Rapids Gift Guide for Beer Nuts

When someone you care about is crazy about beer, gift-giving should be a breeze, right? Unfortunately, it's easy to get overwhelmed by all of the options out there - which is why Rapids created this Gift Guide for Beer Nuts. We've chosen a few of our most useful (and popular!) beer smallwares to give you an easy way to pick the best gift for loved one.

Beer Tap Handles

An easy way to enhance their beer dispensing setup is with a themed tap handle! Rapids has more than 60 options to choose from, including an acoustic guitar, a rum-guzzling pirate, a motorcycle-riding hog, a beach babe, and more!

No matter how they've decorated their man cave or she shed, you can find a tap handle that will fit right in!

These tap handles are cast in polyester resin and hand-finished for a unique look. They fit all standard faucets, so you can rest easy about whether or not it will fit your beer fanatic's setup.

Beer Faucets

Perlick faucets are some of the best in the industry. Of the options available, we recommend the forward sealing faucet and the forward sealing flow control faucet. Their stainless steel construction won't pit or tarnish (it also means they can be used to pour wine!), and the forward sealing design eliminates mold and bacteria buildup in the faucet body.

The only difference between the two is the inclusion of a flow control handle. It allows your beer lover to control the speed of the beer coming out of the faucet, which is great if they frequently fill up growlers or beer flights! It also gives them control over how much foam they are pouring, ideal for frosted glasses and an easy fix for finicky beers. Too much foam? Simply dial in a little more restriction right at the faucet. Problem solved.

Beer Line Cleaning Kit

If your beer nut has a beer dispensing system in their basement or man cave, a beer line cleaning kit is en excellent gift idea.

Over time, bacteria, mold, yeast, and other impurities can build up in the system, negatively affecting the taste of their beer! To combat this, they should be cleaning their beer lines either between every keg or once a month, whichever comes first.

This kit has everything they will need to flush their system and have their beer tasting crisp and refreshing again. It includes a jar pump assembly, a gasket to attach the jar pump to the coupling nut, a spanner wrench, a faucet brush, and a small bottle of BLC cleaning solution concentrate.

 

Pouring Accessories

There are a number of pouring accessories that can enhance their beer-drinking experience.

An add-on glass rinser will chill their glasses right before they pour, which will ensure their beer tastes as invigorating as possible. It comes with hardware so they can easily mount it to the side of their counter. Keep in mind, however, that it will need a water line and a drain to function properly.

A growler filler (this one is compatible with both of the Perlick faucets above!) simplifies the filling of growlers, jugs, and bottles. It's made from food-grade vinyl parts, ensuring a long lifespan and easy cleaning.

Another option is flight boards / tasting boards. These make it easy for your beer nut to share their favorite brews with all of their friends and family! All they have to do is pour the beer into several differemt sampler glasses, write the names of the beer below the appropriate glasses, and serve! Choose from a taster caddy, a reclaimed wood board, or a crushed bamboo board. And don't forget the chalkboard pens!

Conversion Kits

Conversion kits are a great way to utilize equipment your beer fanatic already has and help them dispense more beer!

The kegerator conversion kit can be used for modifying their home refrigerator into a basic beer dispenser. They will be able to store their kegs inside the fridge and dispense through the door!

A draft arm conversion kit will let them make their one- or two-faucet beer tower into a two-or three-faucet beer tower. They won't have to worry about cutting or drilling. This kit will work on 3" draft arms, which is the standard size for many beer towers.

If you have any questions about any of these recommendations, please call or chat with one of our experts!