Box Brew Kits Craft Beer and Homebrewing Blog
The 26 Best Christmas Gifts for Beer Lovers

The 26 Best Christmas Gifts for Beer Lovers

Up here in Boston, the weather is getting colder, and the days are growing shorter. As a craft beer lover and avid homebrewer, there isn’t a time I love more than the winter holidays...and for completely selfish reasons I might add. There are so many amazing gifts that you can purchase for someone in your life that loves beer, so I narrowed it down for you! Sure, it might just be my Christmas wish list...I might even be sending it to my family and girlfriend right now...but for now I’ll just call it the 26 Best Christmas Gifts for Beer Lovers. Cheers!
November 25, 2016 by Bobby Gaglini
5 Pieces of History Every Beer Geek Should Know This Thanksgiving

5 Pieces of History Every Beer Geek Should Know This Thanksgiving

People have been fermenting beverages for thousands of years, and by the early 1600s some were petty good at it. With that in mind, we decided to dig into the history of beer in America--around the time of the first Thanksgiving--to give you a few facts worth sharing with Great Aunt Mable at the table this Thursday.
November 23, 2016 by Michael Langone
Anatomy of a Beer Trend: The New England IPA

Anatomy of a Beer Trend: The New England IPA

It’s tropical, hazy, citrusy and above all, juicy. Over the past few years, the “New England” style IPA has exploded in popularity. We looked at data and interviewed brewers from all over the country to see whether the New England IPA is in fact growing in popularity, and whether everyone is going to hop on the bandwagon.
The 5 Most Underappreciated Craft Beer Styles (And the Breweries that Make Them)

The 5 Most Underappreciated Craft Beer Styles (And the Breweries that Make Them)

With today’s craze of New England IPA’s, Gose’s and Imperial Stouts, we started thinking about the dozens and dozens of other beer styles out there that don't get the love they deserve. And while there is no right or wrong list, in our opinion here are the top 5 underappreciated beer styles brewed in the United States today.
Books on Beer: 6 Brewery Founders’ Thoughts On Business & Entrepreneurship

Books on Beer: 6 Brewery Founders’ Thoughts On Business & Entrepreneurship

Are breweries really the new startups? With well over 4,000 breweries now open in the U.S. and acquisitions by big beer happening regularly, perhaps. But decades ago, well before craft beer was cool (and potentially enormously lucrative), a daring group of homebrewers and beer-lovers started a revolution that changed the world of beer as we know it today.
August 11, 2016 by Michael Langone
The Drama, Irony & Confusion Behind 6 Well-Known Beer Names

The Drama, Irony & Confusion Behind 6 Well-Known Beer Names

A while back, I read Anthony Kiedis’ autobiography. The famed Red Hot Chili Peppers front man described the ups and downs he experienced throughout life. As you might guess, many of the stories shared in the book also came to be the basis for most of the songs the band created.

For instance, that song "Under the Bridge" refers to Kiedis' efforts to enter gang territory under a bridge to purchase drugs.

Knowing the story behind the music made listening to it more enjoyable, and we thought perhaps the same could be said for the stories behind some of our favorite beers. Here are a few.

May 01, 2016 by Michael Langone
DIY Chalkboard Beer Bottle Labels

DIY Chalkboard Beer Bottle Labels

We love seeing the cool and interesting projects some of our customers have created. One of our favorites comes from Ajay, located near Boston, who came up with a great idea for labeling and customizing a 12-pack of cobalt blue bottles – chalkboard paint. It’s a fun, easy way to label your brews, keep track of whose drink belongs to whom, or just to draw some weird pictures. Here’s what you’ll need to get started.
April 21, 2016 by Michael Langone
Cooking With Beer: 10 Spring Recipes Your Taste Buds Will Thank You For

Cooking With Beer: 10 Spring Recipes Your Taste Buds Will Thank You For

Whether people beg you to cook for their parties and cookouts, or you’re clueless in the kitchen, the following recipes are your new best friends. You’ll continue to be the coolest kid in school - and even cooler because you’re adding alcohol to the mix - or you’ll surprise everyone at your next gathering and suddenly more invites will arrive in your inbox.

April 20, 2016 by Michael Langone
Analysis Paralysis: Choosing a Craft Beer in the Digital Age

Analysis Paralysis: Choosing a Craft Beer in the Digital Age

Analysis paralysis: it's the state of overthinking a situation to the point that no action is taken. In today's society, we not only have a sometimes infuriating amount of choices, we've also got all the information in the world at our fingertips. This can make it very difficult to make decisions. If you've ever stood in the store Googling beer reviews for 20 to 30 minutes, walking back and forth like some type of maniac, then you know exactly what we're talking about.

April 04, 2016 by Michael Langone
Your favorite craft beer might not be

Your favorite craft beer might not be "craft beer" (anymore at least)

In 2015, it was reported that there were about 2 brewery openings per day. At the same time, acquisitions by “big beer” are at an all-time high. In an effort to offset any decline in market share, major brands are adding smaller ones to their portfolios—through acquisitions. This is resulting in some interesting discussions around what is and what isn’t a craft brewery.

April 01, 2016 by Michael Langone