What are the Best Beer Clubs Available Today? Feeling like crackin' open a cold one to relax at the end of the day? Looking forward to your favorite lite, dark, or IPA? Beer is the most widely enjoyed alcoholic drink worldwide, and right now there are over 100 varieties of beer, ales, lagers, and more on the market. In one recent study, statistics showed that 79% of all beer consumed in the US was produced within the US as well. Another study by the US Tax and Trade Bureau revealed there are over 14,000 unique breweries in the US alone. And, you guessed it, lots of them offer beer clubs.
Best Option
Amazing Clubs is a one-stop shop for all kinds of food and drink subscription boxes, including things like wine, cheesecake, chocolate, and (of course) beer. Founded in 2003, Amazing Clubs promises a customer-first attitude with someone there to help you 7 days per week if you have questions. Amazing Clubs claims it has the "largest craft beer club in the world" and lower prices than any competitors on a 12-month subscription (which is true). Plus, Amazing Clubs is known as a great place for gifting, so if you want to send beer or any of the other treats to someone special, this subscription service is worth a look.
Pick your subscription and frequency
Signing up for the beer club at Amazing Clubs is pretty simple, though the interface can be a little confusing at first. But, if you've used Amazing Clubs for any of its other subscriptions before, the beer club will be no problem for you. You can choose between two ways to pay: a one-time payment (ideal for gifting) which includes 3 months, 6 months, 12 months, and a seasonal membership, or you can choose to pay month-to-month which includes the same subscription lengths plus an "ongoing" option. You can also select your delivery frequency from monthly or every other month.
12 beers in each box
The boxes for Amazing Clubs' beer club include 12 premium and award-winning craft beers. They will come in both bottles and cans and are selected by Amazing Clubs from "boutique" breweries across the US. Each month will feature two different breweries and the flavors will be split evenly. You'll get four flavors total (2 from each brewery) in sets of three (you get to drink each flavor three times). These are all full-size beers, offering a regular 12-pack with a little more flavor variety.
Mix of ales, beers, and IPAs
Since Amazing Clubs is a club-selling site, it doesn't have an a-la-carte menu of beers to browse outside of its beer club. Instead, the experts at Amazing Clubs work hard to send you exciting flavors each month. We were able to see some flavors from previous shipments that included Hoppin' Frog Mango Turbo Shandy Citrus Ale, Moo Joos, Hopfish IPA, and Keegan Ales Hurricane Kitty.
Prices as low as $50.95 per month
Whether you decide to pay monthly or choose a one-time payment, you can expect the same prices. Here's what we found for the different beer club durations at Amazing Clubs:
In addition to reasonable monthly costs, Amazing Clubs offers a great deal on shipping. You don't pay any fees for shipping within the continental US (so, this excludes Hawaii and Alaska).
Money-back guarantee for unshipped boxes
Amazing Clubs does a lot of work to make sure you're happy with what you get in your beer club shipments. If something doesn't meet your expectations, you can reach out to their team by phone or email, and they'll do their best to fix the issue. One of the best parts? You're allowed to cancel your membership whenever you want, no matter the reason. And if any items haven't been shipped yet, you'll get full credit for them. That kind of flexibility makes it easier to try out the clubs at Amazing Clubs without feeling stuck, especially if you're trying a subscription for the first time and just want to see how it goes. This is part of Amazing Club's "They'll Love It" guarantee.
High praise for beer quality and service
According to reviewers on Amazing Clubs' site, the beer club is a top pick for many beer fans. The average rating across over 5,000 reviews is 4.6 out of 5 stars. Recent reviews show that customers switched from other beer clubs to Amazing Clubs and preferred the value and the selection. Beer fans praised Amazing Clubs for sending fresh beers that always arrive on time without damage. Amazing Clubs also holds an "A-" rating from the Better Business Bureau and an even higher 4.8-star average on Trustpilot. Verified reviewers noted that customer service was a "pleasure" at Amazing Clubs, and there was a lot of praise for the problem-solving during the rare times that things went wrong with an order.
#1 pick for cost and variety
With lots of shipment flexibility, 12 curated beers, and a competitive price for award-winning flavors, Amazing Clubs is our top pick for a beer club as a subscription or gift. Whether you want beer for yourself or a loved one, this is a great way to try four amazing flavors every month (or every two months, if you prefer). Plus with its satisfaction guarantee and refund policy, Amazing Clubs is a standout among its competitors. For this reason, Amazing Clubs earns a perfect 5 stars in our review. Check it out and get sipping!
Great
U.S. and International Variety Beer Club is one of the many beer clubs offered by the Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club, which is in turn owned by the well-reputed parent company Monthly Clubs. This particular beer club focuses on sending you quality craft beers from around the world. The Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club has been around since 1994 and picks the beers for its U.S. and International Variety Beer Club with a panel of trusted beer experts who travel to taste and rate the best flavors on the market.
Pick the number of shipments or join monthly
U.S. and International Variety Beer Club is simple to join. You just need to scroll to the bottom of the page where the site will ask if you're buying it as a gift or just treating yourself, and you'll get to pick how many shipments you'd like to receive or send. You can either commit to a pre-planned number of deliveries (2 to 12) or choose an ongoing subscription that bills you each month. As a bonus, if you want to commit to a prepaid membership period, you don't have to pay it all in a lump sum. You can still pay month-to-month, but this isn't the same as the truly ongoing membership. You also get to pick when you want the subscription to start and how often you'd like the beer delivered: monthly, every other month, or once every three months.
