The Craft Beer Club sends craft brews from around the country. Each month, they send a selection of bottles and information about the breweries behind them. They also send recipes to pair with the beer.
My Subscription Addiction pays for this subscription. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
The Subscription: The Craft Beer Club
The Cost: $39 per month for 12 bottles or $74.11 for 24 bottles.
The Products: Craft beers from breweries around the US. Each shipment contains 4 different styles (3 or 6 of each kind, depending on the subscription).
Ships to: US. Shipping is free, except for orders to HI and AK.
Check out our previous reviews of The Craft Beer Club or visit the Drink Subscription Box Directory for more boozy boxes!
The Craft Beer Club includes flyers that provide information about the brewing companies and beers featured in the month’s box.
On the reverse, they include “Food for your Brew” recipes and some fun trivia.
If you sign up for an ongoing subscription (as opposed to a single month), The Craft Beer Club includes a bottle opener and tasting glasses with your first box. I’m really impressed by the quality of these bonus gifts, and I’m happy with both of them. I don’t own tasting glasses, so I’m excited to add these to my glassware collection.
Now on to the beer! There were four different brews included in the box. I received three bottles of each variety.
Bad Water Brewing Company Western Lager
Bad Water Brewing Company Saison
Bad Water Brewing’s Western Lager is made using traditional methods. It’s amber in color “with floral and spicy aromas with a bit of an herbal zing,” according to Craft Beer Club. There’s also a toasty quality to it that reminds me of freshly baked bread.
I’ve had saisons before, but I never really understood what they were. Thanks to Craft Beer Club’s flyer, I now know that saison is a type of beer that was historically brewed and consumed by Belgian farmhouse workers. It’s a pale ale that’s typically highly carbonated, fruity, and spicy. This particular version is really delicious- flavorful and refreshing!
Jack's Abby Brewing Hoponius Union
Jack's Abby Brewing Leisure Time Lager
Hoponius Union is an award-winning India Pale Lager. It’s similar to a traditional IPA except that it’s aged and fermented cold. According to Jack’s Abby, it’s made with American hops that create a “huge tropical fruit and citrusy hop aroma.” IPA’s aren’t usually my favorite beers, and this IPL was no different. Even though I don’t personally appreciate its super hoppy flavor, I’m sure my best friend’s IPA-loving husband will happily take the extras off my hands.
Leisure Time is a wheat lager made with lemongrass, coriander, orange peel, and chamomile. I love both wheat beers AND beers that are brewed with unexpected spice combinations, so this is a perfect beer for me! I like the unique mix of flavors, and I think they blend really well with the wheat. Wheat beer is one of my favorite summer drinks, and I think this one is fantastic.
Each flyer includes a recipe. These don’t seem to be traditional pairings (where the dish is meant to accompany and bring out flavors in a specific beer), but, rather, recipes that generally pair well with beer. This month, I really liked the sound of the Spiced Beef Sandwich recipe.
My husband offered to prepare the beef, which turned out to be a multi-day process of marinating, slow cooking, and resting. Luckily, it was all worth it- our sandwiches were delicious!
We served the beef on brioche buns with horseradish sauce, coleslaw, and hot pickles. The meat was flavorful and tender, and the pickles and coleslaw were a natural accompaniment. In my opinion, beer begs for simple, non-fussy food pairings. This sandwich definitely fit the bill!
The Verdict: I really enjoyed this box from The Craft Beer Club. I love trying new craft beers, and I like that they include recipes in every shipment. Value wise, the cost breaks down to just over $3 per beer. While I can pick up craft beers for less at the grocery or liquor store, I appreciate that The Craft Beer Club sends brews that I may not be able to find locally. Both breweries featured this month are new to me, and I look forward to discovering more new craft breweries in the coming months!
Are you a fan of craft beers? Have you tried The Craft Beer Club?
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