10 gifts I love for the craft beer fan

Craft beer has become a favorite hobby for many Indy area brew connoisseurs. But what do you get a craft beer aficionado for Christmas? How about coasters? Those are a little too easy to find, often given away at bars. Maybe a Kegerator? That's definitely a way to go big, but that's an awful lot of one type of beer to drink, and craft beer lovers often like mixing it up. Maybe a bottle opener? Could do as a stocking stuffer, but maybe not as a main gift. I've been thinking about this since The Star asked me to write this column a few months ago. Here are the top 10 gifts I would suggest for any craft beer lover. If you have more ideas, email me at Chris.Sikich@indystar.com or contact me on Twitter @ChrisSikich.

1. A case, growler or bomber of a hard-to-find tasty brew

Craft brew fans are always looking for tasty, hard-to-find beers. That could be as simple as the latest seasonal from a local brewer like Sun King, to something farther afield such as Pliny the Elder and Pliny the Younger, from Russian River Brewing Co., in Guerneville, Calif. (And if you can score those, yes, you should.) Personally, I love Zombie Dust, the famous undead pale ale from Three Floyds Brewing in Munster. It's usually a 45-minute wait for a $36 case once they post it on their Facebook page.

2. A trip on the Indy Brew Bus

The Indy Brew Bus takes passengers to several brewers in the city for $30. You'll spend a little over a half hour at each brewery, and have the chance to sample several seasonal and everyday brews - and to talk to some brewers. You can book trips Thursdays through Sundays at Indy Brew Bus.

3. A beer 'fridge

A Kegerator is a bit too much, but every craft beer lover needs a beer 'fridge stocked full of a wide variety of brews. And if there's a bit of extra room along a wall, a display for all of those bottles, bombers, growlers and pint glasses is a nice addition.

4. The beer vacation

Book a vacation at a state that offers several craft breweries. I'd recommend starting locally, in Michigan. Plan to be blown away by the beer on a trip highlighted, perhaps by Dark Horse Brewery, Founders Brewery and Bell's Beer.

5. A home-brewing kit

Many craft-beer aficionados like to try their own hands at brewing. Buy a simple home-brewing kit and your beer fan may well be on his or her way to opening a brewery. Several area brewers once worked at Great Fermentation's, which sells beer-making supplies, including Bier Brewery's Darren Conner and Fountain Square's Daniel Krzywicki. But make sure your guy or girl likes brewing. I, for one, don't have the patience.

6. Colorful pint glasses

Most craft-beer fans have quite the collection of pint glasses. I'd recommend buying colorful pint glasses from favorite breweries. I have a rule. I only buy pint glasses with at least two colors. That way, they really stand out in your kitchen cabinet or bar.

7. A growler cover and carrier

If you're a craft beer fan, you're probably toting growlers around quite a bit. Why not have a handy carrying case? I won a growler case at a beer-tasting festival several years ago, and it sure makes heading to the local brewery a bit easier. You can find these Koozie-type carriers at most online beer supply retailers.

8. Book a trip on the Handle Bar

Book a trip on the The Handle Bar, Indy's pedal pub, for your craft beer lover and several of his or her friends. Enjoy a nice sight-seeing tour while pedaling and sipping beers throughout Downtown. Just remember, it's BYOB.

9. A trip to the Microbrewers' Festival at Broad Ripple's Optimus Park.

The annual Microbrewers' Festival at Broad Ripple's Optimus Park is not to be missed. The summer festival is filled with fellow craft beer fans, lots of food trucks and more beer than anyone could ever sample -- and it's all draft. I spent way too much time in the hop heads' tent. Imagine that, a beer tent, just for India Pale Ale fans. And everything is draft. Wow.

10. A designated driver

Every craft beer lover needs a designated driver -- and this is a year-round wish. Be safe.