Shopping for someone who takes their beer seriously can be intimidating, especially if you don’t speak the language of hops, malts or fermentation styles. You may know that they love craft beer, but beyond that, it can feel hard to know where to begin.

This guide is designed to simplify the process. It’s written for anyone who wants to gift something unique, interesting and genuinely appreciated - even if you don’t know your stout from your sour.

Start with this principle: avoid the “usual”

The first rule of a great craft beer gift is simple: don’t simply buy what they already drink every week.

A good gift isn’t about refilling someone’s fridge. Craft beer is all about discovery, quality and experience.

Look for beers that offer one (or more) of the following:

• Rarity
• Seasonality
• Experimentation
• Award-winning reputation
• Limited production

These elements turn a simple drink into a meaningful gift.

Prioritise beers that feel special or exclusive

When selecting craft beers as a gift, these are the signals worth looking out for on the label or in the description:

Limited edition or seasonal releases

Beers marked as “seasonal”, “limited” or “one-off” are brewed in small batches and won’t be around forever. These make particularly good gifts because they aren’t something the recipient can easily pick up any day of the week.

Our picks:

• Start with our 'Fresh In' section, where all the newest limited releases drop
• Look out for breweries like Mountain Culture and Sudden Death, which are known for their inventive one-offs and collaboration brews.

Beers that are exclusive in Singapore

Another way to make your gift stand out is by choosing beers that aren’t widely available. At GULP, we carry a selection of craft beers that are exclusive to us in Singapore, from respected breweries spanning West to East, from the US (The Veil and KCBC) all the way to Thailand (Samata Brewing Co.). 

These breweries are known for small-batch production, bold creativity and strong global following. Choosing an exclusive beer adds a layer of thoughtfulness and rarity to your gift - we import a lot of these at GULP.

Here are a few breweries that you can't get in many places:

• Left Handed Giant, from Bristol, UK
• Tempest Brewing, from Scotland
• Polly's, from North Wales
• Basqueland, from Northern Spain

Beers with interesting flavour profiles

You don’t have to choose anything too extreme, but selecting beers with distinctive character immediately elevates the gift. Examples include:

• Beer aged in whisky or bourbon barrels
• Stouts or porters brewed with coffee, cacao, coconut or vanilla
• Sours brewed with tropical fruits or botanicals
• IPAs made with unique or experimental hop combinations

These are the beers that invite slow, thoughtful drinking and often, conversation.

Our picks:

• Vault City Brewing - zingy, tart beers made from real fruit
• Sudden Death Brewing - fresh, tropical high hop styles
• Mountain Culture - Easy drinking, award winning beers from Australia
• Holy Goat - Funky, traditional ales
• Little Pomona - Not beer! But hand picked, natural fermentation cider

Aim for a balanced, well-rounded selection

If you’re gifting more than one beer, balance matters. A strong, well-thought-out selection will usually include a mix such as:

• 1 hoppy beer (IPA/Pale Ale)
• 1 dark, rich beer (Stout/Porter)
• 1 fresh, crisp beer (Lager/Pilsner)
• 1 experimental or sour beer
• You could also throw in a cider or a non-alcoholic beer

This gives variety and a proper tasting experience, rather than multiple versions of the same style.

Why proper storage and cold delivery matters

Once you’ve selected the perfect beers as a gift, it’s just as important to store them properly, especially if you’re buying them ahead of time. 

Here’s how to keep them in the best possible condition at home:

• Store them in the fridge as soon as you receive them
• Keep them upright to minimise oxidation and sediment disturbance
• Avoid light exposure, especially direct sunlight, which can damage hop compounds
• Don't leave them out at room temperature for extended periods
• Avoid temperature fluctuations - consistent cold is best

These steps help preserve carbonation, aroma and intended flavour, ensuring the beer tastes exactly as the brewer designed it to.

At GULP, every beer is:

• Stored cold from the moment it arrives with us
• Handled carefully to minimise light and heat exposure
• Delivered fresh and cold, door-to-door

We also offer free same-day delivery across Singapore on orders over $100, so even if you’re shopping last-minute, you can still send a thoughtful, high-quality gift without compromising on freshness.

A simple way to give a meaningful, memorable gift

Craft beer reflects creativity, process and craftsmanship. When selected with intention, it becomes more than just a drink - it becomes an experience.

You don’t need deep technical knowledge to get this right. A thoughtful selection of well-made, interesting beers already says a lot and if it needs to be delivered cold and done properly - you’re in exactly the right place!