What to Buy Bar & Drinks Order Your Next Round With One of These Beer Subscription Boxes The Original Craft Beer Club offers the best beer subscription box By Rich Manning Rich Manning Rich Manning is a writer and spirits and food competition judge based in Los Angeles. He has been writing about spirits, wine, beer, food and travel since 2004. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on August 27, 2023 Fact checked by Jessica Wrubel Fact checked by Jessica Wrubel Jessica Wrubel is an accomplished writer, copy editor, and fact checker, working for over 15 years for various publications owned by Tribune Publishing, The Arena Group, and Hearst Communications in the areas of Food, Health & Wellness, Travel, Lifestyle, Education, and Home Improvement. Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Photo: Cherish Bryck / Stocksy Want fresh beer delivered to your doorstep on a regular basis? If so, beer subscription boxes are a great investment. At their core, these services eliminate a trip to the package store. But the best beer subscription boxes offer more than just convenience—they also provide an easy way to keep track of what's happening in the beer scene. You may even find some new favorites with each shipment. The number of beers you'll receive in each beer subscription box varies by service, but most offer six or 12 cans per shipment. The clubs commonly hand-pick the brews featured in each delivery, and the selections often represent what's new, trendy, and especially delicious. You often won't know what you're getting until you open the box, and discovering the new varieties in each shipment is half the fun. Here, we've provided a list of the top beer subscription services on the market right now. Best Beer Subscription Boxes of 2023 Best Overall: The Original Craft Beer Club Best for Gifting: The Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club Best Value: Beer of the Month Club Best Variety: Beer Drop Best for Local Beers: Tavour Best for International Beers: Half Time Beverage Best for IPAs: Craft Beer Kings Food & Wine / Mohamed Sadek We researched around a dozen companies that offer beer subscriptions. Our team collected 14 data points about each company, ranging from price and delivery area to offerings, what’s in each shipment, and avenues for reaching customer service. Best Overall: The Original Craft Beer Club The Original Craft Beer Club Sign Up Now Key Specs Starting Price: $47.95/monthFree Shipping: NoProducts per Delivery: 12 or 24 Why You Should Try It The Original Craft Beer Club is the ideal subscription for beer enthusiasts. You'll learn detailed information about craft beers from around the country, and receive shipments at a pace that's right for you. Pros and Cons Pros Four different beer styles in each shipment Detailed notes and food pairing ideas Free shipping in the contiguous U.S. Cons Shipments take 10 to 15 business days Overview The Original Craft Beer Club tailors its subscription service for the serious craft beer aficionado. Each shipment of hand-picked brews highlights two separate craft breweries from distinctively different parts of the country. You'll get four different craft beer styles in each shipment, along with a detailed newsletter highlighting the brewery and explaining how the beers came about. You'll also get tips on food pairings, including recipes for dishes that will unleash the beer's pairing power. The deliveries arrive either monthly or quarterly. You can opt for an ongoing subscription, or you can pay for a specific number of shipments. You'll also have the option of deciding to receive 12 or 24 beers per shipment, giving you extra flexibility. The club commonly features beer ranging from 5.0% to 7.0% ABV, although they may occasionally send you a beer outside this range. Pricing and Plans 12 beers: $47.95/month24 beers: $95.90/month Best for Gifting: The Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club The Microbrewed Beer of the Month Sign Up Now Key Specs Starting Price: $35.95/monthFree Shipping: NoProducts per Delivery: 12 Why You Should Try It This service's commitment to "lightly distributed" beers will deliver surprising selections to the beer enthusiasts in your life. Pros and Cons Pros Exclusive beers made for club members Brewery profiles and tasting notes Cons No free shipping Overview A craft beer subscription makes an excellent gift for the beer lover in your life. And the gift subscriptions offered by the Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club are particularly exceptional. The company focuses on hyper-regional, "lightly distributed" beers from microbreweries across the country, including selections brewed especially for club members. Even if the recipient is well-versed in craft beer, they're sure to encounter bottles they've never seen before in each delivery. Gift shipments range from two months to unlimited, and can be paid either upfront or on a per-shipment basis. Each delivery comes with brewery profiles and tasting notes, so the recipient will understand what they're drinking. You can also adjust the frequency of shipments either monthly, every other month, or quarterly. Most club options feature 12 bottles highlighting four different styles. Its Rare Beer club, however, features two, four, or six 750 ml bottles of limited-release artisanal beers from some of the world's most accomplished brewers. Pricing and Plans The U.S. Microbrewed Beer Club: $35.95/month (plus shipping)The U.S. and International Variety Beer Club: $40.95/month (plus shipping)The Hop-Heads Beer Club: $39.95/month (plus shipping)The International Beer Club: $43.95/month (plus shipping)The Rare Beer Club: Starts at $41.95/month (plus shipping) Best Value: Beer of the Month Club Beer of The Month Club Sign Up Now Key Specs Starting Price: $109.90 for two deliveriesFree Shipping: YesProducts per Delivery: 12 Why You Should Try It This monthly subscription allows you to dive into the wide world of craft beer at a price that won't break your bank. Pros and Cons Pros Wide range of domestic craft beers Free shipping Tiered pricing options Cons You can't select specific styles Overview Beer of the Month Club's custom, tiered subscription service makes it easy to delve into craft beers regardless of your budget. Choose from two-, three-, four-, six-, or 12-month subscription plans, each costing slightly more than $50 per month. You'll also get free shipping, no matter which plan you sign up for. Each shipment includes a dozen rare craft beers from two to three craft breweries, and every beer choice is carefully curated by an in-house tasting panel. A variety of styles are represented, from ales and IPAs to stouts and porters. You'll also receive detailed information on the participating breweries with each shipment. If you fall in love with a selection, you can reorder it through the website at a discounted price. Pricing and Plans 2-month membership: $109.90 for two deliveries3-month membership: $161.85 for three deliveries4-month membership: $215.80 for four deliveries6-month membership: $317.70 for six deliveries12-month membership: $623.40 for 12 deliveries Best Variety: Beer Drop Beer Drop Sign Up Now Key Specs Starting Price: $33/monthFree Shipping: NoProducts per Delivery: 10 Why You Should Try It Beer Drop's wide selection and unique tracking system makes it easy for you to take a deep dive into your favorite styles. Pros and Cons Pros Large, rotating selection of unique craft beers Shipments based on preferred beer style Cons No free shipping Beer selection not available for all tiers Overview Beer Drop's customizable boxes give you full control over the beers you'll receive. Simply indicate your five favorite styles, and they'll build a list of brews from their ever-rotating library of beers. The service uses an algorithm to track what you like. This information helps Beer Drop curate shipments based on your particular preferences, so you won't receive anything you don't like. Each monthly beer subscription box features six, eight, or 10 cans selected from award-winning American craft breweries. If you're enrolled in the Plus or Ultimate membership tier, you'll have the option to swap out beers prior to shipping. Pricing and Plans Beer Drop (six beers): $33/monthBeer Drop (eight beers): $40/monthBeer Drop (10 beers): $44/month Best for Local Beers: Tavour Tavour Sign Up Now Key Specs Starting Price: $55/monthFree Shipping: YesProducts per Delivery: 6 or 12 Why You Should Try It Tavour gives you access to local and regional beers not available in your area. It's a great way to discover unique, new-to-you brews on a regular basis. Pros and Cons Pros More than 650 craft breweries featured Free shipping with subscription Cons No free shipping for "crate" service Overview One of the coolest things about a beer subscription service is the chance to try beers you can't find in your neighborhood liquor store. Tavour partners with 650 craft breweries from 47 states to bring fresh expressions of craft beer in a wide range of styles. Simply let its team of experts know your preferences via the service's smartphone app, and they'll hand-pick unique brews based on your choices. You can receive six or 12 craft brews in your subscription box, which can be sent with free shipping monthly, every other month, or quarterly. You can also forgo the traditional subscription service and use Tavour's unique "crate" system. This option lets you choose as many beers as you like from its inventory, which will ship out at the end of the month. Pricing and Plans Traditional club 6-pack: $55–$69, depending on style and shipping frequencyTraditional club 12-pack: $90–$123, depending on style and shipping frequency"Crate" option: varies by beer type and amount purchased Best for International Beers: Half Time Beverage Half Time Beverage Sign Up Now Key Specs Starting Price: $52.50/monthFree Shipping: YesProducts per Delivery: 12 Why You Should Try It Half Time Beverage's deep roster of beers from around the world makes it easy to expand your beer horizons beyond the U.S. Pros and Cons Pros Terrific selection of international beers Free shipping Digital tasting notes with each shipment Cons Only available in 33 states No option to choose your own brewery Overview Some of the most exciting beers come from outside the country, and Half Time Beverage agrees. The company features an Around the World Beer of the Month Club, which allows you to check out the global beer scene through a top-notch selection of international brews. From acclaimed Belgian tripels and Czech pilsners to British stouts and Japanese ales, each monthly box brings the world to your doorstep, one bottle at a time. It also offers a German Beer of the Month club if you prefer to explore selections strictly sourced from one of the world's most legendary beer-producing countries. You can sign up for the Around