Can't Think of What to Buy Them? (Personalbeer.co.uk)

Member Name: Lucille

Product:	Personalbeer.co.uk
Date:	23/04/01 (142 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Excellent present for the beer lover

Disadvantages: Quite expensive

It was just before Christmas, and I was having my usual nightmare about what to buy for the men in my life. And, as usual the one giving me the most problems was my Dad. I never seem to know what to buy him, and always fall back on t-shirts, socks or toiletries. All very boring!

So when I saw the gifts section on Dooyoo, I had a look to see if I could find some inspiration. There I read an opinion by Redhillmum for The Personal Beer Company. She said that you could buy a crate of beer with your own personalised label on it. This got me thinking, but after a conversation with my Mum about something else Dad needed, I forgot all about it. Until a few weeks ago that is, when I had to start thinking about my second nightmare of the year-his birthday! I found the website (www.personalbeer.co.uk) and had a proper look.

It's a very simple idea but a brilliant one. The Personal Beer Company will supply crates of twelve 500 ml bottles of real ale with your own choice labels in three easy steps. First you choose the artwork for your label. There is a 'gallery' of twelve different pictures that you can choose from. These cover all the usual occasions that the beer maybe for- birthdays, retirement, anniversaries or a new baby. There also ones based on sports and a couple of rather strange ones- a castle and a witch. However if you, like me, want to, you can send your own picture or artwork for the label. When I ordered my beer, you had to pay extra for this, but I've just checked the website and this is now free! I sent a picture of my Dad with my little girl, as the beer will be from her.

Then you select a name for your beer. This can be whatever you like. As the beer is coming from my daughter, I called mine 'Grandad Juice', the name she has given my Dad's favourite drink! Lastly you put down the name of the person the beer is for. It's as easy as that.

A past Branch Chairman of CAMRA has selected the beer,
and according to the leaflet it is 'a superb 4.2% abv beer with a smooth full flavour and aromatic quality'. So it should be enjoyable to drink as well as look at! Prices for the beer are £29.95 per case and £4.95 for delivery. It's not the cheapest present I've ever brought him, but I think it's one of the best, (and probably the one he will enjoy the most!)

I sent off my order on a Monday in plenty of time for my Dad's birthday, and I was expecting to wait the standard twenty-eight days for delivery. So I was very surprised when my order arrived on the Thursday of the same week. The same day I also received a letter from the company returning my photograph and a spare label as a keepsake, which I thought was a nice touch.

I was really impressed with The Personal Beer Company. Not only with their idea and product, but also with how fast they delivered my order. I would certainly use them again. All I have to do now is think of some more people who would like a crate as a birthday present!

**************Update*******************

It was my Dad's birthday last week. He was very pleased with his beer. I'm not sure if he has drunk any of it yet, but I'm sure he will soon!

Summary: