The best beer subscription boxes for boozy picnics or a Father's Day gift
On the hunt for the best beer subscription box, for picnics in the park or otherwise? We reveal the best beer subscription services in the UK - (yep, including beer subscription free trials).
Cast your minds back to March 2020 - the beginning of the pandemic. What were you buying? Pasta, probably. Pasta sauce, perhaps - even though you always make your own from scratch? And toilet roll, most definitely. If you could get your hands on it. Why everyone went so wild for it despite a weakened bladder not being a Coronavirus symptom remains one of life’s greatest mysteries.
We then went skincare crazy, investing in luxurious new moisturisers, transformative face exfoliators and fake tans to make ourselves feel a tiny bit better about having to stay indoors. If we couldn’t party, we’d pamper; at-home beauty sales went through the roof. More recently, the best summer dresses, products to survive the heatwave and the best after sun to soothe sunburn have been among the most shopped for, as we venture more and more outside. And alcohol. ALL the alcohol, of course, for the copious amounts of BBQs we're all having.
It's no surprise that summer = more alcohol sales - good weather means more excuses to meet friends in the park for a cheeky bev or two. Whether you’re a gin guzzler, a wannabe wine connoisseur or a cider super-fan, our favourite tipples have got us through the worst of times and we're not about to let them go. No shame. We’ve stuck to that daily glass of Rosé like a religion.
Luckily, since it’s summer 2021, you can get just about every beverage delivered directly to your door without facing the wrath of the supermarket (or heat of your car, for that matter). Thanks, alcohol delivery services. And beer is no exception. Experiencing something of a renaissance thanks to the glorious sunshine, our new-found obsession with picnics, and the fact we just really love a pint, beer is back with a bang.
If, like us, you can imagine few things more appealing than a cold can of beer in the sun right now (close your eyes and you’re nearly on holiday), you’ll want to know how to shop for your beer in the right way. Supermarkets might have a good selection nowadays, but if you want to be smart, save money and support smaller breweries, you’ll want to get your hands on a beer subscription box. There’s never been a better time to invest in regular deliveries of exciting new craft beers which you can share with your friends at that post-lockdown reunion.
Beer subscription boxes are also up there with the best Father’s Day gifts - ‘cos what dad wouldn’t love a sparkling new selection of craft beers delivered to his door every month? Exactly.
One of our favourite beer subscription boxes is Beer52. It’s one of the biggest and best names in the world of beer delivery right now, thanks to its changing monthly themes. Each delivery focuses on the beers brewed in a different location - whether that’s California, Korea or Irelend. When you subscribe, you choose whether to receive eight, 10 or 12 beers a month and you can even choose to mix stouts and porters into your deliveries. Oh, and along with your beers you will also receive a magazine and a quirky snack. There’s also BeerBods by Beer Hawk - one that the (not so) old man will LOVE. Half the fun of drinking craft beer is being able to impress your friends with pointlessly in-depth knowledge of the beer in front of you - so we love that with this service you get weekly emails equipping you with all the beer knowledge you could ever need. Told you it was one for the dads.
Best beer subscription box overall
The major selling point of Beer52's beer subscription service is the fact that every box is themed by the origin of the beers inside - whether that's California, Korea or Ireland. They manage to make every box new, exciting and different - one of the many reasons why they remain the best all-rounder. You can receive either eight, 10 or 12 beers each month, you can choose when you'd like to mix the odd porter or stout in with your selection, and you also get snacks and a magazine with each delivery.
Best beer subscription box gift
Flavourly Beer Club, from £26.90 a month
We already know and love Flavourly for their gin subscription service, but since they launched their beer subscription boxes, we love them even more. If you're after a service which you can make completely bespoke, this is the one for you. Think of it as a craft beer discovery club, where signing up grants you a snack, magazine and eight beers a month for £26.90 a month. You can choose whether you’d like to receive a light selection (IPA's and similar), or a mixed box which includes the occasional stout and porter.
Best beer subscription box UK for fresh beer
With Hoppily, £25 a month will get you eight craft beers, lagers or IPAs delivered direct to your door on a rolling subscription, each sourced from independent UK breweries. The subscription options are flexible - you can sign up to varying lengths of subscription if you want to save money, and you can choose 10 beers if you'd rather. Know your stuff? Some examples of the breweries they source from include Bianca Road Brewing Co, Canopy Beer Co, Crate Brewery and Hackney Brewery. Everything you get in your Hoppily beer subscription box is super fresh - it's something the brand are insistent on - and since they work so closely with partner breweries to ensure this, members are often given discounts on brewery tours and events. What's not to love?
Beer subscription box IPA
Honest Brew, from £22.90 per box
Honest Brew gives loads of choice when you sign up to their subscription service. First, you choose between a mixed crate and exclusively IPAs and pale ales. Then, you choose how many beers you'd like in your box: six, nine or 12. You can cancel your subscription at any time, and even pause your subscription if you're away on holiday or temporarily beer'ed-out. In terms of what to expect from your beers: the fun and the fruity. 90% of the beers you get in your boxes can't be found in any supermarket - which makes things all the more exciting!
Best craft beer subscription box
Beer Bods by Beer Hawk, from £24 per box
With Beerbods, you're delivered 8 beers every 8 weeks. If you want to impress your friends with knowledge of the tipple you're trying, this is the service to look towards, since you're sent an email telling you about the 'beer of the week' every Thursday. You can join in with live weekly tastings if you wish, but if not, you'll still get to try a whole host of lesser-known, unusual beers from the comfort of your own back garden.
Best beer subscription box for annual subscriptions
Best of British Beer - Beer for a Year, £155
There are plenty of different subscription styles on offer at Best of British Beer, but their Beer for a Year offering is our favourite. It showcases Britain's finest microbreweries and delivers 12 bottles of beer to your door 4 times a year. As you get to try more and more beers and you become more familiar with what you like, you can tailor your subscription to suit you (or the recipient). And since you can pay in bulk then forget about the subscription for 365 days, it's the perfect present!
Best beer subscription box in London
Hop Burns & Black - All Killer No Filler, £49.95
When you sign up to HB&B's infamous All Killer No Filler monthly beer box, you get up to 12 amazing beers (plus tasting notes, food pairings and a recipe) every month on a rolling basis. The price is set at £49.95 each month excluding delivery, but if you live in Peckham or Deptford you can get free delivery. What a touch! Payment is taken on the 10th of each month - but membership is capped, so get in there quick.
