2011 Holiday Beer Geek Gift Guide

It may be shocking news to you all, but it is the holiday season, and if you beer geeks are anything like myself, you probably have only begun to consider what you will purchase for the significant beer geeks in your life. I have tirelessly put together a list of eccentric gifts that mostly fly under the radar and that I would be stoked to be gifted myself. Last year's list of gifts still applies, but I have an all new list for your consideration below...

Mindy's Beer Gear
Is locally made wallets, purses, handbags, luggage tags, writstbands, headbands, and more, all made from recycled beer labels and various other packaging. It might sound flimsy, but it's all tightly sewn into a sleek clear vinyl coating. I rock a few of her wallets and a luggage tag as a business card holder myself. Support local artists and craft beer.

Bust A BottleCap
Ever wanted to bust heads along with busting a bottlecap off of a bomber of your favorite beer? Now you can protect your lady in a barroom brawl at club Dirrty as well as popping the top on your Total Domination IPA. Beer Geeks ain't nuthin to fuck wit.



The Lagunitas Butterfly Bottle Opener is essential to your hipster beer geek credibility for only $15.

Brewvana Brewery Tours Gift Packs
The best brewery by bus tours in Portland have an elaborate gift shop that includes everything from gift certificates for tours and Brewvana shirts and hats to huge packages that include magazine subscriptions, books, stickers, bottles of beers, and more.

Hydro Flask
Is the latest in cutting-edge growler technology. So far only a few breweries are carrying this product, including Hopworks and Laurelwood in Portland and Bend Brewing and Boneyard in Bend. Why is it so cool? The wide mouth growler features Hydro Flask's largest opening and is .375 inches wider than the company's standard mouth bottles. Each Hydro Flask is cast from double wall vacuum insulated food grade 18/8 stainless steel, therefore they are BPA-Free and resistant to bacteria and odors. The double wall vacuum insulation technology allows the Hydro Flask Wide Mouth Growler to keep hot contents hot and cold contents cold. Hydro Flask cannot guarantee against spillage with carbonated beverages and with other liquids placed inside of Hydro Flasks.

We recently tested this growler out leaving beer in one overnight in a heated room. It was still chilled and fresh tasting the other day. The catch? They cost between $45 and $50, but are well worth it.

Portland Growler Company makes really cool ceramic growlers that are unique and high quality. They come with with flip tops in either grey, white, or black. They are indeed $64 each, but they are cool as shit and no one else has them right now.

The Beer Goddess's Occupy Pubs: A Glass Roots Movement
In response to the controversial Occupy movement, or perhaps in spite of it, Portand's own Lisa Morrison, aka the Beer Goddess, host of Beer O' Clock Radio, has launched  line of shirts available on Cafe Press. They would be a valuable addition to any beer geeks wardrobe.

DRAFT Magazine Subscription for only $9.99 (before December 15)
Get 10 bucks off the price of an annual subscription of 6 issues when you type in discount code "twitter" ! Here: https://draftmag.com/subscribe/get/

The Oxford Companion to Beer
Despite some controversy regarding the accuracy of some entries, it seems to be without a doubt the most comprehensive resource on craft beer that has ever been published. There is no doubt it would be a valuable source of information for any beer geek and, at its size, add much to your beer geek credibility. We recommend it because it is now on sale for only $39.00 on Amazon

The Beer Buckle
"The Beer Buckle" is the perfect way to hold your bottle or can hands free with STYLE! Made out of solid Zinc Alloy, when you fold down the face plate, a spring loaded copper ring springs up, stops and stays in place to slide your beverage through and hold hands free! Handmade in the USA. Fits to belts with a 1.5-inch belt bracket. Does not include a belt with this purchase. Buckle and belt combo is seperate. Orders before sale and after not valid for sale. Sale is a sponsored event. Due to high volume, please allow up to 10 business days to ship.

Silipint
Is one of the newest & coolest products in the drinkware world. With its one of a kind, all-around durability & safety features, there are more uses and benefits to take with you, anywhere and everywhere you want to go!

Highly portable, 100% safe for all ages, and in support of a greener world, this incredibly FUN product will keep you smiling from the minute you use one, and long into the future. Once you own it, you'll grow to love this silly little pint more and more with every new Sili-Use you discover- it's more than just a cup! You can freeze it, nuke it, bounce it, bake it- or even run over it in your car! You can't hurt this thing- better yet, it won't hurt you!! No broken glass!

6 Pack of 33 Books
Local designer and beer geek Dave Selden has launched a beer rating book empire from 33 Beers to 33 Coffees and 33 Whiskeys and Cigars. You can purchase singles or select your own varieties and build a 6 pack of all the different tomes at their website for only $20 and they make great stocking stuffers to boot.

Synergy Brewing Systems
For the serious beer geek, Synergy will build a custom-designed brew system. More about them and their work:

A locally owned metal working company based out of Eugene, specializing in hand crafted, all-grain home beer brewing systems and accessories, Stainless steel and aluminum TIG welding, fabrication, design, repair, and brewery support. We love brewing beer, as well as creating fine functional art. Our main goal as a company is to provide our customers with the highest level of craftsmanship and service possible. All of the products we build are designed to hold up to a lifetime of daily use for generations to come. We are proud to be a part of the Northwest beer brewing community, and honoured to have performed work for other outstanding local breweries and companies such as: Hop Valley Brewing Company, Oakshire Brewing, Block 15 Brewery, Eugene City Brewery, Agrarian Ales, Hop Union, Valley Vintner & Brewer, Oak Barrel Kombucha, Green Eye Auto, The Bread Stop Bakery ,Brails Restaurant, as well as many other wonderful people, home brewers, breweries, wineries, restaurants and companies across North America. We also custom design and build stainless steel interior decor such as torchierre lamps, entertainment centers, tables, hanging lights, bar accessories, etc.
Please visit our new website at: www.synergybrew.com for more details, pictures, online ordering and information on our entire line of home brewing systems. If you have a custom project, repair or any questions, please feel free to give us a call at (541) 505-7916 or send us an email.