12 beers from the US and abroad
Each beer club box promises to have both US and international beers in every shipment. You'll get 12 bottles or cans and your box will include four different flavors of beer (three repeats of each). Half of the beers will be from the US and the other six will be from international breweries. You'll also get a list of detailed tasting notes, food pairings, and a history of each brewery. If you commit to a minimum of three months, you'll also get coasters and stickers.
32 beers in stock
If you're thinking about picking up some beers outside of your U.S. and International Variety Beer Club shipments, you'll be happy to know that the Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club has around 32 different kinds available in the online store. While that number isn't quite as large as what some other beer clubs offer, there are still some interesting and uncommon choices that could be worth a try. To give you a better picture of what might show up in your subscription boxes, we took a look at a few past shipments. Here's what previous customers received:
Priced at $61.45 per month
No matter if you go with a continuous plan or pick a set number of deliveries (anywhere from 2 to 12), the U.S. and International Variety Beer Club charges the same rate per box. Each shipment costs $61.45, and that total includes shipping too. If you'd rather pay all at once instead of month-to-month, you can choose to prepay with costs starting at $122.90 for 2 shipments and going up to $737.40 for a full 12. This setup makes it super convenient if you're thinking about sending a gift since you can lock in a subscription for someone without needing to worry about future charges.
You can only cancel after three months
The cancellation policy for U.S. and International Variety Beer Club was a little hard to find, so we checked in with the super helpful customer service team to get the details. If you go with the monthly billing option, you can cancel whenever you want with no problem. But if you're thinking about prepaying for a few months, things get a little tricky. The FAQ doesn't explain it very well, but the helpful service rep let us know that if you prepay for more than two months, you'll have to stay in the club for at least three months before you can cancel (if you commit to a 6-month plan, whether you pay in advance or choose to pay monthly, you'll need to pay for at least 3 of those months before U.S. and International Variety Beer Club will allow you to cancel your membership). While we loved the helpfulness of the staff, it would be way easier if that info was more upfront before you pay. The good news, though, is that this beer club has a satisfaction guarantee that covers any broken or damaged beers in your box; they'll replace them without charging you anything extra.
Top pick with many who re-subscribe
You'll find that most of the feedback for the U.S. and International Variety Beer Club comes straight from its own website, where we found over 300 on-site testimonials. The reviews are overwhelmingly positive, with a strong 4.8 out of 5 stars. Customers posted photos with their favorite flavors and praised the selection and flavor of included beers. Many chose to re-subscribe after a gift period or short-term subscription was over. When we looked into the company's Better Business Bureau info, we had to use the parent company Monthly Clubs to find that this provider has earned an "A+" rating and accreditation with the BBB.
Best of both worlds
If you're looking for a beer club that offers the best of international and U.S. beers, this is the place for you. U.S. and International Variety Beer Club stands out with a highly praised variety of beers (with 12 in each shipment). Plus, with the flexibility offered for paying month-to-month whether or not you have an ongoing membership, you can decide how to get your beer without breaking the bank. While we'd like to see more on-site transparency for the cancellation policy, the high praise and "A+" rating from the BBB shows that most people don't generally want to cancel their U.S. and International Variety Beer Club memberships. For this reason, it earns a very high rating, only missing the mark a little due to being a bit more costly. However, if you're looking for some international flair, make sure you check out U.S. and International Variety Beer Club.
Great
Beer of the Month Club is a beer club by Clubs of America, a service that offers monthly subscriptions across the U.S. The company got its start in 1994, so for more than 30 years, Beer of the Month Club has focused on getting beers from small craft breweries delivered to your door. You have a few ways to customize your experience by choosing how often you want your shipments of beer, and access to extras like tips and tricks that come with your beer to help you learn about how best to enjoy your beer club shipments.
Pick from 2-12 months of prepaid shipments
Joining Beer of the Month Club is simple, and all you need to do to start is hit the "order now" button. You'll be asked to choose how many months you want to subscribe for (this is a prepaid-style beer club). You can prepay anywhere from 2-12 months. You can also choose a shipping frequency from monthly, every 2 months, and every 3 months. Finally, Beer of the Month Club will ask what month you'd like to start receiving shipments (so, you can schedule ahead if you want to buy this beer club as a gift).
12 bottles of beer every month
Every box comes with a 12-pack of beers with 4 different flavors. Unlike some companies that exclusively ship cans, you'll get full-size bottles of hand-selected beer including Ales, Lagers, Bocks, IPAs, Stouts, Porters, and other selections. Some shipments may include cans, but most focus on 12 oz glass bottles of beer. Each month, Beer of the Month Club features beers from 2 or 3 different highlighted breweries.
Plenty of ales and lagers
Beer of the Month Club is part of a service that only offers beer clubs and other subscriptions for snacks and treats. So, there isn't an a-la-carte menu on this site. We did find a list of previously shipped beers to give you an idea of what you might expect flavor-wise. Here's what previous customers have received from Beer of the Month Club:
Prices from $54.95 to $57.95 per month
Beer of the Month Club offers 5 different prepaid time frames to choose from when you subscribe to the beer club. The 2 Month Club costs $57.95 per month or $115.90 total. The 3 Month Club and the 4 Month Clubs are $56.95 per month or $170.85 and $227.80 total respectively. The 6 Month Club is $55.95 per month and $335.70 total, and finally, the 12 Month Club is $54.95 per month or $659.40 for the entire year. As a bonus, all shipping at Beer of the Month Club is free, so you don't need to worry about additional costs on top of the subscription fee.
