What to Buy The Best Craft Beer Clubs for Every Type of Brew Buff Discover your new favorite craft beer with these clubs. By Will Franke Will Franke Will is a seasoned adventurer and traveler with a knack for storytelling based out of Chicago. If he isn't exploring new places or trying new foods or drinks, then he's probably writing about them. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Published on April 27, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Photo: Alberto Gagliardi / Getty Images Summer will be here before you know it, and between all the vacations, boat parties, and baseball, the name of the game is beer. While you likely have a go-to neighborhood grocery or liquor store, a beer subscription can bring the brews right to you, and a craft beer club is a great option. Part of what makes a craft beer club so interesting is that many of them specialize in unique and hard-to-find breweries from around the U.S. (and sometimes the world). So, if you’re looking to spice up those summer tailgates and barbecues with something other than the same convenience store beer cases, take a look at our list of the best craft beer clubs. Best Craft Beer Clubs of 2023 Best All-Around: The Original Craft Beer Club Best for Microbrews: The Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club Best Selection: Beer Drop Best Value: Beer Across America Best for Discovering New Beer: Brewvana’s Brews Less Traveled Best App: Tavour Best for International Beer: Half Time Beverage Best for Domestic Beer: Hops Collective Best for IPAs: Craft Beer Kings Best for Gifting: Beer of the Month Club Best All-Around: The Original Craft Beer Club The Original Craft Beer Club Learn More Key Specs Starting Price: $46.75 per monthFree Shipping: YesProducts per Delivery: 12 or 24 Why You Should Try It The Original Craft Beer Club hits the nail on the head in terms of price, variety, and user experience, making it an excellent choice overall. Pros and Cons Pros Delivers up to 24 bottles per month Free shipping Gifting options available Cons Cannot customize shipments Beers not available à la carte Overview The Original Craft Beer Club gets its inventory from some of the most beloved independently-owned craft breweries around the country. These include Brau Brothers, The Duck-Rabbit Craft Brewery, and Southern Star Brewing, among others. When signing up with its beer subscription, you can choose between receiving 12 or 24 beers each month, each of which include four different styles of beer. Every delivery also comes with an issue of the Original Craft Beer Club’s signature publication, “Micro Brew News,” which includes terrific supplementary information about each of that month’s featured brews. Best for Microbrews: The Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club The Microbrewed Beer of the Month Learn More Key Specs Starting Price: $32.95 per monthFree Shipping: NoProducts per Delivery: 2, 4, 6, or 12 Why You Should Try It Explore some of the best microbreweries on the market with this beer delivery club. Pros and Cons Pros Can pick when you pay and receive beer Five different club options Option to send club memberships as a gift Cons Shipping not included Overview In technical terms, a microbrewery is a brewery that produces less than 15,000 barrels of beer per year and sells 75% or more of its beer offsite. Because microbreweries place such a heavy emphasis on selling their products either to local retailers or directly to consumers, it can be hard to find a craft beer club that sells them. That’s where the Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club comes in. This beer of the month club offers five different subscription options, each of which specializes in delivering award-winning, hand crafted beer right to your doorstep. Clubs specialize in domestic, international, rare brews, and more. Best Selection: Beer Drop Beer Drop Learn More Key Specs Starting Price: $33 per monthFree Shipping: NoProducts per Delivery: 6, 8, or 10 Why You Should Try It With a variety of beer styles from sour to dark to malty, you simply can’t beat Beer Drop’s craft beer selection. Pros and Cons Pros Plans start at just $4.50 per beer You choose the styles of beer you want Beers are available à la carte on Beer Drop’s online store Cons Shipping not included Site does not disclose delivery area Overview Beer Drop excels at letting you sample a wide range of craft beers. Whether you’re a fan of stouts, pilsners, amber ales, or goses, this beer subscription can satisfy your every craving. Not only can you choose the number of beers you receive per month (either six, eight, or 10), but Beer Drop also lets you personalize your subscription by selecting the types of beers you like best. Simply pick your preferences when you sign up, and Beer Drop will curate a custom box just for you. Best of all, Beer Drop’s clubs start at just $4.50 per bottle, making this craft beer club an excellent value to boot. Best Value: Beer Across America Beer Across America Learn More Key Specs Starting Price: $46.95 per monthFree Shipping: YesProducts per Delivery: 12 Why You Should Try It Beer Across America gives you access to some of the best craft breweries