Beer Town: Gift ideas for the beer lover in your life

You can shop at breweries around metro Atlanta, including Monday Night Garage. CONTRIBUTED BY HENRI HOLLIS

You can shop at breweries around metro Atlanta, including Monday Night Garage. CONTRIBUTED BY HENRI HOLLIS

With the holiday season winding down toward the final few weeks, it’s time for the annual Beer Town Gifts for Beer Lovers Guide.

Every year, I always encourage everyone to support Georgia breweries by buying beer lovers what they love most — beer.

This year, that’s easier than ever with the recent and rapid growth of local breweries selling limited-edition, seasonal and one-off beers directly to consumers during special release days and tasting room events.

>> RELATED: The state of beer in Georgia

Some of the places to visit where you can drink beer while you’re shopping include Atlanta Brewing, Burnt Hickory, Creature Comforts, Cherry Street, Monday Night Garage, Orpheus, SweetWater the Woodlands, Three Taverns, Variant, Wild Heaven, and the Wrecking Bar.

And don’t forget, almost every local brewery and brewpub has plenty of merchandise for sale, too — from koozies, glassware and tap handles to sunglasses, socks and sweatshirts.

Beer lovers might appreciate the new book “Drink Beer, Think Beer: Getting to the Bottom of Every Pint” by John Holl. CONTRIBUTED

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Books about beer are always a welcome gift for curious beer lovers and homebrewers. Here are five favorites from 2018:

If you’re looking for something a little more hands-on, or even a little crazy, try these three beer-related gifts:

Igloo Trailmate Journey Cooler — I love coolers. And coolers that can be dragged around without breaking your back are even, well, cooler. At $199, this Amazon's Choice is a splurge. But it's made to haul a ton of beer over rough terrain. Available from amazon.com.

Home Kegerator — Perhaps the ultimate gift for the beer lover in your life, the Kegerator is the original draft beer dispenser. A single tap model starts at around $350 on sale, and can go beyond $1,500 for outdoor triple tap models. Let your budget be your guide to draft beer at your fingertips. Available from kegerator.com.