100% satisfaction guarantee
Beer of the Month Club states that every shipment is backed with a 100% satisfaction guarantee, but there are no details on what that guarantee entails in terms of reimbursement or replacing damaged goods. All Beer of the Month Club promises is that it only ships "freshly packaged beer." When we did some research into the parent company, Clubs of America, we found that Beer of the Month Club will offer you a replacement if items are damaged in your shipping. You can also ask for a refund for your beer club shipment if you return a box (though this can depend on laws for shipping alcohol).
Return customers for many clubs
The parent company for Beer of the Month Club, Clubs of America, holds an "A+" rating from the Better Business Bureau. According to customer reviews on Google, Clubs of America earns 4.6 stars out of 5. Beer fans are impressed by the quality and selection offered by the Beer of the Month Club, and most reviewers (who used multiple clubs, not just the beer club at Clubs of America) said that shipping was reliable. Many customers stated that they chose to resubscribe after their first period was over.
Perfect for beer fans who like a surprise
If you're looking for a place that offers quality beers, zero pressure to cancel subscriptions, and a competitive satisfaction guarantee, Beer of the Month Club is a great beer club to try. The cost for 12 beers is competitive with free shipping, and with the prepay setup, you don't have to worry about getting charged unexpectedly for your next subscription period. Plus, with high ratings from return customers, you know the beer quality is good. Now, if you're looking to pick and choose your beers, this might not be the beer club for you, as every shipment is a surprise, but if you like a little fun and prefer to trust the process, Beer of the Month Club is a great choice for your next boozy subscription.
Great
U.S. Microbrewed Beer Club is one of the most reviewed subscriptions available on the Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club website. This site, home to four other beer clubs in our review, is owned by Monthly Clubs and has been open since 1994. The beers selected for the U.S. Microbrewed Beer Club are top-notch and focus entirely on craft beers with a range of seasonal styles like summer ales or Oktoberfest lagers. The selections are made by in-house beer experts who have a collective 100+ years of experience tasting, judging, and finding the top beers just for you.
Pick your deliveries and frequencies
Like other beer clubs found at the Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club, joining the U.S. Microbrewed Beer Club is a straightforward process. First, you'll need to choose if you're getting this beer club for yourself or as a gift for a loved one. From there, you'll choose how many shipments you want, and there are options for anywhere between two and twelve total shipments that can be spread out monthly, every two months, or quarterly. If you choose one of the shipment packages, you can choose either to pay completely upfront or only pay when your shipment is sent to you. There is a separate ongoing monthly plan too if you want to subscribe indefinitely.
12 beers in every box
As with all the boxes provided by Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club, the U.S. Microbrewed Beer Club includes 12 full-size beers in every shipment. The flavors are split up with four different styles of beer in every box (three of the same flavor for each of the four styles). If you order 3 or more shipments, you'll also get 4 coasters and a sticker set.
Pick from 32 in-stock beers
If you're interested in grabbing a few extra brews outside of what comes in your U.S. Microbrewed Beer Club, you'll be glad to hear that the Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club has about 32 different beers listed in its online shop. While that's not the biggest selection, there are still some cool and hard-to-find beers that might catch your eye. To help you get a better idea of what could ship in your future boxes, we checked out some of the beers that have been included in the past. Here's what previous customers of U.S. Microbrewed Beer Club received:
Priced at $56.45 per month
Whether you decide to go with a month-to-month setup or pick a specific number of deliveries (anywhere from 2 to 12), the price for each U.S. Microbrewed Beer Club box stays the same. Every shipment is a competitive $56.45, and that includes the cost to ship it to you. If you'd rather pay everything ahead of time instead of being charged each month, there's a prepaid option too, starting at $112.90 for two boxes and going all the way to $677.40 if you choose the 12-shipment plan. This kind of setup works great if you're planning to send it as a gift because it lets you take care of the whole subscription at once without having to manage ongoing payments. But, you can make your multi-month commitment in payment installments instead if you prefer.
Cancel after three months
According to the FAQ for U.S. Microbrewed Beer Club, you're free to cancel anytime without a problem if you choose the ongoing monthly payment plan. But if you're thinking about paying ahead for a few months, there are a few extra things to know. The FAQ doesn't spell it out clearly, but their team told us that if you prepay for more than two months, you're required to stay in the subscription for at least three months before you can end it. So, for example, if you pick a 12-month plan, whether you're paying all at once or monthly, you'll need to stick around for at least the first three months before you're allowed to cancel. Still, one big plus is their satisfaction guarantee. If any of the beers in your shipment show up broken or damaged, they'll send you replacements for free with no hassle and no extra cost.
Reviews praise tasty selection
Most of the comments about the U.S. Microbrewed Beer Club are posted right on their official website, where you can read through over 500 different reviews. The feedback shows a strong average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars. People love the beer selection and a lot of folks even signed back up after getting the subscription as a gift. When we looked into their Better Business Bureau details, we found that you'll need to check under the parent company, Monthly Clubs, to find the details. The good news is this service has earned an "A+" rating and accreditation with the BBB, which is great news for you to get high-quality beer.
Enjoy top-tier craft beer
If you're looking for a beer club that offers you a great price for your 12 beers, includes shipping costs, and focuses on small-batch and craft breweries across America, the U.S. Microbrewed Beer Club is an excellent choice. It has rave reviews on its website testimonials and the parent company is backed by a full "A+" rating at the BBB. With many customers choosing to re-subscribe, this is a great option if you're looking for ongoing quality. While it's a little more expensive than our top pick, it's still a highly competitive option. Only the lack of transparency on cancellation policies keeps it from our top two. But if you're interested in new U.S. beers, you'll want to check out the U.S. Microbrewed Beer Club.
