So far, each month I've been recommending one drink or occasionally two, that I've been particularly impressed with. This month, I'm doing something different.
According to recent data from the Office of National Statistics, the average age of a first-time father in the UK is now 33.6 years old. This overlaps perfectly with the opportunity in online alcohol retailing. IBISWorld (2022) estimates that of the online alcoholic market, people aged 26-40 make up the greatest share of revenue at 37.5%, followed closely by people aged 41-60 years old. These two age groups are very likely to include many beer-loving dads. So how about a range of beer boxes, filled with their favourite styles of beer, catered to different tastes and profiles?
Beer Dad is a modern, online beer boutique for dads who love beer and those who want to buy beer gifts for them. The company was founded in 2021 and launched on May 6th 2022 by Jamie Percival, a beer judge, consultant, educator and sommelier and member of the British Guild of Beer Writers.
After the birth of his first son, Jamie was motivated by a desire to bring together two of his passions - fatherhood and beer. With an insatiable knowledge and thirst for the best beers available, in bottle and can, from across the globe, he knew he had to do something. Beer Dads across the UK needed better options!
"Beer Dad was started over 10 years ago, but only in my head", explains Jamie. "It never had a name or a sense of place, but I knew I wanted to create something that involved high quality beers using all the skills I have learnt. When my son Johnny was born in February 2021, my motivations changed and I knew I should create something he might be proud of one day.
That year, my wife wanted to buy me a box of great beer for Father's Day. She struggled with finding something that looked great, had a good selection of beers and was easy to choose. Right there I found a reason to start the business. We wanted to make it easy to buy beer for those you love. The boxes are named after [different] types of drinkers and filled with beers they prefer to drink. The name Beer Dad is not only a fun take on my personality and identity, but it tells you who our audience are as well."
Jamie Percival
Jamie also recognised the projected growth in online alcohol retailing, the ever-growing popularity of craft beer and an increasingly discerning customer base looking for both personalisation and a sustainable approach.
Beer Dad sources high quality beers personalised to different types of dads, occasions and tastes. The focus is on going beyond the stereotypical 'Beers for Him' boxes and making the online shopping experience as easy as possible. Beer Dad has removed delivery costs and customers choose the courier from DPD Local, Royal Mail, Yodel and DHL.
Each box contains 12 different beers selected to match the type of dad. You can also shop in the Pick 'n' Mix or Merch/Apparel section and all deliveries are free of charge to the UK mainland.
Beer Dad provides this service while also being responsible. All of the packaging, printed in the UK and 100% plastic free, is sourced from freckl., using non-toxic inks plus 100% recyclable and compostable cardboard and paper. All apparel is from Continental Clothing Co. who are leaders in Fairtrade and responsibly sourced, sustainable clothing. Also 1% of all Beer Dad sales goes to Great Ormond Street Hospital.
There are four different Beer Dad boxes:-
There are also two subscription options, delivering a high quality range of 12 different beers each month for £46.50 (Craft Subscription) or £45.10 (Old Fashioned Subscription) per month.
My choice for December's 'Tipple of the Month', perfect for the festive season, is the Craft Beer Dad Box.
This is an imaginative range of good quality craft beers that hit the flavour button hard! There's an interesting mix of styles and ABV levels with plenty of beer awards among them.
The current box contains the following beers:-
A fine example of a traditional, unsweetened, unfiltered and unpasteurised spontaneous fermentation Lambic style, aged in oak casks, which delivers a complex array of fruit, wood, spice and funky notes.
Gentle and balanced, Helles is soft, bready and floral. There are fewer finer examples of a refreshing UK-brewed Helles currently available.
A new world pale ale, dry-hopped with Australian Cascade and Citra. Its restrained bitterness and dry finish help maintain Pintle as an all day, easy-drinking brew.
Deep, dark red in colour, this multi-award winning beer has a soft fruity aroma with hints of almond and mildly sour cherries, while the palate has a sweet and sour, fruity character.
Big juicy, tropical fruit flavours and a soft, subtle bitterness on the finish.
A delightful dry-hopped, gluten-free beer with bright tangerine and grapefruit aromas and a subtle piney bitterness.
This dry-hopped beer takes its cues from the classic American West Coast IPA, delivering a light citrus hop aroma, plenty of malt character and a pronounced bitter backbone.
A stunning example of modern craft brewing, which won Gold at the European Beer Challenge 2021, this Pale Ale which combines aromatic American hops with soft fruit purée, is supremely well-balanced with juicy tropical fruit flavours and low bitterness.
Awarded CAMRA Supreme Champion Beer of Britain 2018, this indulgence of chocolate and specialty malts, brewed with milk sugar for balance and mouthfeel, along with carefully selected espresso from London's Climpson & Sons, is smooth, unctuous and moreish.
A unique style, brewed with 100% hops from Poperinge, this full-bodied, aromatic golden ale delivers refreshing citrus flavour with a sweet honeyed, hoppy and spicy finish.
Winner of Brewer's Choice Awards Beer of the Year 2021, this crisp, refreshing Helles Lager uses the traditional decoction mash method, which highlights the malt character and adds an extra depth of flavour.
Awarded Double Gold at the European Beer Challenge 2021, this vegan, gluten-free beer is an exceptional example of a German Pilsner with a delightful citrus and grassy hop character.
So what does Jamie think of the current state of the craft beer market and its future prospects?
"We are still showing great signs of creativity", he says "with some high-quality products being brewed all year round. More people enjoy these forward-flavoured brews than ever before and, with supermarkets taking on larger portfolios, the future looks strong. There are, however, brands that might not belong in this craft market, not only because their liquids do not meet expectation, but also their messaging does not naturally suit the craft profile. At the end of the day, great beer deserves to win above everything else and, since there is more of that around than ever before, I am a very happy Beer Dad!"
Although called Craft Beer Dad, this box - and the others - will appeal to many beer fans, regardless of gender. So, if you're looking to treat yourself or need some inspiration for that perfect birthday or festive season gift for the beer lover in your life, then check out Beer Dad. Cheers!