in the country without the hefty price tag. Pros and Cons Pros Free shipping 10 different subscription durations Option to pause membership and choose delivery frequency Cons Orders are not customizable Does not sell beer à la carte Overview Beer Across America specializes in shipping award-winning and hard-to-find beer from all over the country. Its entire selection is chosen by a panel of experts whose job is to make sure that you’re getting the best of the best each month. Beer Across America ships 12 bottles (four different bottles, three of each) every month starting at just $46.95 per delivery, which comes to less than four dollars per bottle. While orders are not customizable, Beer Across America announces its upcoming deliveries and gives you the option to pause a shipment if you don’t see something you like. Best for Discovering New Beer: Brewvana’s Brews Less Traveled Brewvana Learn More Key Specs Starting Price: $79.99 per monthFree Shipping: YesProducts per Delivery: 8 or 16 Why You Should Try It With the huge number of breweries out there, there are so many that fly under the radar, and this craft beer subscription helps get them the attention they deserve. Pros and Cons Pros Highlights lesser-known brewing scenes in smaller U.S. cities Virtual beer tasting sessions available Shipping included Cons Only available in 37 states Domestic beer only Overview As the name of the site suggests, Brewvana’s Brews Less Traveled Club specializes in helping you find beers you may have otherwise overlooked. Its aim is to take you on a “virtual road trip across the USA” by highlighting cities with up-and-coming beer scenes. While many other subscriptions focus on well-known beer scenes in cities like Milwaukee, Denver, and San Diego, some of the club’s recent features include Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Birmingham, and Omaha. Brewvana even offers virtual beer tastings of its selections, which will help you gain an even greater appreciation for its products. Best App: Tavour Tavour Learn More Key Specs Starting Price: $44 per monthFree Shipping: YesProducts per Delivery: 6 or 12 Why You Should Try It Tavour offers the variety of any great beer club all in the centralized convenience of its user-friendly app. Pros and Cons Pros Over 650 breweries featured Shipping included Delivers to almost every state Cons Limit on the amount of beer you can buy Website is not very customer friendly Overview Tavour offers a terrific user experience on its slick, easy-to-use app that gives users access to hundreds of hard-to-find craft beers. Currently, Tavour features over 650 different beers in its inventory, so regardless of where you live in the country or what your preferences are, you’re bound to find something you love. Although Tavour’s app works well and gives you access to some excellent beers, its website is not very user-friendly and primarily serves to drive traffic to the app. Keep in mind, too, that Tavour puts a limit on the amount of beer you can buy at a time, so it may not be the best option if you’re looking to buy in bulk. Best for International Beer: Half Time Beverage Half Time Beverage Learn More Key Specs Starting Price: $65 per monthFree Shipping: NoProducts per Delivery: 12 Why You Should Try It If you’re looking for beer from beyond the borders of the U.S., Half Time’s international beer clubs are here to help. Pros and Cons Pros Excellent selection of international beers Plenty of nonalcoholic beers available Frequently adds new beer selections to the website Cons Free shipping only available in New York Only 31 states in delivery area Overview While the United States is home to some famous breweries, you may need to look beyond these shores to explore everything that the world of beer has to offer. So, if you’re seeking to sample craft brews from other parts of the world, Half Time Beverage is a great subscription to consider. This service offers one beer club dedicated exclusively to German beer and another that focuses on beer from around the world, from the Czech Republic to the Caribbean. Each shipment includes 12 beers from six different breweries, and you’ll also receive tasting notes to go along with them. As a bonus, you’ll get a “welcome gift” from Half Time with your first shipment. Best for Domestic Beer: Hops Collective Hops Collective Learn More Key Specs Starting Price: $42.99 per monthFree Shipping: Yes, on orders $100 or moreProducts per Delivery: 6 or 12 Why You Should Try It Hops Collective gives you instant access to some of the best craft breweries across the U.S. Pros and Cons Pros Subscription dedicated to domestic beer Gifting options available Delivers to the continental U.S. Cons Free shipping only on orders $100 or more Overview There are so many amazing beers that are brewed right here in the United States, and cities like Milwaukee and San Diego have long been praised as some of the best beer scenes in the world. To that end, Hops Collective’s domestic beer subscription allows you to access the best brews this country has to offer. Choose between shipment sizes of 6 or 12 beers, and you’ll receive a variety of bottles and cans of Hops Collective’s choosing. You can even