Very Good
Another pick coming in from the Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club site, the International Beer Club is a monthly subscription box from a parent company we've reviewed a few times. This beer club focuses entirely on international craft beers to give you a taste of somewhere exotic. All of the beer clubs at Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club, including International Beer Club, are vetted by a group of on-staff experts who taste and rate over 500 beers every year to pick the best ones for these beer clubs. But if international beers are your jam, then International Beer Club is going to be fun to check out.
Pick your subscription length
Joining the International Beer Club doesn't take long. All you have to do is click the red "order now" button or the "subscribe" button, depending on which part of the site you're browsing. You'll be asked if this is a gift, how many deliveries you want (anywhere from 2 to 12 or an ongoing membership), when you want your subscription to begin, and how often you want to get your beer shipment (whether that's monthly, every two months, or once every three months). When it comes to payment, you can either pay all at once upfront or choose to be charged as each shipment goes out.
12 international beers in each box
Every shipment from International Beer Club comes with 12 beers. All of these are in 12 oz cans or bottles and include two different beer styles with six of each style. You'll also get a collection of coasters and stickers on orders of 3 shipments or more.
Buy a-la-carte too
The Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club also gives you the option to buy individual beers straight from their online shop outside the International Beer Club. You'll find a range of prices, from $3.15 for a can up to $40.95 for a bottle. Just keep in mind, the a-la-carte selection is a bit smaller compared to some other clubs that do the same thing. Our research showed only about 32 different beers available at a time. As for what you might see in your subscription boxes, we checked out a few examples from past deliveries, and you can expect some unique and bold flavors to show up on your doorstep like:
Priced at $64.45 per month
The per-box price for the International Beer Club is the same whether you choose an ongoing subscription or choose one of the plans with 2-12 total shipments. Per box, you're looking at $64.45 for each shipment (which includes the cost of delivery). If you'd prefer to prepay, you can pay $128.90 for 2 shipments or up to $773.40 for 12 shipments. This also makes International Beer Club excellent for gifting, as you can prepay for someone else to get a specific subscription period.
Difficult to find cancellation policy for prepaid members
Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club says that folks who go with the monthly payment plan for the International Beer Club can cancel whenever they like. But if you look at the cancellation details, the wording is pretty confusing, especially if you're thinking about prepaying for a few months in advance. So, we decided to ask their support team directly, and they let us know that if you prepay for more than two months, you have to stick with it for at least three months before you're allowed to cancel. It would be helpful to make this more apparent to customers somewhere outside of talking to customer service. On the bright side, you do get access to the replacement policy that promises any International Beer Club can or bottle that is damaged during shipping will be replaced at no cost.
Most reviews are on the beer club website
If you're checking out the International Beer Club and wondering what others think, most customers seem to love the experience, and the average rating is 4.7 out of 5 stars. However, if you're hoping to find more outside opinions from verified third-party review sites like Trustpilot, you might come up short as there aren't any reviews outside of the International Beer Club page for this beer club. On the other hand, if you look under the true parent company (Monthly Clubs), you'll find that this beer club has a perfect "A+" rating and accreditation with the Better Business Bureau. While the overall praise is solid, with lots of customers happy with this beer club as a gift, we'd love to see more buzz for International Beer Club outside of its own website.
Best pick for international beer fans
If you're looking for a specialized experience in international beers, International Beer Club is a great place to look. However, it is more costly than many competitors that offer 12 beers per shipment. Plus, you only get two beer flavors in each box which could leave you wanting more variety (especially if you don't like one of the flavors). With overall positive reviews, it comes in as a unique choice especially if you want to experience more international beer. On the other hand, if you're looking for the best deal and the best variety, you might want to look at our higher-rated choices instead. But with high-quality beer and the fun of international beers on the table, International Beer Club earns a good rating in our review.
Good
If you're a fan of the finer stuff, you might prefer subscribing to a beer club with a little more pizazz. The Rare Beer Club is another club offered by Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club, and it focuses entirely on rare craft beers that only use high-quality ingredients and offer unique and experimental flavors. The beers are selected by Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club's tasting panel, which includes 100+ years of industry experience in judging top beers.
Decide how many rare bottles you want
Unlike some of the other beer clubs available at Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club, there are three ways to sign up for your Rare Beer Club subscription. You can choose from a 2-bottle shipment, a 4-bottle shipment, or a 6-bottle shipment. You also tell the site whether this purchase will be a gift, and how many shipments you want to sign up for or send to a loved one. You can choose from 2-12 shipment purchases or choose an open-ended ongoing membership that charges every month. Finally, you choose your starting date and frequency of delivery (every month, every other month, or quarterly).
2-6 bottles per shipment with customized choices
All of the shipments include 750 mL bottles of "artisanal" and limited-release beers from two different brewers around the world. Since this beer club is a level up from other clubs offered by Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club, you get some extra perks. For example, the Personal Shipment Program promises that you can customize your boxes. You can add more bottles to orders or replace one or several of your bottles with past favorites. So, what's in your box is ultimately up to you with the Rare Beer Club.
32 a-la-carte beers
If you want to buy beer a-la-carte, you can grab one of 32 different beers across the Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club outside of your Rare Beer Club membership. This is a slightly smaller menu than we've seen at other beer clubs in our review, but it's still got some unique finds. If you're curious about which ones might pop up in your beer club shipments, we researched past boxes to find some fun beers to give you an idea of the variety:
Prices from $45.95 to $89.95 per month
The cost for the different shipments of Rare Beer Club depends on how many bottles you want in each order. For 2 bottles, you're looking at $45.95 per month. 4 bottles are $67.95 per month, and 6 bottles cost $89.95 per month. These do not include the cost of shipping which is $15 for 2 bottles, $19 for 4 bottles, and $25 for 6 bottles. If you'd like to prepay for a gift, the cost ranges from $121.90 for 2 months of 2-bottle boxes up to $1,379.49 for 12 shipments of 6 bottles. The prepaid costs do include shipping, helpfully.
