Mother’s/Father’s Day Gift Guide: A Subscription to The Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club

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It is once again that time to celebrate our parents during the six week stretch that contains their given holidays in 2020: Mother’s Day on May 10 and Father’s Day on June 21. The crew here at Mashing In is well aware that finding a decent gift gets more and more difficult as we get older (and even more so when we are all dealing with a global pandemic), so we have put our heads together to compile a gift guide for those moms and dads that enjoy a well-crafted adult beverage from time to time.  For this installment of the guide, we focus on a gift that caters to the parent that enjoys trying new beers each month: a subscription to one of the many club options from The Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club.

Widely known as one of the most respected beer-of-the-month clubs in existence, The Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club is a family-owned business that was founded in 1994 with a mission to “consistently [deliver] quality, variety, and value through [its] structured craft beer selection process.” Passionately dedicated to providing the best possible customer experience, the people behind The Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club are “committed to building relationships with [their] customers and to offering reliable, responsive customer service from a trustworthy company.”  This customer experience is further elevated by The Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club’s newsletters that aim to make members more knowledgeable beer drinkers by providing incredibly detailed information on the breweries, beers and beer styles featured in each box.  Oh . . . and by the way . . . The Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club does not just offer one beer club.  They actually have five different club options to fit the taste of the recipient, and here are three examples that could be perfect for mom and/or dad:

The U.S. Microbrewed Beer Club | $29.95/month (plus $15 S&H)

Is mom or dad just getting into craft beer and wanting to try some new brews from across the U.S. that they cannot find locally? Well, The U.S. Microbrewed Beer Club has them covered with twelve 12 oz. bottles (four different beer styles in each box) from two different “lightly distributed” American craft breweries each month.  Every shipment also includes The Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club’s Newsletter that features “detailed tasting notes, beer profiles, brewery histories, and suggested food pairings.”

The Hop-Heads Beer Club | $34.95/month (plus $15 S&H)

If you happen to have a hophead for a parent, you can get their lupulin fix shipped right to their door with The Hop-Heads Beer Club.  Containing nothing but hoppy styles ( IPAs, Double IPAs, Imperial IPLs, Sessional IPLs, hoppy Pale and Red Ales, etc.), this club features twelve 12 oz. bottles or cans (three different beers in each box) from two or more “lightly distributed” American or international craft breweries each month. Every shipment also includes The Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club’s Newsletter that features “detailed tasting notes, beer profiles, brewery histories, and suggested food pairings.”

The Rare Beer Club | starting at $38.95/month (plus $14 S&H)

Was mom or dad the reason you got into craft beer? Do you want to properly thank them for being ridiculously awesome? If so, you are going to want to hook them up with a subscription to The Rare Beer Club.  This customizable membership includes two, four or six 750ml bottles of two different limited-release and exclusive American and imported craft beers from the world’s hottest microbreweries each month (past months have featured breweries “such as De Molen, Mikkeller, Lost Abbey, Jester King, Fantôme, The Bruery and more”).  Every shipment also includes The Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club’s Newsletter that features “detailed tasting notes, beer profiles, brewery histories, and suggested food pairings.”  Without a doubt, The Rare Beer Club is easily one of the finest and most impressive beer clubs in the world.  

**UPDATE** Craft Beer Delivery OptionIn order to bring some added convenience to beer fans during the COVID-19 crisis, The Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club has adapted to offer customers the chance to assemble a one-time, customized craft beer sampler shipment via their beer store. If you would like to build your parent a package that is targeted directly to his/her tastes, now is the perfect time to do so. All you have to do is click here to jump to the beer store and begin building your order. **UPDATE**

If you are still scrambling to find that perfect gift for your beer-lovin’ mom or dad, your problem is solved because it does not get much easier than The Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club.  Just head over to their website, select a subscription, and give your parent the gift that will remind them each month of how good of a kid you are.  Prost!

