Must Have Things If You're a Total Beer Nerd

If you're as much of a beer nerd as I am, you'll take any excuse to incorporate beer into all aspects of your life. Whether its something to make it easier to drink good beer, something to eat while I drink good beer, something to hold my beer, or something to help me share my craft beer with others, I'm interested in just about any beer-related product I find. These days, there is a plethora of items to help us fit great beer into our lives, so here are ten must have things if you're a total beer nerd like me.

There is no more relaxing experience in the world than enjoying an ice, cold beer in a nice, hot shower. If you've never tried a shower beer before, prepare to have your life changed. While this rubber shower beer holder is by no means a requirement if you're looking to crack open a cold one in the bath, it certainly makes the process a little easier. Wet, soapy hands don't exactly have a ton of traction, so it's good to be able to set your beer down for a moment while you rinse. Try out one of the best shower beer brews while you're at it.

Craft beer enthusiasts are always swapping bottles or mixing and matching them to take to a friend's house. That's why a good travel case like this beer caddy is one of the must have things if you're a total beer nerd. This well-padded canvas case makes it a cinch to transport your favorite barrel aged sour beer or a selection of six different double IPAs so you can carry your brews with you everywhere you go. As an added bonus, this beer caddy comes with a built-in bottle opener, giving you easy access to good beer no matter where you are.

Any well-seasoned beer lover knows that your choice of glass is almost as important as your choice of beer. Any beer tasting experience can be sullied by an inappropriate choice of glassware. If you're not yet familiar with the wide variety of beer/glass pairing options, this beer tasting set is the perfect starter kit. It includes six of the most common types of beer glasses, including a tulip glass, a pilsner glass, and a nonic pint glass. In addition to these glasses, the set comes with six simple but well-designed stainless steel coasters. It's the perfect gift for your favorite beer lover.

By this point, math wizards have already figured out that six glasses and six coasters only adds up to 12 pieces and not the advertised 13. That's because this set comes with a bonus beer tasting guide, complete with tasting instructions, glass instructions, food pairing suggestions, and even the ideal temperature for serving each type of beer.

While the finest small batch beers are best savored on their own, a true beer nerd is also adept at pairing beers with various food dishes. You don't have to be a trained sommelier to know that beer goes with pretzels, but it's nonetheless a great place to start. This kit allows you to flex your culinary chops by providing you all the shelf-stable ingredients needed to make pretzels and a beer cheese dipping sauce. You just need to provide a couple perishable ingredients like milk and butter, then you're on your way to a delicious tavern snack staple. Be sure to pick up some beer for the beer cheese. And also to pair with the pretzels. And also to drink while you prep in the kitchen.

Okay, I'll admit this utensil is quite the unitasker, but it sure does make life easier. I've tried and failed to pour the perfect Black and Tan enough times to know that this tool can actually save valuable time while also upping your presentation game. If you've never had a Black and Tan, it's a delicious concoction of a stout beer (usually Guinness) layered on top of a pale beer (traditionally Bass Ale). Because the layered presentation is key, a special layering tool like this is the best way to get a perfect Black and Tan, every time. By the way, a word of warning: never order a "Black and Tan" in Ireland, where the name has offensive connotations. If you order a "Half and Half," however, they'll be happy to pour you a pint of Bass and Guinness.

There's something special about a big bucket filled with ice and good beer. As a beer lover, nothing makes me happier than sharing a bunch of great beer with my friends, and there's no more appetizing way to do so than in a big bucket with ice. The only problem is that my studio apartment doesn't exactly have space for a big metal bucket that I only use a few times a year. This collapsible silicone bucket is the perfect solution: it looks and acts like a big bucket of beer when I need it to. But when the party's over, I can dump it out, clean it, collapse it, and store it away until I need it again. If your lack of space is inhibiting your love of buckets, this collapsible beverage bin was made for you.

I think any beer lover should try to make their own beer at least once. It gives you a new perspective and a better understanding of the brewing process, which is why a beer brewing kit is one of the must have things if you're a total beer nerd. This kit comes with all the ingredients and equipment you need to brew one gallon of a West Coast Style IPA. That's equivalent to about ten 12oz bottles (not included) of complex, satisfying, ultra small batch beer. Maybe one day you'll even turn the passion into your own brewing company, but if this is your first time brewing beer, it's smart to stick closely to the basic recipe until you get your footing.

One of the worst clichés of college houses is the use of liquor bottles as decoration. There's nothing classy about empty vodka and whiskey bottles lining your countertops. If you want to display your love of alcohol in the form of home décor, there's a better way. This Beer Cap Map allows you to decorate a birchwood cutout of the United States with bottle caps from the beers you've enjoyed. For an extra challenge and excellent conversation starter, make an effort to collect craft beer from different states and put their caps in the map based on what region they're from. It truly is one of the most essential beer gadgets.

A great beer is the perfect accompaniment to an outdoor gathering on a beautiful day. It also invites some issues, however, when you head out into the yard and have no place to put down your beer! This outdoor beer table finally provides a solution to this age-old issue. The simple but elegant design allows you and a friend of your choosing to securely set down your beers to free your hands for other activities. A small bowl in between the beers can be used to store snacks or bottle caps, and a solid bottle opener is affixed to the side. What more can you ask for?

As much as I love drinking beer, I also love using it as an ingredient in cooking. Beer bread and beer batter are common, but when's the last time you had a beer-infused barbecue sauce? Barbecue sauces infused with craft beer are exactly as delicious as they sound, and this set of three unique sauces is a perfect example. The flavors include Sweet & Smokey, Thai Style Sriracha, and Honey Mustard, each of which is infused with ale from a craft beer brewing company in Ohio. These sauces are delicious must have things if you're a total beer nerd or a fan of barbecue.