Beer of the Month Club Reviews

The "of the month" club has become synonymous with bad gift giving in the past. College graduates, relatives and co-workers may enjoy jelly, fruit and meats in small doses but monthly subscriptions may seem like a burden. Gift givers who are looking for a product that lends itself to the "of the month" club idea should consider beer of the month clubs. These clubs offer microbrewed beers from various regions in the United States and the world to gift recipients who love beer. A look at some of the beer of the month clubs available to gift givers will make graduations, birthdays and thank-yous much easier in the future.

Beer of the month club subscriptions should be given out based on the occasion at hand. A college graduate who is moving into his first apartment can get a full year subscription to fill the fridge with great microbrews. Co-workers, friends and neighbors can be given three, six or nine-month subscriptions based on their levels of interest in beer. A close friend or spouse can offer an ongoing subscription that can be canceled any time without penalty for beer lovers. The beer of the month clubs featured here give gift givers customization options to create the best gift possible.

The ideal beer of the month club focuses on customer service, transparency and diverse inventory when dealing with new subscribers. Club websites and order forms should have emails, phone numbers and addresses that can be used to rectify order problems. Subscribers should be skeptical about clubs that do not offer upfront prices or customizable gifts because these clubs may not offer the best service down the road. A potential subscriber should also ask for a sample of past beer selections and an explanation of the selection process to ensure that the recipient gets an eclectic mix of microbrews.

Subscribers to The Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club receive a dozen 12-ounce bottles each month as a sampling of the country's best microbreweries. This club selects each month's bottles from a roster of 1,000 breweries from Pacific to Atlantic, ensuring a diverse menu for subscribers. The Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club starts its subscription rates at $20.95 per month for a 12-month plan with smaller intervals available down to two months.

Clubs of America has operated its Beer of the Month Club since 1994 and remains one of the leading clubs among beer lovers. Clubs of America convenes a panel of microbrew experts each year to put together a menu of domestic beers for the Beer of the Month Club. Subscribers can purchase full year plans for $34.95 per month and get three bottles each of the club's four monthly microbrews. Clubs of America takes care to protect each bottle in Styrofoam because recipients are getting brews specially bottled for the Beer of the Month Club.

Hog's Head Beer of the Month Club celebrates the history of American microbreweries on its website. This club starts subscribers on a journey to specially brewed flavors with an outline of microbrewing going back to Prohibition. Hog's Head offers open monthly plans as well as defined plans from two months to a full year for $34.95 per month. The company also operates a Wine of the Month Club for subscribers who want to get various spirits sent to their homes. Prospective customers who are skeptical about Hog's Head can read through customer testimonials speaking to the company's interesting brews and service.