane, have helped him win over many beer drinkers in his home town, has put a load of five litre kegs of his two beers into Harry Brown’s Merchant Trader, in Yamanto, just in time for Christmas.
If you’ve got something you’d like to shout about this Christmas, drop us an email – crafty@craftypint.com – and we’ll add it to the list.
