Real Ale Gift

podperson

Hi all,

I am wanting to do some real ale gift boxes for my dad and FIL - am thinking something like 4 different bottles and maybe a branded glass or something. My dad is always wanting to try real ales when he's out but I don't think he really knows what he's looking for and FIL is quite into his beer.

Think am ok for FIL as he's Scottish but living in England so was thinking about some Scottish themed ales - like Thistle Ale, 80 Shillings, St Andrews Ale as he likes golf and have seen those around. For my dad though I was wanting to do the special xmas ales as he likes the novelty ones. Have seen them in the pubs but struggling to see any for sale in bottles, have had a look online at the supermarkets but can only see the normal ones. I don't really want to order online if I can help it as I am still waiting for things I ordered weeks ago and am worried they wouldn't come before xmas. Am based in Edinburgh if that helps. Any suggestions on where to find some or also ideas on how to package them would be very welcome.

Reggie_Rebel

Asda do loads of bottled beers from all over the country. They do a banana beer and a chocolate stout

tinkerbellsmum_2

don't buy anything by sherperds neame there not nice. i've seen a recipe for english ale mustard if you would like it.
our local corner shop do loads maybe try smaller shops

Saucepot

Orkney Brewery is decent scottish grog. Google 'em and get a box off the website.

Rubynewshoes

Try searching for local or micro breweries in your area. They often do xmas themed ales and most are reasonably priced. I picked up a christmas ale from Sainsburys the other day. It was with all the christmas alcohol gifts in a nice cardboard tube. Think it was a fiver or something but was on a 3-4-2 as well.

podperson

Thanks all, have tried Aldi, Lidl, Sainsburys, Asda and Tesco and none had any xmassy ones so have given up and just ordered a selection from asda with my weekly shop so I don't have to carry them home Does anyone have any ideas for packaging them? My in-laws are visiting this weekend and have offered to take things back home with them (they live near my parents but I'll be going down on the train just after xmas so at least won't have to carry beer bottles down with me!!) so I would like them to look nice but need to be securely wrapped and preferably so FIL can't guess what it is before he opens it.

themull1

M and S and BHS have nice beers/ales, and Fenwicks.

Georgyporgey

Try your local market, farmers market or christmas market, my local brewer usually has a stall and does christmas ale packs with 3 or 6 bottles in a swishy presentation pack. Great to support your local brewer too!

Lil_Me_2

Not scottish I'm afraid, but Bath Ales have a lovely Christmas beer selection and do very elegant gift packs. You can get a nice mix of three beers and a branded glass for £10.99 plus £5.50 courier shipping.

http://www.bathales.com/gifts/gift_packs.html

Festivity is the Xmas beer.

shoopi

I don't know if this is the kind of thing you were thinking of in terms of packaging, but you could carefully soak off the labels and replace them with ones you have printed yourself (on large sticky labels) and then cut out - say, something like 'Chateau Surname' or 'Christmas Cheer' or something personal. I did this last year for my hubby - I made a series of different labels with personal references. For example, one was based on the diamond-shaped 'welcome to Las Vegas' sign which I changed to say 'welcome to Beer'. They looked quite good - I expected them to look a bit home-made but they were quite impressive in the end. I got the idea from someone crafty on this forum and apologies, I am sorry I can't find the original message to link to.

podperson

Thanks guys.
Georgyporgey I never even thought of farmers markets and there is one fairly close to me on Saturday mornings so might go and have a look at that.
Lil_Me they look lovely but don't think they would come in time now, need to have them sorted for this weekend
Shoopi that is a great idea - some really creative people on here! - but again am worried I won't have time to do that, would probably take me weeks to think of labels to do, lol. Am going to file that away for the future though, would be nice on wine as well.
Have ordered a few from Asda with my online shop and will have a look in M&S and at the market on Saturday. Really need to have it sorted for Sunday so I can give to MIL to take back down with them - def don't want to be having to carry a big box of beer down on the train with me