The holiday season is upon us, and what better way to celebrate than by sharing the unique flavors of Madison with your loved ones? Madison’s vibrant craft beverage scene is a treasure trove of memorable and distinctive gifts for the beverage enthusiast in your life. These gifts not only allow you to support local businesses but also share the flavors and stories of Madison with your friends and family, making this holiday season truly special. From locally-brewed craft beers to artisanal ciders and small-batch spirits, there’s a world of delightful options to explore in Madison.
Read on as Pour Another Round recommends some of the best holiday gift ideas from breweries, cideries and distilleries on the Madison on Tap trail.
CREATE YOUR OWN CRAFT BEER ADVENT CALENDAR
Create a custom advent calendar filled with a selection of craft beers from Madison’s breweries. Grab some to-go beers from The Lone Girl Brewing Company, Giant Jones Brewing Company or Capital Brewery. Each day leading up to Christmas, the beer lover in your life can savor a different, locally-brewed beer, making for a fun and festive gift.
DISTILLERY TASTING EXPERIENCE
Gift your friends or family a unique tasting experience at a local distillery like State Line Distillery or Dancing Goat Distillery in Cambridge. These sessions come with guided tastings, behind-the-scenes tours and the opportunity to sample various spirits. It’s an educational and delicious present for spirit enthusiasts.
CRAFT CIDER SAMPLER
Madison’s cideries are gaining acclaim for their artisanal ciders. Curate a sampler pack featuring a variety of cider styles, from crisp and dry to sweet and fruity. Both Hidden Cave Cidery and The Cider Farm have endless options for cider fans who want to try something unique. It’s a refreshing gift for those who appreciate a different take on traditional holiday beverages.
BREWERY SWAG
Many of Madison’s breweries offer merchandise like branded glassware, shirts, hats and more. Gift a swag bag from your loved one’s favorite brewery or grab up some merch from multiple breweries around the Madison area - showing support and letting your gift recipient proudly represent their favorite spots! Hit up hot spots like Hop Haus Brewing Company in Fitchburg or Verona or one of the Great Dane Pub & Brewing Company locations which are known for having quality merch. Have you been to Grumpy Troll Brew Pub in Mount Horeb? Of course, much of their apparel is splashed with a grumpy troll, which is bound to get some laughs at your gift opening.
MIXOLOGY KIT
For the cocktail aficionados on your list, consider a mixology kit that includes unique local spirits, mixers and essential cocktail-making tools and ingredients. Pair this with a cocktail recipe book for endless inspiration. Old Sugar Distillery has assembled gift boxes for you choosing from the classic brand old fashioned kit to a sampling of their whiskey, rum and liqueur. Many of their gift boxes include a cocktail book! Doundrins Distillery in Cottage Grove has to-go bottles of many of their liqueur varieties to mix up your favorite cocktails - from elderberry to hibiscus to maple syrup to coffee.
BARREL-AGED SPECIALTIES
Breweries and distilleries often release limited edition, barrel-aged versions of their products. These bottles are perfect for collectors and connoisseurs, making for a memorable and sought-after gift. Old Sugar Distillery has assembled a gift box with three whiskeys aged in different brewery barrels including those from MobCraft, Ale Asylum, Pearl Street and Next Door. J Henry & Sons Bourbon in Dane has beautifully-bottled Wisconsin bourbon whiskeys that can be picked up in their farmhouse tasting room or from many liquor stores in the greater Madison area and beyond.
MUG CLUB MEMBERSHIP
Many breweries on the Madison on Tap trail offer mug club memberships to their dedicated guests. Membership benefits can vary but typically include beer discounts in the taproom as well as on to-go purchases and exclusive access to beer releases and merch discounts. Nab a mug club membership from Starkweather Brewing Company and Sunshine Brewing Company for a gift that keeps on giving all year long.
POUR ANOTHER ROUND MERCH
We would be remiss if we didn’t include our own swag as the PERFECT gift for the beer lovers on your list! Stylish Richardson patch hats donning the Pour Another Round logo, soft waffle beanies, comfy t-shirts, stickers, and more. Imagine walking into a brewery rocking a t-shirt or a hat that proudly states you’re here to pour another round! Deck out your beer fridge, water bottle or laptop with fancy Pour Another Round stickers. Don’t miss out on owning a piece of Pour Another Round magic. Visit our online shop and explore merch styles and color choices. Whether you’re a seasoned listener or just discovering us, we’ve got something for you!
Head to pouranotherround.com or wherever you do your very best podcast listening and browse through our 100+ episodes where we talk directly to the beverage makers and founders and understand what’s behind the drinks in our glasses. Send us a note on Facebook, Instagram or X and share with us your explorations on Madison On Tap, where you can earn points and prizes, all while sipping on some delicious beers, ciders and cocktails..
