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Craft beer can be a tough nut to crack. The diversity of flavours makes it too easy to end up overspending on a beer you don’t even like, and that risk means even the promise of finding a new favourite makes it difficult to resist the draw of the familiar.
But if you’re growing tired of the same old lagers and pilsners, and quite fancy receiving a curated box of craft beers to try at a reasonable price, then perhaps one of these online craft beer clubs can help you discover that new favourite you’ve been wishing for.
The best craft beer clubs & subscription boxes in continental Europe
BelgiBeer
As the name suggests, BelgiBeer is aimed specifically at fans of Belgium’s centuries-old brewing tradition. All beers are selected from one of Belgium’s 300-plus breweries, such as L’Annexe and Brasserie Caracole. Beer boxes contain 4, 8, 12 or 24 bottles from a different brewery each month and are released in drops, so you’ll need to keep a close eye on the website or sign up to the newsletter to snag yours. They ship anywhere within the EU, so check out BelgiBeer here.
Saveur Bière
Saveur Bière claims to offer the world’s best beers and they don’t disappoint. You’ll receive six internationally acclaimed craft beers every month for less than €20. The beers really do come from far and wide, hailing from pretty much any country that actually brews the stuff. You’ll also get a welcome pack in your first month of membership, including a guide to beer tasting, a stylish beer glass, and several branded beer mats. Click here to visit Saveur Bière and claim yours.
Herzgebraut
Herzgebraut (German for brewed with heart) is a subscription service that promises a diverse selection of six handcrafted beers delivered to your door every month. In their own words, this includes “2–3 very hoppy beers, 1–2 malty ones, a Belgian brew and something extraordinary in every package”. The focus is on German craft beers, however, so if you fancy a few of those every month, along with a couple of international ones thrown in for good measure, then check out Herzgebraut here.
The Hops Collective
The Hops Collective is actually aimed at beer lovers in the US and Canada but they ship to pretty much anywhere in the world (except remote locations). They offer a variety of beer club subscriptions and gift baskets, with a selection of German beers shipped directly from Germany itself – which is great news for those in Europe. Perhaps the main draw, however, is that it opens up a whole new world of North American beers. Check out The Hops Collective here.
Beer is Here
Beer is Here is a little different from the rest. They won’t send you a box of beer, but they will connect you to every dealer of independently brewed beers in your town or city. You can then visit them directly or, in some cases, also order online. That means you get to enjoy the best craft beers available in your area while also supporting local businesses. Find your nearest craft beer dealer here.
The best craft beer clubs & subscription boxes in the UK
Beer Bods
Subscribe to Beer Bods and they’ll send you eight interesting beers every two months for £24. That works out to be pretty good value for craft beer at just £3 a bottle (and one craft beer a week to enjoy). They’ll also send you a magazine so you can learn more about what you’re drinking. Not totally convinced? Then start off with a four-beer taster pack (including branded glass) for just £10 here.
Northern Monk – Patrons Society
Northern Monk is a highly rated brewery specialising in innovative beers. They also offer their own subscription service, called the Patrons Society, with three different monthly boxes available in the UK (and one in the EU too). The Brethren subscription offers eight cans of the brewery’s monthly releases, plus experimental beers and the occasional classic, while the Fellowship subscription offers 9 beers including guest beers from other breweries. Finally, the Alumni is an 8–12 beer pack including all special releases and a host of other gifts and privileges. Oh yeah, and subscribing to any of them also includes a magazine and entitles you to a 10% discount for other purchases in their online store. Hurry though, the subscription has been so popular that they’ve put a cap on members. Check out the Northern Monk Patrons Society here.
HonestBrew
HonestBrew is a well-stocked online beer shop that aims to support independent breweries. They also offer a six, nine or 12-beer-a-month subscription service. You can choose either to receive a mix of styles or just a selection of top pale ales. Save £10 off your first beer box at HonestBrew here.
Hoppily
Hoppily is a similar concept to HonestBrew. It’s an online beer shop that also offers a monthly membership in three different packages, include eight-beer, 10-beer, and 'the Hoptacular' (like the 10-beer subscription, just with stronger beers). Amusingly, they also do an artisan snack add-on for an extra £2 a month. Other membership bonuses include a newsletter, 10% discount in the shop, and a 'Hop Trump' card game. The best of the lot though? A free beer on your birthday. Check out Hoppily’s beer club subscriptions here.
Beer Merchants
The Beer Merchants beer club promises to never send you the same beer twice, and is all the more tantalising for specialising in rare and hard-to-find beers. Incredibly, that doesn’t necessarily make it more expensive, with a box of 8 beers a month available for just £30 (£3.75 a beer). You’ll get the rarer beers from the Premium Club subscription though, which sends you “6–12 carefully curated premium beers delivered quarterly for just £65” – for hardcore beer fans only. Membership also includes a 5% discount from other purchases in the online shop and invitations to special events. Visit Beer Merchants here.
