Who says a six-pack won’t cut the mustard under the tree?

If the past few years of craft beer renaissance have taught us anything, it’s that beer can be every bit as diverse, experimental and joyful as wine. There are few things quite like sipping a game-changing ale for the first time, or discovering a new easy-drinker that instantly becomes your favourite. So, with all that in mind, we think it’s about time we saw beer move out of the realm of last-minute Secret Santa pressies and take its rightful place alongside wine and Champers as a socially acceptable gift for anyone who loves a cold frosty on a summer’s day.

With so many brews to choose from, we thought we’d give you the rundown on nine of our new favourite beers to leave under the tree for your loved ones this festive season. Because who knows? If you’re really lucky, they might let you have one.

A tasty Green Beacon Brewing Co. Guava Cruiser Beer

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1. Green Beacon Brewing Co. Guava Cruiser Beer

The words ‘guava’ and ‘cruiser’ together tend to drum up memories of a very different drink enjoyed at a very different time in life, but as the team at Green Beacon have realised, there’s no reason the moreish sweetness of this tropical fruit can’t be worked into an easy-drinking beer. Enter Green Beacon’s Guava Cruiser Beer. The result, co-created with Vodka Cruiser themselves, is a spritzy sour that balances tartness and sweetness with aplomb.

2. Zytho Brewing Beer Lover’s Collection

Some people don’t just love a particular beer – they love all beers in any shape, size or form. Zytho’s Beer Lover’s Collection is designed for just that kind of person, with a range of five experimental styles and beloved favourites from the NSW brewer to suit any palate, from the Zesty Pale Ale and Tropical Haze to the Velvet Luxe Stout and more.

Latest Zytho Brewing Beer Lover’s Collection

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Fancy Monsuta Okinawa Premium Draft Beer

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3. Monsuta Okinawa Premium Draft

Ostensibly just a little bit fancy but realistically crisp, clean and just generally incredibly enjoyable, Japanese lagers are guaranteed people-pleasers. Okinawa-based brewery Monsuta goes toe-to-toe with the big boys at Asahi and Kirin with their Okinawa Premium Draft – a lager that balances just a sprinkling of floral hops with refreshing malt, something the whole crowd will enjoy.

4. Stone & Wood Hinterland Hazy Pale Ale

It was only a matter of time before Stone & Wood waded into the world of hazy pale ales, and they’ve done so with the kind of approachable finesse we’ve come to expect from the Byron-based brewers. The Hinterland Hazy Pale Ale veers away from the uber-hoppy pale ales that some craft brewers make, instead offering a more balanced, yet still decidedly tropical, drinking experience through the combination of three unique strains of Australian hops. Plus, it’s limited-edition, so there’s no better time to wrap this up and gift it than now.

Deliciou Stone & Wood Hinterland Hazy Pale Ale

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5. Bentspoke Crankshaft IPA

IPAs, with their boozy nature and punchy flavours, always feel like a bit of an extra treat, so why not get your mate the most popular one of all? The Bentspoke Crankshaft IPA came in at number one on the GABS Hottest 100 in 2020 and 2021, and it made it to number three in the latest round in 2022. It’s a podium stalwart for a reason, beloved Australia-wide for its juicy flavours, balanced bitterness and rounded malt. It really is the perfect slow sipper.

6. GOAT Very Enjoyable Beer

What do you get the beer lover who can’t quite make up their mind about their favourite beer? A Very Enjoyable Beer, of course, which in Mountain Goat’s case quite literally does what it says on the tin. Not quite a lager, not quite a pilsner and not quite a pale ale, it caters to lovers of all three with its low bitterness, subtle hops and slight fruitiness. The definition of a safe pair of hands.

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7. Zytho Brewing Tropical Haze

We all have one mate who took a sip of a hazy IPA one day and never looked back. Zytho’s Tropical Haze is designed to quench that never-ending thirst for juicy hop flavours, combining Citra, Amarillo and Mosaic hops to deliver a whack of tropical fruit before balancing things out with clean bitterness.

8. Spice of Life Ginger Beer

Hard ginger beers have a bit of a party reputation, but this delicious mixed six in the Spice of Life pack is proving they can be every bit as complex and varied as their hop-based brethren. These diverse ginger beers from across Australia showcase the breadth of choice in this growing genre, with entries from the likes of Better Beer, Amply’s, and Ginger Resistance.

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9. World Class Beer Collection

While Aussies tend to favour supporting local brewers and drinking local drops, there’s something to be said for rediscovering one’s love of international beers, which is exactly what this World Class Beer Collection of famous lagers is designed to do. Covering some of the most iconic brews from around the globe, it showcases European pilsners, crisp Mexican lagers and some easy-drinking favourites from our mates across the Pacific.