Takes a little digging to find cancellation policies
If you're thinking about joining the Rare Beer Club from the Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club and want the flexibility to cancel, you'll want to keep the cancellation policy in mind. If you're paying monthly, you're good to stop anytime. But when you look at the cancellation rules for prepaid plans, the FAQ isn't totally clear. When we reached out to the support team, we learned that if you choose to prepay for more than two months, you'll need to complete at least three months before you can cancel. It would be more helpful if this was made clearer before you buy. Still, the site offers a guarantee that any beer that gets damaged during delivery will be replaced at no charge.
Praise for rarity and quality
Many of the customer reviews for Rare Beer Club are on the website itself, with around 102 testimonials. Almost all of these are 5 stars, earning Rare Beer Club a 4.8-star average out of 5 and high praise for the quality of the curated rare beers. Finding the Better Business Bureau score for this company was a little more difficult. Rare Beer Club is managed by the Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club, which in turn is owned by the parent company Monthly Clubs. On the bright side, Monthly Clubs has a stellar "A+" rating and accreditation from the BBB. However, we're still missing other third-party reviews from trusted sites like Trustpilot or Sitejabber.
Best for those who need something new
Rare Beer Club is a solid choice if you want new beers that you can't find anywhere else. However, the cost is quite high, so for many who just want to try some new beer, Rare Beer Club might be a little over the top. But if you are looking for something to shake you out of the boring old everyday beer rut, this is worth a look. With high praise and an "A+" rating from the BBB, Rare Beer Club is a subscription you can trust. Just be careful about the cancellation policy and subscribe for a shorter period if you want to be able to cancel.
Good
Craft Beer Club bills itself as "the original" beer club for craft beer. It's highly praised by third-party blogs and publications like Forbes, CNet, USA Today, Fox News, and more. Nick and Anthony started Craft Beer Club back in the 90s and launched it as a grassroots effort to find the best brews locally and around the U.S., pack them by hand, and ship them to you. Now, Craft Beer Club offers its signature beer subscription, a craft beer online store, and curated beer boxes for extra flavors when your monthly shipment isn't quite enough.
Sign up in minutes
To join Craft Beer Club, you just need to hit the "join now" button. At this beer club, you can pick between 12 or 24 packs, and choose from 1-month, 2-month, and 3-month frequencies. You can also choose to send this club as a gift by clicking a checkbox. From there, you can pay with the ShopPay app or regular credit card payments, and you're all set to receive your next beer shipment.
12 or 24 beers per box
When you order from Craft Beer Club, your box will include 4 different styles of beer from 2 different craft breweries. Each box also includes monthly tasting notes and details on the selected craft breweries and their processes. The boxes come with either 12 or 24 beers, depending on your selection. In the 12 pack, you'll get 4 styles with 3 bottles or cans of each style. In the 24 pack, you'll also get 4 styles, but 6 bottles or cans of each one.
Pick from 78 beers in store
Craft Beer Club has a solid selection of a-la-carte beer online with both 12 oz and 16 oz options. There are a total of 78 beers in stock, and you can buy them by the can, or buy curated boxes of beer based on style. The curated boxes include IPA, Mixed Style, Hazy IPA, Staff Picks, Sour Beer, Dark Beer, and more. Some of the single-beer flavors you can find include:
As for cost, single cans of beer at Craft Beer Club range from $2.95 for Black Hog Brewing's Granola Brown Ale to $39.95 per bottle for Goose Island's Bourbon Country Reserve Stout.
Prices from $47.95 to $95.90 per month
The cost for the beer club itself includes the flat-rate shipping fees. Every box of 12 beers is $47.95 per month. For the 24 pack, the cost is $95.90 per month. There is no difference in cost if you choose to send Craft Beer Club's box as a gift. Instead, you'll just get the option to add gifting details like a message and the recipient's email.
60-day replacement policy for damaged beers
Our research shows that the refund policy at Craft Beer Club is pretty minimal. This beer club offers a promise that if any beers are damaged in transit, Craft Beer Club will replace them at no cost to you. There will not be any allowed returns due to alcohol shipping laws, but you can request a refund within 60 days of your date of delivery.
Not much buzz for this beer club
Currently, Craft Beer Club has a perfect "A+" rating from the Better Business Bureau. However, this beer club's reputation on third-party review sites like Trustpilot is more balanced. Currently, it has only 3 reviews on Trustpilot. These are split between 5 and 1-star reviews for a total average of 3.9 out of 5. Two of the customers were happy with the unique selection of beers, and one of those found it exceptionally easy to give as a gift. On the other hand, another customer noted that the flavor of the beers wasn't up to her husband's standards. She noted that the beers they were sent were all poorly rated on other sites. However, with so few total reviews for this beer club, it's a little unclear how accurate this experience is for the majority of customers at Craft Beer Club.
A balanced option for unique beers
According to our research, Craft Beer Club has a solid selection of beers, praise from 66% of its reviewers, and a competitive 60-day replacement policy for damaged beers. The prices are also competitive for 12 beers, and with shipping included in the listed price, there are no costly surprises at checkout. Given the ease of use and unique beers, Craft Beer Club earns a good rating in our review overall, with the opportunity to get a higher rating if it begins generating more buzz on verified third-party review sites.
