I thought about posting this in a regional forum, but seeing as they have stores across the US, it should be appropriate to bring it here. Has anyone enjoyed a beer advent calendar from Craft Beer Cellar? This is my first year to pick one up, and I am seven days into it at this point. I have already unwrapped three locals, one from Canada, one from the UK, and two from the East Coast. While certainly feeling pleased so far, I am curious to here about others' experiences. Thanks!
Costco had one with all European beers. It was a little spendy and i didn't bite. I'd rather go to Total Wine and put together a sixer of interesting beers of my own choosing.
Greenbush Brewing here in Michigan does one that I think people have been very happy with the beers that have been included. I have never purchased one, but the brewery makes great beers so I'd probably be happy too. It's sold out for this year. https://shop.greenbushbrewing.com/products/2017-advent-calendar
I think it would be more fun to work with a friend and trade "homemade" advent calendars with each other. All you need is 1) an empty case of beer, preferably with dividers, 2) fill the case with a variety of singles + 1 extra beer*, 3) cut small doors in the lid or cover the top of the case with a large sheet of paper**, 4) number the flaps or paper over each beer with a marker 1 through 24, 5) wrap up the extra beer (#25) for Christmas day. * - I would make the extra beer something special for Christmas Day. ** - for paper you can cut flaps or let the person punch out/cut/rip the holes themselves. For those too late for a 25-day beer advent calendar you could do a 12 Beers of Christmas box. Same idea as above, but using a 12-pack box.
Unwrapped a Midas Touch this morning. That's definitely one I wouldn't have the guts to buy a sixer of. Sounds interesting to say the least.
We don't have a Craft Beer Cellar around here, but I did get an email about them doing this. It does sound pretty interesting. Part of the fun is trying new beers I may not try otherwise. This the one? Not sure how much they spent, as it was a gift. I don't know that I'd buy it again, but it's interesting for someone who doesn't touch German beers often. I unbox each beer in the morning to leave it in the fridge over the workday. I think I have a Munich Lager waiting for me when I get home.
Well, if you're curious what I think about each beer, I do review them. They're mixed in with the other beers I'm reviewing, but I hardly ever touch German brews, so it's a safe bet which are included in the pack (if you want spoilers or insight into the pack's contents).
My wife got me one last year and this year from St. Louis CBC. Great variety, which I like. Some locals, some holiday beers, some standards, a few mid price point beers, and I'd say about 1/3 I'd never tried before, and only one beer I didn't care much for. Last year I figured up the cost of the beers, and it was about 15% shy of the price they charged for the box, which I think is a fair markup considering they pick all different beers and wrap each one. This year after 8 days I've got Lagunitas Brown Shugga, Brooklyn Winter, Backwoods Bastard, Urban Chestnut Urban Underdog, Dogfish Seaquench, Alpine Duet, Breakfast Stout, and Crooked Stave Petite Peach. Great variety, several beers I rate above 4/5, two +$5 beers, and a couple I haven't tried before, so I'd say so far this year is another winner.
I have the German beer advent calendar. I've fallen a couple days behind because I can't handle the malty sweetness every single day. Still, it's been fun. Was a thoughtful gift from a good friend.
The last few years my wife has made me one by buying singles for several weeks leading up to December. She's great about choosing beers I've never had. She also spends money on some bombers I wouldn't buy and gets styles I don't usually get. That makes it especially great because I get to try beers I usually wouldn't. Because of some travel to see family this is the first year in a while she hasn't done it. I think she feels worse about that than I do. It's a lot of fun for both of us.
I've done one with friends the last two years. Everybody buys a different case and wraps each bottle and drops them off to the guy that organized it. They're mostly "self beers" but there's usually 18 or so beers I've never had so it's fun.
This is the sixth year that I have organized a Beer Advent calendar with my friends. There are twelve of us who participate, so each person gets assigned two days. We also get assigned someone for a Christmas Day Beer (typically a bomber). We get together for a bottle share at the end of November to exchange our wrapped beers. Here's what we've had so far this year: Day1: Trillium - DDH The Publick House Day 2: Lawson's Finest - Super Session #8 Day 3: Collective Arts - Stranger Than Fiction Day 4: Firestone Walker - Mocha Merlin Day 5: Big Ditch - Fip Day 6: Aslin - DDH Master of Karate Day 7: To Øl - Pineapple Express BA Day 8: Steamworks Brewing Company - Flagship IPA Day 9: Ommegang - Smoked Porter Day 10: Hermit Thrush - Po Tweet Day 11: Westbrook - Rinse/Repeat (Motueka And Wakatu)
