San Diego Magazine / December 2011 / The Sip: The Beer-Lover’s Holiday Gift Guide

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The Sip: The Beer-Lover’s Holiday Gift Guide

Beer. Next time you’re at your friend’s house, snap a picture of his or her collection. A good hop shop will recommend a rare find based on the styles in the collection. This will score you major points. Insider tip: Call Sid at Best Damn Beer Shop or visit bestdamnbeershop.com.

Beer West. There are a handful of great beer magazines out there, but Beer West magazine is a gem. From the surfing towns and hoppy IPAs of Southern California to the snow-capped mountains and barrel-aged sours of Oregon and Washington, Beer West is a celebration of the western beer-loving lifestyle. (And while you’re at it, a subscription to San Diego Magazine is a good gift, too.)

Bottle opener. From the I-didn’t-know-I-needed-this-until-I-saw-it files, meet “Be a HeadCase,” a bottle opener smart-phone case that comes with a free app that counts the bottle tops and cans you pop. You can also customize a song to play for every bottle or can of craft beer you open. 

 

Recycled beer-bottle tumblers and vases. Local company BottleHood “rescues” beer bottles direct from breweries and restaurants and turns them into tumblers, juice glasses, vases, candles, and necklaces.

 

Tasting Journal. The pocket-sized journal 33 Bottles of Beer provides an easy way to record tasting notes by checking off boxes and entering a few basic facts. The best part is the “flavor wheel” that helps you recall a beer’s unique flavor. 33.beers.com