The Original Craft Beer Club sends craft brews from around the country. Each month, they send a selection of different beers and information about the breweries behind them.
If you sign up for an ongoing subscription (as opposed to a single month), you’ll receive a bottle opener and tasting glasses with your first box. Hop over to this review for details on these welcome gifts.
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
About The Original Craft Beer Club
The Subscription Box: The Craft Beer Club
The Cost: $42 per month for 12 bottles or $80 for 24 bottles
ACTIVE DEAL: Receive 3 bonus gifts with your first shipment! No coupon needed - just use this link.
The Products: Craft beers from breweries around the U.S. Each shipment contains 4 different styles (3 or 6 of each kind, depending on the subscription).
Ships to: U.S. Shipping is free, except for orders to HI and AK.
The Original Craft Beer Club August 2018 Review
There are two info sheets in this box—one for each region represented. The first one covers the Pennsylvanian beers, while the second talks about the Texan brews in the box. I like how they include a recipe to pair with the beers from each state!
There were also some coasters in the box. They're just paper/cardboard, so they may not have as much staying power as the fabric ones I keep by our coffee table, but in my experience, there's no such thing as having too many coasters. These will be handy when we have folks over for a party.
The last bits of ephemera in the box are a promo card for Mantry and a welcome card from the subscription company. Check out our Mantry reviews to learn more!
Fools Gold Peanut Butter Hefeweizen by Rusty Rail Brewing Company
Let's cover the two Pennsylvanian beers first. I was SUPER curious about this first beer. I'm not opposed to richer, almost desserty flavors (chocolate, coffee, etc.) appearing in darker beers, but I was unfamiliar with the idea of something like peanut butter appearing in the profile of a lighter beer like a Hefeweizen. The peanut butter flavor is unmissable—it's unique, for sure. I usually reach for wheat beers when I want something crisp and refreshing, and I'm not sure the savory peanut butter note adds to that experience for me. So it's maybe not my fave, but I did find it fun to try.
Blue Collar Blonde Ale by Rusty Rail Brewing Company
I'm not wild about the label on this one (personally, it feels kind of tacky...) but the flavor of this blonde ale is very nice. It's more of the smooth, refreshing kind of wheat beer that I would buy for myself. I'm not the biggest fan of hops, so I like that there isn't any hoppiness to contend with here. It's actually a nice, classy beer.
Alamo Amber Lager by Alamo Beer Company
Here's another deliciously refreshing, non-hoppy beer! This beer tasted a little richer in flavor than the blonde. It's the kind of thing I could see pulling out of a cooler at a backyard party. It's friendly, familiar, and just flavorful enough without getting in your face. A true crowdpleaser.
India Pale Ale by Alamo Brewing Company
While hoppy beers like this IPA aren't my favorite, I do appreciate that they included some in this mix of bottles. (My partner is a fan of IPAs now and then, so I suspect he'll drink these!) It's a bit too bitter for my tastes, but there's a hint of lemony freshness that I could see being appealing on a hot late summer night.
Verdict: I liked getting to know small breweries and their beers via this service! Even if the flavors weren't my cup of tea (er... beer, I guess) I appreciated that the brands were something I couldn't find at my local distributor. I also like that there are recipes and food pairings for each bottle, too. I'm not suuuper well-versed in beer, so it's nice to know the kinds of things that will bring out the best in these brews. I'm dog-earing this subscription box as a potential holiday gift for some beer-loving couples I know!
To Wrap Up:
Can I still get this box if I sign up today? From The Craft Beer Club:
If the option selected at checkout is “ASAP”, we strive to have the first delivery arrive within 10-15 business days (M-F), so long as there aren’t any issues with the payment or delivery address.
If you choose a specific month as the "start month", the purchase will be charged to your credit card during the first week of the desired start month, and will arrive within 10-15 business days thereafter.
All subsequent craft beer shipments in a gift series will be processed in the middle of the month and will go out for delivery the final two weeks of each month, depending on your location relative to our shipping facility. Shipments can arrive as early as the 16th, and as late as the 30th. We do not guarantee specific delivery days of the week, calender dates, or charge dates. We do try to process your order and time your deliveries to arrive around the same time of the month.
ACTIVE DEAL: Receive 3 bonus gifts with your first shipment! No coupon needed - just use this link.
Value Breakdown: This box costs $42 + free shipping, which means that each of the 12 beers in the box has an average cost of $3.50.
Check out all of our The Craft Beer Club reviews and visit the Drink Subscription Box Directory for more boozy boxes!
Keep Track of Your Subscriptions: Add this box to your subscription list or wishlist!
Have you tried any of the beers featured in this month’s The Craft Beer Club?
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