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Mother’s/Father’s Day Gift Guide: Gift Sets from Shots Box

ShotsBoxLogoIt is once again that time to celebrate our parents during the six week stretch that contains their given holidays in 2020: Mother’s Day on May 10 and Father’s Day on June 21. The crew here at Mashing In is well aware that finding a decent gift gets more and more difficult as we get older (and even more so when we are all dealing with a global pandemic), so we have put our heads together to compile a gift guide for those moms and dads that enjoy a well-crafted adult beverage from time to time.  This installment of the guide focuses on the parent that likes to explore new bottles to rotate into his/her liquor cabinet: a selection of gift sets from Shots Box.

Shots Box is an online fine liquor retailer and monthly subscription service “that brings amazing craft spirits from around the country directly to your doorstep.” Although the company’s goal is to introduce you to and educate you on exciting and new spirits with mini, shot-sized bottles, they also let you directly purchase full-sized bottles of any offering you fall in love with after sampling. This makes Shots Box an incredibly convenient service that “[takes] the hassle and guesswork out of choosing a new drink to enjoy.”

The beverage specialists at Shots Box regularly curate gift sets that are a great option for holidays and celebrations. Here are a few suggestions that would make for a perfect gift for mom or dad this year:

Mother’s Day Gift Set – $38.99

A gift set that contains everything mom needs to enjoy her day. Contains five mini bottles that “Mom is sure to LOVE,” one 187ml bottle of Maschio Sparkling Rosé, and two shot glasses.

 

Bloody Mary Brunch Bundle – $41.98

Everything mom and dad need to enjoy a Bloody Mary – just Mix and Enjoy! Garnish with whatever is in the fridge!  Contains one 750ml bottle of American Harvest Vodka and one 750ml bottle of Classic Bloody Mary Premium Mixer from Hella Cocktail Co.

 

Customizable Shots Box – $49.99

Custom build a Shots Box just for mom or dad by choosing 10 mini bottles that fit his or her tastes. Choices range from Absinthe to Whiskey and everything in-between.

 

Shots Box gift sets are available for delivery in the majority of the United States (click here to view the company’s delivery map).  If you would like to hook mom and/or dad up with a fun and tasty gift from Shots Box, all you have to do is click on one of the featured gift sets above to get some fine libations headed their way in time for their holidays.  Prost!

 

 

 

 

Mother’s/Father’s Day Gift Guide: The Whiskeys of MGP Ingredients

Eight&Sand-hangtag (1)It is once again that time to celebrate our parents during the five week stretch that contains their given holidays: Mother’s Day on May 12 and Father’s Day on June 16. The crew here at Mashing In is well aware that finding a decent gift gets more and more difficult as we get older, so we have decided to compile a gift guide for those moms and dads that enjoy a well-crafted adult beverage from time to time. This installment of the guide is a suggestion for the parent that fancies herself or himself a whiskey aficionado: the whiskeys of MGP Ingredients (Atchison, Kansas).

Since National Bourbon Day (6/14) and Father’s Day (6/16) just so happen to share the same weekend, the good folks at MGP Ingredients have gone through their vast whiskey portfolio to assemble the following gift guide of new releases and top whiskey trends to help you narrow down the perfect whiskey – or two – for your mom and/or pops (gift guide and descriptions sourced directly from MGP Ingredients‘ press release):

