CRAFT by Under My Host® Issue No. 15 Classics | Page 92

Stocking stuffers, brilliant hostess gifts, or the antidote to uncomfort-
able silences and pot-stirring relatives who won’t stop talking politics
during your holiday gatherings? All of the above! Keep these cheerful
conversation starters nearby to stave off comfort and joy killers.
Thinking & Drinking’s ($10) a deck full of amusing questions and indie brewery shout
outs. This one doesn’t require drinking or beer knowledge, but you may want to pull
the “Top or Bottom?” card if you want to avoid uncomfortable queries from your Gran,
or not …
This pretty Tabletopics ($25) box is brimming with enough cocktail questions, booze
trivia, and drink recipes to keep the evening rolling all night long.
Best Beers by Steve Beaumont & Tim Webb • $15
“The world is full of beers. You can’t possibly drink them all. So
why waste your time on the mediocre?” Who could argue with
that? And in a world with so much beer, Stephen Beaumont and
Tim Webbs’ pocket guide of 2,000 beers (broken down by coun-
try) just made navigating through all of those suds a whole lot
easier. Keep a copy of Best Beers on you and you’ll never drink
a bad beer again, at home or abroad.
Meehan’s Bartender Manual by Jim Meehan • $40
This is the book that will be on every pro’s and drinks
nerd’s list this year. Jim Meehan’s tome isn’t just a manu-
al for mixing drinks—although it does include 100 cocktail
recipes, the way Meehan makes them—it’s essentially a
how-to to be the best damn bar professional or bar own-
er that you can be. From hospitality to menu planning to
stocking a bar, who better to learn from than this legend?