DrinkableGifts Blog

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Hop Into Beer: What’s the difference between Hops, Malt, and Barley

There are three things that you can watch forever: how a fire burns, how water flows, and how cold beer is poured into a crystal clear glass.

I mean, can you imagine a world without beer?

A boring Super Bowl finale, dull conversations over a glass of broccoli smoothie, and a movie where the hardworking heroes take a carton of cold, refreshing milk out of the refrigerator. Just imagine it, in a beer-less world there would be no graphic fights at football matches, or the movie The Hangover, along with the entire country of Ireland! (just kidding).

Lucky for the beer geeks! The universe has created endless types of beer. This means beer land is a place where our imagination can run wild!

And if brewing is a whole science, like the art of potions from Potteriana, then let us be your personal Severus Snape, and dive together into the magical world of Beer! Today we will learn the difference between hops, malt, and barley!

Glasses of beer and snacks on the wooden table. Top view.

New Year, New Beer: Beers From Around the World

It’s a curious thing that the inception of beer, quite literally, drove the evolution of humankind and human civilization overall. And no, we don’t have proof of that, but neither do anthropologists, by the way. However, it is perfectly reasonable to believe that we evolved according to the advantages of alcoholic beverages. And with beer being one of the oldest beverages in the world, the influence it still has on modern society is no surprise. 

As earth completes yet another trip around the sun, best believe that humans will once again clink their pints and sing a resounding ‘aah’ at the crisp taste of beer. So, we’re celebrating with a little something we like to call ‘New Beer’s Eve. Read below as we tell you about beers from around the world and how you can make beer a part of your new year’s celebration. 

Beers from around the world in big fridge.

Christmas Cheers: Traditional Christmas Drinks in 10 Countries

It’s fair to say that, thanks to the commercialization of this Christian-based holiday, traditional Christmas drinks now carry a hint of sophistication. But, what if we told you that not too many moons ago, Christmas wasn’t the conservative, family-oriented holiday you know today? What if, instead, it began as a series of wild, uninhibited, and alcohol-fueled parties that consisted of dancing and excessive drinking? 

Well, whether you object to this holiday’s controversial beginnings or not, one thing is certain; our modern Christmas wouldn’t be the celebration we know today without alcohol. And, as history would have it, traditional Christmas drinks now form part of holiday culture all over the world! Of course, the ‘scandalous’ party element has long since taken a back seat. And, for now, family and friends gather to feast and sip on their favorite holiday concoctions. Keep reading to find out more about Christmas drinks in different countries and how you can make the holidays special with drinks! 

traditional christmas drinks with gingerbread cookies and christmas decorations.

Halloween Drinking or The Spirits of Halloween: Ghosts AND Liquor

Halloween Drinking: Cocktail with Spider Embellishment and Fog around the glass. Skeleton hand on the table

Headstones, skeletons, and ghosts OH MY! Should I even mention Halloween drinking with its spooky cocktails and treats?

Halloween is my favorite time of year! As soon as the calendar turns from September to October, I start rolling out the gory fun. First, come the graves, then the ghouls. I even have a BBQ grill set up with sizzling bloody body parts and a skeleton feast all laid out on my front lawn. And, if you’re brave enough to get through that mess, en route to my front door is a shriek-tastic array of motion-censored animatronic characters that jump, scream, and BOO as you pass through the fog and flashing lights. 

In fact, I love Halloween so much that up until recently, I had a gothic Halloween-themed bathroom! No joke, I love all things macabre, but this article isn’t about me and my morbid display of the dead, this is about the holiday itself and the festivities that come with it! So join me on a haunted hayride through the history of Halloween and I’ll tell you all about what really happens behind the mask. 

I Do! Wedding Toasts From Around the World

Pierce Brosnan once said (sang) “Here’s to us, one more toast, and then we’ll pay the bill.” If Mamma Mia wasn’t the world’s favorite musical comfort movie, it would surely be in the running for giving fans the most Pinterest-perfect wedding scene. Set in the picturesque country of Greece, I had to take the opportunity to bring up a musical that I’ve watched countless times. Why? Well, wedding toasts, my dear reader, have origins in ancient Greek culture, among many other cultures, of course. But, we’ll delve into that in a minute. 

Whether we prepare our written sentiments weeks ahead of time, or feel a sudden urge of spontaneity thanks to liquid courage; making a toast is an intrinsic part of any celebration. And, our loved ones being unified in holy matrimony is no exception. But, where did this tradition come from? After doing a little research, I’m happy to say that I have an idea. Read below and get ready to be enlightened on the origins of wedding toasts and how different people raise their glasses across the globe.

Bottles of champagne dressed as a groom and bride.