Average
Hop Heads Beer Club is designed for those who want a beer club to help them sample both U.S. and international beers. This beer club is offered through the Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club, which has been a family-owned business for over 30 years. Beers for the subscription boxes at The Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club are selected through its panel of Brewmasters and Beer Judges who rate over 500 beers every year. Panel members travel to top beer-making locations and test beers from microbreweries to find the top stuff.
Answer a few questions to finish your sign-up
To sign up for the Hop Heads Beer Club, you just need to hit that red "order now" button. Then, the site will ask you a few questions like whether or not this beer club is a gift, how many shipments you'd like (from 2-12), when you'd like to start your membership, and how often you'd like your Hop Heads Beer Club boxes to be delivered (monthly, every other month, or quarterly). Finally, you can choose to pay the total upfront or pay per shipment. There is also an option for an ongoing membership if you want to enjoy your IPAs indefinitely.
Get 12 hoppy-style beers every month
Each beer club box comes with a dozen 12 oz hoppy beers in each shipment. There will be four bottles or cans of three flavors. You can expect a variety of different IPAs and IPLs, Pale, and Red Ales, as well as other well-hopped styles of beer. You'll also get 4 coasters and a sticker set with your shipments if you buy 3 shipments or more in a single purchase.
Mostly American IPAs
On top of the Hop Heads Beer Club subscription, The Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club also offers a competitive range of beers that you can buy a-la-carte from its online store. Prices range from $3.15 per can for Caldera Brewing Company's Ashland Amber, up to $40.95 per bottle for The Lost Abbey's Serpent's Kiss. However, the selection is a bit smaller than some other beer clubs that also offer beer a-la-carte with only around 32 total beers in stock. As for beers you can expect in your boxes, we found a few selections from past shipment:
Despite the promise of international beers as well, Hop Heads Beer Club's most recent 15 beer options only had American IPAs on the list.
Priced at $60.45 per month
At Hop Heads Beer Club, the prices for an ongoing subscription and committing to multiple boxes are the same per box at $60.45. The lowest-cost multi-box option is $120.90 for 2 shipments. If you choose to pay per shipment (you're still committed to the 2 months), you pay the per-box price at the time each shipment is sent out. The most costly option is a 12-month commitment for $725.40 one-time or the same per-box cost of $60.45. There isn't any discount for choosing a longer subscription time. Thankfully, the cost of shipping is included in the price listed, so there are no additional fees for delivery.
Confusing cancellation policy
In the cancellation section of the parent company's FAQ (at Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club), it notes that if you pay month to month, you should be able to cancel at any time. However, the language of the cancellation policy is extremely muddled, making it unclear if the prepaid options are available for cancellation or refunds of any kind. We reached out to customer service to clarify, and they informed us that if you prepay for a longer period, you will need to use a minimum of three months before you will be allowed to cancel. But if you choose 2 months, you can cancel at any time. On the bright side, there is a 100% satisfaction guarantee available through Hop Heads Beer Club which promises that any damaged beers will be replaced at no additional cost.
Not widely reviewed
There are plenty of testimonials on the Hop Heads Beer Club page that rave about the quality and show mostly 5-star reviews overall. However, for third-party feedback, it's harder to find details for this beer club or its parent company. Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club is not rated by the Better Business Bureau, but it has its own parent company that is. Everything on this site is owned by Monthly Clubs, which holds a perfect "A+" rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau. However, there is still a lack of reviews on trusted third-party sites like Trustpilot or Sitejabber. According to the main page for Hop Heads Beer Club, customers have given this subscription a solid 4.7-star average. The reviews mention positives for flavor and unique selection. However, some found the IPAs a little limiting and preferred a club with more variety.
Best for IPA superfans
If you're a fan of IPA or "hoppy' beers, this is going to be a great choice for you. You'll get 12 beers each month all in the same style. However, if you're looking to try a bunch of different beer styles and flavors, you might be disappointed by the heavy focus on American IPAs at Hop Heads Beer Club. Considering the high monthly cost of this beer club, this is the best fit for those specialists who can't get enough of their IPAs. However, for everyone else, it's a middle-of-the-road pick due to having fewer beer styles and higher costs than other 12-beer subscriptions in our review.
Average
City Brew Tours is a modern-styled beer club that's designed to get the finest beers from cities around the U.S. delivered straight to your door. This virtual beer road trip focuses on "under-the-radar" beers from different cities each month. Currently, there are 47 cities, 195 breweries, and 365 flavors that could be featured throughout your subscription period. The company has been open since 2008, but it was originally called Burlington Brew Tours. It got a revamp in 2012 and has been City Brew Tours since.
Two-step sign up
Getting started with City Brew Tours' beer club subscription is simple: there are only two steps. First, you pick the city you want to start your tour in. Some cities are sold out depending on when you browse, so you might only have one choice. (At the time of our review, we could choose between Washington DC and San Francisco as our starting point.) From there, you choose your subscription length. You can either subscribe for an ongoing monthly payment or prepay for 3 or 6 months.
8 beers per box
When you're selecting your starting city, you can use the "peek in the box" feature to see what you might expect from a beer club shipment at City Brew Tours. Every box showcases eight different beers from three or four of the top breweries in the city featured each month. You'll also get a guided tasting sheet and a postcard from the featured city. The subscription ships a mix of 12 oz and 16 oz cans, depending on the shipment and the brewery.
Unique small-brewery flavors
There aren't any beers you can buy directly here, but you can see previous beer club boxes at City Brew Tours to get an idea of the flavors. According to our research, one recent box included brewers from Rhode Island; the beers featured in that box included Single Slice by Long Live Beerworks, Sea Maiden by Grey Sail Brewing, a Lager by Narragansett, and Summit American Pale Ale by Tilted Barn Brewing. There was one can of each flavor to try in the box.
