Joining Beer-of-the-Month Clubs
The advantages of beer-of-the-month clubs are many. While details vary from club to club, most benefits of beer clubs will include, members receiving two six-packs of fresh beer from two different microbreweries each month. There are also some beer clubs who will produce there own newsletters with all sorts of fun info about the beer youre drinking. These newsletters usually include letters, columns, articles, and recipes.
The selection offered by these beer clubs varies with the seasons, guaranteeing you a wide range of Christmas brews, bocks, wheats, Oktoberfest beers, and so on. Hence you will most likely find yourself being exposed to a wide variety of beers you might not be able to find, such as California microbrews on the East Coast.
Competitions for members are stiff hence in order to get more members; some beer clubs do offer hard-to-find brews made by tiny breweries with the highest standards. These beers are usually fresh from the breweries and shipped within a few days.
However there are downsides to the starting of a beer-of-the-month club. In the whole world, only 14 states consider beer-of-the-month clubs legal. The National Beer Wholesalers Association has declared war on the clubs for violating the three-tier (brewery/distributor/bottle shop) systems in place in many states. Kentucky has made direct shipping of alcohol a felony, punishable by five years in prison.
On top of the law against beer-of-the-month, there are no safeguards to keep the beer out of the hands of minors; although, most clubs require an adult to sign foe the package. On a less serious note, beer can arrive hot or frozen. Most UPS shipping trucks used to ship beers are not great environments for beer. Make sure the beer club you join will immediately replace any bad beer. Another issue with beer clubs is you usually do not have much of a choice. You might fall in love with a beer that you cant buy where you live. On the other hand, you might hate one months selection and most beer clubs require a mandatory two- or three-month sign up.
If you happen to live in a lager city, you could probably find most beers you will be receiving cheaper if bought locally. Before you sign up for any beer club, do check on the type of beer they ship in. Some beer clubs are shipping contract-brewed beers, which are generally not as lovingly mad as microbrewed beers.
Author: Sky Joe
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Mobile device news
