beer and/or red wine recommendations?

*Barbie*

I'm looking for some beer or red wine recommendations for H's Christmas present.

I'm looking for higher end or craft beers and wines less than $20/bottle. I'm going to make a quick run to Total Wine tomorrow and make a few 6 packs or buy a few bottles for him.

In terms of beer, he likes it all - normally would drink something like Sam Adams (I get him the seasonal mixes), Yuengling, Shock Top, etc. He really likes trying all of the different Belgian beers as well.

For red wines, normally likes something like chambourcin, pinot noir, zinfindel, shiraz, merlot. Something with some spiciness is good, nothing too sweet. Something that would pair with a nice steak for an early steak and BJ day.

Butter Cookie

FI is a fan of Peroni (beer)

I like Twisted wine, but it's kind of cheap...

PMeg819

If you are going to Total Wine, I'd actually just ask them to make suggestions. I've found there recommendations to be spot on.

baconsmom

We like Blue Moon beer, but I don't know how widespread the distribution is (it's local).

I also like Big House wines - they're around $10 a bottle, and they make a lovely spicy petite syrah that I can drink with almost anything.

*Barbie*

I'll ask around @ Total Wine. Unfortunately I didn't get to go Friday and do some tasting like I had planned. I've gotten some really good (and fairly inexpensive) wines from the tasting.

L_Woods

I'm sure the beer lovers here are sick of hearing me say this but for Belgium style I love love love Alesmith Brewing Co. (I believe it's www.alesmith.com, but that might be wrong, the google will tell you). The Lost Abbey Brewing Co and Port Brewing Co win all kinds of awards and are both killer.

TheDuckis

We like Duvel and Chimay. I'm also a big fan of Delirium Tremens and Three Philosophers, but both of those are a little sweeter. Tremens has a bubblegum aftertaste, and Three Philosophers has a hint of lambic (cherry, I think, but it could be framboise).

I still can't tell the difference between good wine and bad wine, so I'm no help there. 

L_Woods

If he likes Shock Top (made by Budweiser, btw) he'll like Blue Moon.

Schmoopita

DH loves Victory beers. Local, not sure how widespread they are. Hop Devil, Golden Monkey and Whirwind are his favories. Arrogant Bastard Ale is good too. These all pack a little more of a hoppy punch, so if he wants to try something good and a little different, these would work.

I'm a huge fan of the fruit beers, anything Lindemans, but they are sweet.

*Barbie*

thanks for the suggestions - I think he's actually tried most of the beers - he likes the Victory beers and Blue Moon, Delerium, Duvel - he thinks the Lindemans tastes like Juicy Juice, but it's the only beer that I'll drink.