Prices from $69.99 to $79.99 per month
The prices for this beer club are a little costly for only offering 8 cans of beer per shipment. The most cost-effective subscription plan is the 6-month subscription length. This costs $69.99 per month, and you're committed for 6 months, but you don't have to prepay. The 3-month subscription costs $74.67, and the month-to-month option is $79.99. If you prefer to give City Brew Tours as a gift, you'll have to prepay. You can pick from 2 months at $169.99 total, 4 months for $317.99 total, and 6 months for $449.99 total.
Flat-rate $5 shipping
For each beer club box, there is a flat-rate shipping fee of $5. Keep in mind that you will need to sign for the package with proof that you are over the age of 21. This is one of the lower-cost shipping fees in our review, with many that charge $10+ for shipping and handling. However, currently, City Brew Tours does not ship to AK, AL, AR, DE, HI, IN, MD, MO, MS, NC, UT, WV, and VT. All other states can get their beer, though.
Fees charged if you cancel early
According to our research, you can cancel your subscription to City Brew Tours at any time. However, this beer club states that it may apply cancellation fees if you choose to cancel your subscription before the commitment term is complete. For example, if you cancel your 6-month subscription early, the fee is calculated by subtracting the 6-month discounted price from the standard subscription price ($79.99 per month) for the months you used (so if you used 4 months, this would be $319.96 with $279.96 subtracted). Then, City Brew Tours multiplies the difference ($40) by the number of months used, making the cancellation fee $160. Ouch!
High praise for shipped beer and in-person tours
City Brew Tours currently holds an "A+" rating from the Better Business Bureau and an almost-perfect 4.8-star rating from beer club customers on Yelp. Many customers can enjoy City Brew Tours in person too if you happen to be in the city where they're offering beers that month. Customers said the experience was top-notch for traveling and seeing different breweries. The club itself has a 4.7-star average rating on Facebook, with high praise for beer quality. So, it may be the case that you don't need to worry about canceling your subscription at all.
Best for those who want to sample across the U.S.
City Brew Tours is a solid beer club if you want to try beers from across the U.S. With different featured cities each month, you'll get a lot of variety. However, if you're looking for the most cost-effective beer club, you might be disappointed. This is more expensive than clubs that offer 12 beers instead of 8, and its high fees for cancellations might be less than helpful if you don't end up liking the subscription. For these reasons, along with the limitations on where City Brew Tours will ship, this beer club earns a balanced rating rather than something a bit higher. However, if you're impressed by the customer reviews and the unique cross-country approach, you should give City Brew Tours a look.
Weak
Beer Drop is a newer beer club subscription service in the industry. The company opened in 2020 in Denver, CO, and Beer Drop stands out by offering a subscription that is personalized to your taste in beer. The Beer Drop promise is that you won't get any unwanted beers or random styles. Everything will be based on your preference. Plus, for new subscribers, you'll get $10 off when you first sign up with an email.
Pick your beer styles and go
If you want to sign up for this beer club, you'll start by completing a quick quiz. First, you'll choose the beer styles you love. You can pick from options like Top Picks, Hoppy Beers, Sour Beers, Dark Beers, Light Beers, Belgian Beers, Malty Beers, and Fruity Beers. You can choose the quantity of each category (up to 5 total styles). From there, you will choose your subscription. Finally, you'll create your account with Beer Drop and pay. You can also buy a subscription for a loved one by sending a gift card that allows you to prepay for 1-12 months.
10 full-size beers in each shipment
Each monthly beer club box comes with 10 total beers with different qualities, depending on which subscription tier you pick. All of the beers are small-batch brews that come in creative flavors. Many of the selections in your boxes will be limited-release cans in 16 oz and 32 oz sizing. You won't see specifically what beers you'll get in each shipment until they arrive, so there's still some element of surprise.
100+ beer flavors to look forward to
If you'd like to see what beers are "on tap" at Beer Drop outside of your beer club subscription, you can browse the a-la-carte menu at this subscription site. There are over 100 beers available for purchase at Beer Drop including IPAs, Pale Ales, Porters, Belgian Ales, Sours, Saisons, Amber or Brown Ales, and Light Lagers. Some standout flavors include Southern Drawl Pale Lager, Nada Nada Sour Fruited Berliner Weisse, Hop Reach American IPA, and Supra Delux with Sea Salt and Lime Lager. Costs for 2 cans range from $4.98 to $23.98. The least expensive is the Lake View Lager Light, while the most costly is the Henna Bear Imperial Stout.
Prices from $45 to $60 per month
There are three different subscription tiers at the Beer Drop beer club. All three offer 10 craft beers, but the quality of beers in each box differs slightly. For $45 per month, you can get the 10 Craft Beers subscription. For $50 per month, you get the 10 Better Craft Beers subscription. Finally, at $60 per month, you get the 10 Best Craft Beers subscription. Regrettably, shipping is not included in the total price. However, Beer Drop does offer flat-rate shipping of $18 on every shipment. There aren't different shipping frequencies, so you'll get your shipments from this beer club every month. If you want to prepay for a family member, the yearly cost is $799.20 to $993.60 which is higher than if you subscribe on a month-to-month basis.
Free replacement for damaged beers
Beer Drop offers a helpful replacement policy for beers that are damaged during shipping. The product will be resent to you with no additional costs outside of what you already pay for your beer club membership. However, Beer Drop does not accept any returns (which is standard due to alcohol shipping laws). You can claim delivery issues or ask for possible reimbursement for trouble with your shipments for up to 120 days.