  • Follow the Rye | Rye whiskey is on the rise. It fell out of favor after Prohibition—now it’s back in a big way and has just surpassed 1 million cases, up from just 100,000 cases in 2010. MGP Ingredients makes over 80% of the country’s rye whiskies, crafted in their historic distillery in Lawrenceburg, Ind., the “Rye Capital of America.” Rye is spicy and full of character, the perfect ingredient for classics like the Manhattan, Sazerac and Old Fashioned – and also a decadent sipper if made with care. For cocktails we recommend Rossville Union Master Crafted Straight Rye Whiskey (SRP: $39.99; 94-proof, aged a minimum of 4 years) and for sipping, it’s all about Rossville Union Barrel Proof Straight Rye Whiskey (SRP: $69.99) **both pictured below**. Barrel Proof is blended from the finest barrel reserves to deliver a full, but balanced cask-strength rye whiskey; so smooth, hard to believe it’s 112.6 proof. Rossville Union Rye Whiskey was first released in summer 2018 – and is nationally available.
  • Eight & Sand – The Rackhouse Series Honors the Railroad | The newest MGP release is Eight & Sand Blended Bourbon Whiskey **pictured on the upper right**. The nose and palate deliver spicy rye and cinnamon notes, followed by a touch of caramel at the caboose. There are no additives or colors – just the good stuff: quality, blended bourbon whiskey. Eight & Sand is competitively priced for smooth sailing ahead. If Dad is a train enthusiast, he’ll particularly love this label: Eight & Sand Blended Bourbon Whiskey supports great American Railroad Museums and historic preservation. SRP: $29.99 (88-proof).
  • The Bootlegger’s Bourbons | Bourbon is always in style. For every day, we recommend George Remus Straight Bourbon Whiskey (SRP: $39.99) **pictured above**, named for the King of the Bootleggers and aged a minimum of 4 years. There are a few bottles left of the rare, reserve Remus Repeal Reserve Series II (SRP: $84.99) – a collectible choice for bourbon lovin’ dads. Both bourbons are distilled in Lawrenceburg, and have a touch more rye in the blend than most. Remus Repeal Reserve Series II is crafted from 2007/2008 reserve bourbons and is available in limited quantities.

All the whiskeys mentioned above are available now at fine liquor retailers located in Kansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas, Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Montana, Missouri, Nebraska and Wisconsin.  Prost!

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Mother’s/Father’s Day Gift Guide: The Whiskeys of Angel’s Envy

AngelsEnvylogoIt is once again that time to celebrate our parents during the five week stretch that contains their given holidays: Mother’s Day on May 12 and Father’s Day on June 16. The crew here at Mashing In is well aware that finding a decent gift gets more and more difficult as we get older, so we have decided to compile a gift guide for those moms and dads that enjoy a well-crafted adult beverage from time to time. This installment of the guide is a suggestion for the parent that enjoys a nice pour of fine Bourbon or Rye Whiskey: the whiskeys of Angel’s Envy (Louisville, Kentucky).

Angel’s Envy, a family-operated business created by the father-son duo of Lincoln Henderson and Wes Henderson, is a Louisville-based Bourbon maker that artfully crafts “divine inspiration . . . into a spirit so sublime you’ll want to share it with the world.”  With all offerings “hand blended [in] batches of 8 to 12 barrels at a time”, the overall approach at Angel’s Envy is to combine “200 years of bourbon tradition [with] an independent master craftsman’s instinct to improve.”

For Mother’s & Father’s Day 2019, Angel’s Envy suggests treating your whiskey-loving parent to one (or more) of the following three core offerings (descriptions sourced directly from the distillery’s press release):

  • Angel’s Envy Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey | Description: Angel’s Envy Kentucky Straight Bourbon is finished in port wine casks for an award-winning spirit. We guide each batch’s conditioning, blending our handcrafted bourbon in small batches of 8 to 12 barrels at a time. Once it’s deemed ready, we finish our bourbon in ruby port wine casks, which adds subtly distinct flavor nuances that enhance the whiskey without challenging it. Our port finishing process lasts between three to six months, depending on taste.  SRP: $49.99
  • Angel’s Envy Rye | Description: Angel’s Envy Rye Finished in Rum Barrels is genuinely unique and worthy of Master Distiller Lincoln Henderson’s legacy. The taste profile of rye whiskey was a perfect fit for a rum cask finish. After sampling over 100 rums to find the right flavor to complement rye whiskey, the team’s decision was unanimous.  SRP: $89.99
  • Angel’s Envy Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey 2018 Cask Strength | Description: Ranked the “Best Spirit in the World” by Spirit Journal in 2013, Angel’s Envy Cask Strength Bourbon Finished in Port Barrels is unlike any whiskey you’ve ever tried and we released a very limited number of bottles – 12,000 to be exact. We judge only a handful of barrels exceptional enough for our lengthy finishing process. Even at 124 proof, every sip is worth savoring. A remarkably complex and unfiltered spirit, we suggest you enjoy it neat or with just a splash of water to release the flavor nuances, and perhaps with a few friends who appreciate outstanding whiskey.  SRP: $199.99

You can find all the offerings listed above available in 750ml bottles at fine liquor retailers located in Alabama, Florida, Kentucky and throughout the rest of the Angel’s Envy distribution network.  Prost!

