Beer Necessities: Accessories Every Beer Lover Needs

Buying a gift for someone who loves beer? Or perhaps you yourself are adventuring further into the world of ale and think it may be time to invest in some extra accessories? In this post, we’ll take a look at some of the different types of beer gear that could be worth purchasing. From basics like beer glasses to novelties like beverage towers, here are a few inspiring ideas that every beer lover will appreciate. 

Beer glasses

Start by considering some beer glasses. Almost every brewery sells its own branded glasses, and some of these can be quite unique. Consider your favorite beers (or your loved one’s favorite beers), and stock up on branded glasses for these beverages. You may even be able to buy gift sets that include bottles of their favorite beer with glasses.

Beyond standard glasses, there are more unusual beer receptacles that you can look into. A few notable examples of these include:

• Steins: These are traditional German glasses with a handle that are designed to hold a litre or half litre. They can be made from glass or ceramic.

• Tankards: Similar to stein glasses, these traditional British glasses also have handles, however they typically only hold an imperial pint. Classic options are made from pewter or silver and have a lid. 

• Beer horns: Historically used by the vikings, these vessels are horn-shaped (made from a genuine cow horn or made from metal), which can apparently help keep drinks cooler longer. 

• Beer boots: Also known as bierstiefels, these fun glasses are shaped like boots – they’re not the easiest glass to drink from, but are fun party pieces. 

It’s possible to choose branded options of many of these glasses as well as personalized options – including custom printed glasses or even custom engraved tankards.

Bottle openers

Another basic tool every beer drinker needs is a bottle opener. Like glasses, these accessories come in many different designs. A few types of bottle opener that could be worth exploring include:

• Handheld bottle openers: These basic bottle openers are needed in every beer lover’s kitchen drawer. They come in all kinds of creative shapes from keys to anchors. Some even double up as corkscrews.

• Wall bottle openers: Designed to be hung on a wall in a kitchen or home bar, these bottle openers allow guests to easily open bottles without having to ask for an opener. 

• Keyring bottle openers: A portable option that is great for parties, these bottle openers can be kept on your keyring at all times. 

Many breweries sell their own branded bottle openers which sometimes come in beer gift sets. You can also buy personalized bottle openers as a cheap bespoke gift.

Foam skimmers

These simple accessories are designed to skim foam off the top of a glass so that your first sip isn’t a mouthful of froth. They’re not entirely necessary, but can be fun accessories to have if you like beer out of a glass. Some breweries sell branded foam skimmers, while personalized options are also available. 

Beer mats

Protect surfaces from rings by buying some beer mats. These coasters come in all kinds of novelty designs and often contain beer brands. You can buy them in many beer gift sets, as well as also being able to buy personalized beer mats. 

Cooling equipment

There are several different types of equipment that you can buy to help keep beer chilled. If you’re a beer fanatic living in a warmer climate, such equipment could be essential. Types of cooling equipment to consider includes:

• Beer sleeves: These are insulated sleeves that sit around bottles or cans that can help to keep your beer cooler. You can buy branded beer sleeves and personalized options. 

• Mini-fridge: A mini-fridge could be excellent for keeping beers in a makeshift home bar or for easy access in the living room while watching a game. Some have a glass door, while others have an opaque door. 

• Electric cooler box: Electric cooler boxes are designed for outdoor use – they can keep beers and other items chilled much longer than an ice bucket. You can opt for a plug-in electric cooler or a portable electric cooler. Plug-in boxes may be suitable for home or for plugging into a car. Portable options are excellent for camping trips and fishing expeditions and often powered by rechargeable lithium batteries (you can even buy solar powered models). 

Brewing kits

Want to brew your own beers from scratch? Brewing kits offer all the equipment and basic ingredients that you need. Components within these kits typically include:

• Malt extract
• Yeast
• Priming sugar
• Fermentation bucket
• Sanitizer
• Thermometer
• Hydrometer
• Racking cane and tubing
• Stirring spoon
• Bottling gear

More advanced kits may include other equipment and may include whole grains, but basic starter kits will usually only stock the above components. Having a kit could allow you to get into home brewing and experiment with other ingredients and measurements – potentially even sparking the urge to start your own brewery!

Home beer tap

Serve beer at home as if you were in a bar by getting yourself a beer tap. Beer tap systems come in all kinds of designs for home use. Some of the most popular examples include:

• Kegerators: These are large refrigerated units designed to hold one or more keg’s worth of beer. They’re designed for long-term storage and contain one or more taps. 

• Jockey boxes: These are smaller portable units that are great for parties. They use ice to cool beer and are designed for temporary storage of beer.

• Countertop units: These systems are designed to sit on countertops – they contain a keg or less, and have a single tap.

• Beverage towers: Also known as a ‘beverage giraffe’, these receptacles consist of a long tube (usually capable of containing 3 liters) with an ice core, and a single tap that guests can pour their beers from. An excellent party piece!

As with other equipment, branded and personalized beer taps are available. Buy a tap system that is suitable to your drinking needs.