Issues with delivery
Regrettably, Beer Drop currently holds an "F" rating from the Better Business Bureau. This is due to the failure to respond to 9 out of the 10 complaints filed against the business. On other sites like Yelp, the ratings are mostly negative (with a 1.4-star average). Most customers of this beer club complained about struggles making purchases, and one customer noted that if you're not home to sign for the beer, the package will be returned to Beer Drop at your expense. There are also multiple reviews about the deliveries being unreliable and late (making it hard to be present to sign for your package).
Needs more time to grow a reliable service
While the cost for 10 beers per month isn't bad at Beer Drop, and the helpful replacement policy is a high point, the overall experience from customers suggests that you might want to hold off on Beer Drop. With an "F" rating and 1.4 stars on Yelp for shipping issues, many customers said the beer flavors offered through Beer Drop weren't worth the hassle. It could be that Beer Drop is still working out the bugs since it only opened in 2020, so it may be worth looking to see if you love any flavors (or buy from the a-la-carte menu), but as a beer club, it could use a little work.
Continued from above...
Feeling like crackin' open a cold one to relax at the end of the day? Looking forward to your favorite lite, dark, or IPA? Beer is the most widely enjoyed alcoholic drink worldwide, and right now there are over 100 varieties of beer, ales, lagers, and more on the market. In one recent study, statistics showed that 79% of all beer consumed in the US was produced within the US as well. Another study by the US Tax and Trade Bureau revealed there are over 14,000 unique breweries in the US alone. And, you guessed it, lots of them offer beer clubs.
So, what is a beer club, and why join one? These are awesome membership-based services that let you subscribe and get beer delivered directly to your home. These clubs include tons of exciting new brews from around the US (and sometimes they include international flavors as well). Whether you're new to beer and want to try as many types as you can or you're getting bored with your local store selection and want to shake up your game nights a bit, these clubs are great for getting new beers in your fridge ASAP.
With shipments that range from monthly to quarterly or prepaid subscriptions you can send as a gift, there are tons of ways to enjoy beer clubs. Beer clubs are more than just drinking (but don't worry, you get to enjoy that crisp refreshing beer and a buzz too) - you can also learn about the beers and the craft of brewing when you become a member. Whether you're just trying to discover more about your favorite drink or thinking about trying to home-brew some beer, joining a beer club can give you a solid education on tasting notes and the brewing process.
Other benefits of joining a beer club include getting access to limited edition beers not sold directly to regular customers or experiencing new creations from microbreweries (which are small-scale breweries that make less than 15,000 barrels of beer per year, and they focus on creative brewing techniques with a hands-on approach). Whatever your favorite way to enjoy beer, you can find it at a top-rated beer club.
If you're not sure where to look first to get your next pint, don't worry - we've done the research for you, including a list of factors to help you narrow down your favorite beer clubs and breweries:
To help you find the best beer for your next sports game party or late-night relaxation, Top Consumer Reviews has researched and ranked the most popular beer clubs available today. This way, you can sit back and enjoy a pint (or two) as your new membership ships your next adventure in beer right to your door!
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What to Expect From a Beer-of-the-Month Club
There are clubs for reading books and clubs for learning to stitch, so why not a club that focuses on beer?
Beer-of-the-month clubs are designed to bring consumers a variety of beer straight to their doorsteps each month at a group rate, making it affordable and convenient. If you like beer, it is an ideal way to try a number of brands and flavors without ever having to leave the comfort of your home.
However, the number of beer-of-the-month clubs offered online is staggering and can leave the consumer confused as to which club would best fit their needs. So how does one select the ideal beer club?
First and foremost, do you like domestic or foreign, micro-brewed or mass-produced? Are you adventurous and enjoy trying new things, or would you prefer to stick with what you know and love? Once a decision is made about the kind of beer that is preferred, those preferences can be used to select a club which fits your taste criteria.
Next, decide how much you can reasonably spend for a membership. Most beer-of-the-month clubs offer several options when joining. Subscribers can select original flavors, which would consist of the kinds of beers most commonly sold on tap and by the bottle. These selections generally are pulled from various microbreweries in the United States. This kind of basic membership is the least expensive at around $20-25 per month depending on the club. However, for those who truly enjoy beer, an original selection may be a bit boring.
Other memberships, which include both domestic and foreign beers, often are the most tantalizing to the beer connoisseur, but also are the most costly at around $40 per month. It should be noted that the monthly membership fees do not include shipping and handling charges, which can range between $12-15 per shipment.
For the most elite beer drinkers, there also are several clubs which offer rare brands of beers, including limited-release brands by Elevation Brewing Co. and Jolly Pumpkin. These beers are not for the faint of heart. Creatively-prepared, they often can be placed in a traditional wine cellar and aged for a more refined taste.
Some clubs ship several times a month, so the additional shipping and handling can add up. Be sure to include the estimated cost of shipping when determining your beer-of-the-month club budget.
If you've never belonged to a beer-of-the-month club before, it might be a good idea to read reviews about each club out there, or ask friends and family for recommendations. Some clubs are members of the Better Business Bureau, which provides the customer with an extra layer of protection should they be dissatisfied with their club membership and unable to obtain a reasonable resolution to their grievance through the club itself.
Lastly, a smart thing to do when signing up as a member of any club is to fully read and review the terms of service, as well as the membership agreement. Some clubs require a minimum membership term, usually around three months. This is the minimum amount of time the member agrees to be in the club and pay the monthly dues and fees. Some also offer payment options and automatic-renewal options. Be clear on what the terms are before agreeing to them in order to avoid being deadlocked into an expensive club you may not be able to afford.
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