select from multiple add-ons, including cake, balloons, and stuffed animals, which make this an amazing gift option. While members get free shipping on their first order, only future orders of $100 or more qualify for free shipping. Best for IPAs: Craft Beer Kings Craft Beer Kings Learn More Key Specs Starting Price: $49.99 per monthFree Shipping: Yes (with subscription)Products per Delivery: 12 Why You Should Try It IPAs are hoppy and refreshing, and if that’s what you’re after, then give Craft Beer Kings a shot. Pros and Cons Pros Nine different beer subscriptions to choose from Delivers to nearly every state Several premium offerings available for individual purchase Cons Free shipping only available with subscriptions Limited international offerings Overview While not actually from India, India Pale Ales (or IPAs) are an increasingly popular beer variety, especially among craft beer devotees. If you’re looking for a club that specializes in IPAs, consider giving Craft Beer Kings a try. The company offers several different boxes that specialize in IPAs, including an IPA box, a hazy (think fruity) IPA box, and a box that includes both IPAs and sours. Looking at changing it up a bit from IPAs? Craft Beer Kings offers several more delivery options, including boxes that specialize in beers from foreign countries. While you can buy IPAs both in a subscription box and à la carte, you won’t be eligible for free shipping unless you sign up for a subscription. Best for Gifting: Beer of the Month Club Great Clubs Beer of the Month Learn More Key Specs Starting Price: $43.95 per monthFree Shipping: YesProducts per Delivery: 12 Why You Should Try It Let the beer lover in your life know how much they mean to you with a gift from Great Clubs’ Beer of the Month Club. Pros and Cons Pros Multiple delivery frequencies to choose from Free shipping Bulk discounts available Cons Delivery area not disclosed Limited à la carte options Overview The beer of the month club by Great Clubs is a fantastic gifting option for your favorite beer aficionado. Each shipment includes 12 bottles of four different craft beers, and you can choose from several different subscription durations, ranging from two to 12 months. While the Beer of the Month Club doesn’t let you pick what goes into your delivery, it curates a great variety of bottles for you, which can include lagers, IPAs, ales, and more. You can also send a custom gift message with your subscription, adding a personalized touch. Great Clubs also offers a variety of other monthly subscriptions, including coffee, flowers, wine, and even pizza, so the gift options are virtually endless. Compare the Best Craft Beer Clubs Company Starting Price Free Shipping? Products per Delivery Delivery Area Gift Option? Best All Around The Original Craft Beer Club $46.75 per month Yes 12 or 24 44 states Yes Best for Microbrews The Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club $32.95 per month No 2, 4, 6, or 12 43 states Yes Best Selection Beer Drop $33 per month No 10 Not specified Yes Best Value Beer Across America $46.95 per month Yes 12 Not specified Yes Best for Discovering New Beer Brewvana’s Brews Less Traveled $79.99 per month Yes 8 or 16 37 states Yes Best App Tavour $44 per month Yes 6 or 12 47 states Yes Best for International Beer Half Time Beverage $65 per month No 12 31 states Yes Best for Domestic Beer Hops Collective $42.99 per month Yes, on orders $100 or more 6 or 12 48 states Yes Best for IPAs Craft Beer Kings $49.99 per month Yes (with subscription) 12 48 states Yes Best for Gifting Beer of the Month Club $43.95 per month Yes 12 48 states Yes Frequently Asked Questions What Is Craft Beer? When a brewery markets its product as a craft beer, this typically means that the brewery is independently owned and places an emphasis on craftsmanship rather than mass production. Beer fans love craft beer due to its robust flavors, and many craft breweries are more willing to create beer with niche as opposed to mass appeal. Are Beer Subscriptions Worth It? Beer subscriptions are worthwhile as a good way to keep your fridge or cooler regularly stocked with interesting new beers. In some cases, these subscriptions can be cheaper than buying beer at the store or at a brewery. And since many of them specialize in unique, craft, or imported beer, they’re a great way to expand your horizons quickly. Can Beer Be Delivered to All States? Not necessarily. Each state’s local laws dictate whether a subscription meets the criteria to deliver there. Even to this day, many states have strict alcohol laws dating back to 20th-century Prohibition, so if you find a beer delivery service that you love, verify that it will actually be able to deliver to where you live. Methodology In order to find the best craft beer clubs on the market, we reviewed dozens of companies on a long list of criteria, including customer reviews, price point, variety of offerings, and gifting options. We also considered shipping costs and delivery area, as well as any unique features or qualities that set these companies apart from the rest. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! 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