the World Beer of the Month or the German Beer of the Month clubs through monthly, three-month, or six-month subscriptions. Each box contains two beers each from six different breweries, along with digital tasting notes on each selection. Best of all, every club subscription comes with free shipping. Pricing and Plans Around the World Beer of the Month Club: $52.50/monthGerman Beer of the Month Club: $57.50/month Best for IPAs: Craft Beer Kings Craft Beer Kings Sign Up Now Key Specs Starting Price: $49.99/monthFree Shipping: Yes (with subscription)Products per Delivery: 6 or 12 Why You Should Try It Craft Beer Kings does an exceptional job of securing rare and limited-edition IPAs in a range of various styles. If you're a serious hophead, this is the service for you. Pros and Cons Pros Limited edition and special release IPAs Free shipping Cons Boxes may only contain one IPA style Overview Craft Beer Kings cuts through the sheer volume of IPAs on the market to deliver fresh selections from some of the country's most acclaimed breweries. Its team of experts specializes in hand picking limited-edition labels, making it easy to enjoy beers that may be completely off your radar. You'll receive either six or 12 different beers on your doorstep per month, depending on the subscription package you select. You don't have to strictly explore IPAs, either. A few of Craft Beer Kings' other subscriptions combine IPAs with other styles, like stouts and sours. Craft Beer Kings also features an online marketplace, giving you the chance to load up on any new favorites you may discover. Free ground shipping is available for all subscriptions. Pricing and Plans 6-can box: $49.9912-can box: $94.99 Our Unboxing Process The fun part about putting together this roundup was opening each delivery box and checking out the beers we received. We captured the unboxing process to help you decide which beer subscription might be best for you. We paid attention to:The outside packaging: How sturdy was the box?The inside packaging: How were the contents secured inside the delivery box?Extras: What else besides the actual products were in the box? We wanted to know if the companies included any literature or freebies such as glasses, tasting notes, coasters, openers, etc. Food & Wine / Mohamed Sadek Final Verdict Beer subscription clubs provide a convenient way for serious beer fans to dig deeper into brews of all kinds, from regional craft beers to international expressions. The Original Craft Beer Club is our top pick, because it goes the extra mile to give you information about each of the beers, including how to best enjoy them with food. If you're into beer, this service provides the perfect blend of enjoyment and education. Food & Wine / Mohamed Sadek Compare the Best Beer Subscription Boxes Company Starting Price Free Shipping? Products Per Delivery Delivery Area Gift Option? The Original Craft Beer Club Best Overall $47.95/month No 12 or 24 51 states Yes The Microbrewed Beer of the Month Club Best for Gifting $35.95/month No 12 43 states Yes Beer of the Month Club Best Value $109.90/two deliveries Yes 12 Not disclosed Yes Beer Drop Best Variety $33/month No 10 Not disclosed Yes Tavour Best for Local Beers $55/month Yes 6 or 12 47 states Yes Half Time Beverage Best for International Beers $52.50/month Yes 12 33 states Yes Craft Beer Kings Best for IPAs $49.99/month Yes (with subscription) 6 or 12 48 states Yes What Is a Beer Subscription Box? A beer subscription box ships a selection of beer bottles or cans directly to your address at a set period of time. The number of bottles you'll receive depends on the service you join. Some boxes feature a specific style of beer such as an IPA or a stout. Others may feature a mix of different beer styles. Are Beer of the Month Clubs Worth It? Beer of the month clubs offer the convenience of enjoying beer without having to go to the liquor store. And, more importantly, they often give you access to beers that may otherwise be unavailable in your area. Some clubs may also offer special release or limited-edition selections that you've never tried before. If you're a beer savant, treating yourself to a beer of the month club can be a worthwhile investment. How Much Do Beer Subscription Boxes Cost? The average price of a beer subscription box is roughly $50 a month. However, there are several factors that can determine the specific price of a beer subscription box, including frequency of shipment, the amount of beers per delivery, and even the style of beer. Some services offer multiple subscription options that feature either tiered or box-specific prices. What Is the Difference Between a Craft Beer and a Microbrew? Craft beer comes from independently-owned craft brewers, which produce 2 million gallons or less of beer per year. Microbrews, on the other hand, come from microbreweries, which produce substantially less beer than their craft brewing counterparts. In order to be a microbrewery, the facility cannot produce more than 15,000 barrels of beer per year. Methodology We looked at dozens of beer subscription services to determine our final list. Our decisions were based on several key metrics that beer aficionados would consider important. These metrics include product range, product quality, price, and access to regional or limited edition beers. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! 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