Thursday, January 16th
2025 Beer Club Reviews
Rare Beer Club
- Two 750ml bottles per month (starting at $41.95+$16 shipping)
- Monthly newsletter, tasting notes, and brewery info
- Personalized shipments: skip a month or select your favorites
- Monthly newsletter, tasting notes, and brewery info
The Rare Beer Club, offered through Microbrewed Beer of the Month, was founded by "Beer Hunter” author and critic, Michael Jackson (the writer - not the musician). With a bevy of books, articles, and TV appearances, Mr. Jackson introduced the world to the abundance of beer styles and histories, and was a key figure in popularizing craft beer. Posthumously continuing his legacy through the club he founded, the Rare Beer Club is the only club on our list that goes out of its way to source an exclusive assortment of 750ml bottle beers of the highest quality.
A high price for high-quality beer
The Rare Beer Club likely isn't for everyone, because these beers are expensive. While the base plan starts at two beers of two styles per month at $41.95 plus $16 shipping, the Rare Beer Club also offers a four bottle plan at $63.95 per month plus $19 shipping, or a six bottle plan at $84.95 per month plus $24 shipping. In short, this is probably one of the most expensive clubs on our list, but it's also the only club that specializes in 750ml high-end offerings.
Exclusive offerings
What sets this club apart from others is its exclusivity. In fact, many of the rare beers found in their club are made strictly for the Rare Beer Club. To give you an idea of the variety here, at the time of our evaluation this club was shipping a fig-infused farmhouse ale from Belgian brewery Brasserie de Blaugies, and CaliCraft's Ursa Major, a California brewed, coffee-infused imperial ale. If those sound pleasant to your palate, then this club may be right up your alley (or abbey, depending on who's doing the brewing).
Glassware, newsletter, and customization options
Each shipment comes with glassware and temperature suggestions, tasting notes and pairings, their monthly newsletter, and aging instructions (many of these beers are made to age well, and are perfect for those starting or looking for some variety in their beer cellar). What's more, if a past shipment was to your liking, you can customize which beers you receive, instead of just ordering them separately. You can also skip an upcoming beer, pack your box with more of your favorites, or skip a month all together.
A top quality club, but not for everyone
Chosen by Microbrewed Beer of the Month's panel of brewmasters, critics, and experts, this is a high-quality offering that is priced accordingly. If you're interested in gifting or receiving a curated sampling of the best of the best, then the Rare Beer Club is the one for you. However, at the high price point and low volume received, this is certainly not the club for those looking for a reasonably priced club, or just a good quantity of drinkable beers.
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Where Can You Find the Best Beer Clubs?
Why have beer clubs become so popular? You might be surprised. For starters, monthly beer clubs provide a consistent and reliable way to try out new and unique beer styles that may not be readily available at local stores or bars. This allows members to broaden their horizons and experience the diversity of the craft beer world.
Another advantage of a monthly beer club is the convenience it provides. Members receive a regular supply of curated beers, saving them time and effort in researching and purchasing new beers on their own. This can be particularly valuable for people who don't have access to a wide range of beers in their local area. Beer clubs typically ship their beers directly to the member's home, which means that they don't even need to leave their house to try delicious new flavors.
Beer Club FAQ
Continued from above...
Also, a monthly beer club can provide a sense of anticipation and excitement. Members look forward to the arrival of their monthly shipment, eager to discover new beers and expand their knowledge and experience of beer. Many beer clubs include detailed information about the beers they offer, including the brewing process, the ingredients used, and the history of the beer. This anticipation can add to the enjoyment of the experience, making it a fun and engaging way to explore the world of beer.
Here's a fun fact about beer to get you started: some anthropologists theorize that the shift from a hunter-gatherer society to sedentary farming was partially caused by one key technological innovation. That would be brewing!
These days, if we want a drink, we only need to decide whether we'll drive to the local bottle shop, or join in a growing trend and have it shipped right to our door. Since the 90's, monthly beer clubs have been an increasingly popular way to gift or receive expert-curated beer. So whether you're looking to explore new beer styles, discover the unexpected, or gift the same to a friend, family, co-worker or acquaintance, now is an excellent time to take advantage of the diversity of modern brewing, and explore something fresh with a monthly beer club.
There are, however, quite a number of beer clubs out there, and it can be difficult to compare them all. Some specialize in the highest quality (and highest priced) craft beer experiences, others offer interesting stylistic or regional themes, still others just ship you 12 good beers with no frills about it. After surveying the best (and a few of the rest), Top Consumer Reviews has found some key points to look for as you make your choice:
- Theme: Look for how they theme their club. You could get 12 beers from the supermarket for a whole lot less than a beer club; a carefully-selected theme, however, can make a beer club both exciting and informative, so be sure to check for an interesting way that they tie it all together from month to month.
- Quality Assurance: Anyone can put beer in a box and call it a day. It takes an expert, however, to curate based on taste, and if you're paying for a beer club you should expect no less. Be sure to look for information on how a club chooses their beers, not just what beers they send.
- Past Selections: Some of the best clubs on our list let you know exactly what beers are in an upcoming box, and exactly what they've chosen in the past. If they aren't telling you these things... then it's probably a good idea to look critically at any claims to quality.
- Extras: While secondary to the beer itself, some of our favorite clubs include gifts and interesting tidbits with your monthly shipment. When comparing similar offerings, any added extras may very well be the determining factor.
While many clubs seem similar, not all are up to the mark. At Top Consumer Reviews, we have searched with an eye for the interesting, intriguing, and quality-consistent, to find only the best Beer Clubs to fill your fridge. Whatever your specific tastes, we are certain you'll find a club that fits yours. Cheers!
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