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Mother’s/Father’s Day Gift Guide: BĒT Vodka

BETVodkaDrinkIt is once again that time to celebrate our parents during the five week stretch that contains their given holidays: Mother’s Day on May 12 and Father’s Day on June 16. The crew here at Mashing In is well aware that finding a decent gift gets more and more difficult as we get older, so we have decided to compile a gift guide for those moms and dads that enjoy a fine adult beverage from time to time. This installment of the guide is a suggestion for the parent that fancies herself/himself as a vodka aficionado: BĒT Vodka (Minneapolis, Minnesota).

Carefully crafted by “two millennials” – Ben Brueschoff and Jared Poling – after working with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, BĒT Vodka stands out from “the typical potato, wheat and corn [Vodka] varieties” by being a “unique luxury” Vodka made with sugar beets that are “harvested and processed into granulated beet sugar, then dissolved into water with nutrients, fermented for up to two weeks, distilled no less than three times, blended with filtered water, and passed through active carbon to create a premium-pour.”  This process results in a taste that is “smooth on the front, with peppered spice on the back, and a hint of vanilla essence.”  Clocking in at 40% ABV/80 proof, BĒT Vodka is “full of heart and made for sharing.”

BĒT Vodka is currently available in 750ml bottles at select restaurants, bars and liquor establishments in the Twin Cities – Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota.  You can look for this premium spirit at “Booze Mart, Central Spirits, Lowry Hill Liquor, MGM Liquor, Rum River and more” or you can purchase BĒT Vodka online by clicking here.  Prost!

 

Mother’s/Father’s Day Gift Guide: Speyburn 10 Year Old Source Water Gift Pack

SpeyburnSourceWaterIt is once again that time to celebrate our parents during the five week stretch that contains their given holidays: Mother’s Day on May 12 and Father’s Day on June 16. The crew here at Mashing In is well aware that finding a decent gift gets more and more difficult as we get older, so we have decided to compile a gift guide for those moms and dads that enjoy a fine adult beverage from time to time.  This installment of the guide is a suggestion for the Scotch Whisky-lovin’ mom or dad: the Speyburn 10 Year Old Source Water Gift Pack – containing a 750ml bottle of Speyburn 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky alongside a 100ml bottle of Uisge Source Water – Speyside – from Speyburn Distillery (Rothes, Scotland).

As far as the whisky goes, Speyburn 10 Year Old is a Single Malt Scotch Whisky made with the “crystal-clear water of the Granty Burn . . ., an integral ingredient used to produce the bold, bright, distinctive single malt whiskies of Speyburn.”  This “soft spirit” is then “matured in a combination of American oak, ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks” until it “marries with the gentle oak influence to create a balanced and approachable dram with hints of toffee, butterscotch and a long, sweet finish.”  Weighing in at 80 proof/40% ABV, Speyburn 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky is a standard that “exhibits the distillery character and house style of Speyburn.”

If you personally prefer to enjoy your Scotch with a little added water, there is nothing “more fitting than using water sourced from the same region where the whisky was crafted.” That is where the included bottle of Uisge Source Water – Speyside comes in . . . you know . . . since it is “sourced from a well high up in the Cairngorms mountain range, located close to some of the popular Speyside Distilleries.”  This incredibly special bottle of water contains “a soft spring water with low mineral content” that was “naturally filtered through granite.”

“Water changes the molecular structure of the whisky, allowing some of the dominant flavor components to shine through. By adding a drop of water to your whisky, you get to experience something that is often totally different than what you get with a neat whisky.

 

There’s an old saying that states bad whisky needs water and good whisky deserves it. When you’ve found a whisky that you consider to be good, go ahead and give it what it deserves.”

 

– Steph Ridgway, Speyburn Brand Education Manager 

The Speyburn 10 Year Old Source Water Gift Pack is available now for the suggested retail price of $30.  You can expect to find this gift pack at fine liquor retailers located throughout the United States.  Prost!