With less than 4 days until Father’s Day, we thought we’d share with you some of our dad’s favorite beers and wines. If you read our post about Father’s Day gifts, you know we have a really hard time coming up with gift ideas for dad. Whenever we are really pressed for ideas, we usually turn to making a basket up of new beers or wines for him to try. Below you’ll find some of our dad’s favorites:

Wine for a Special Occasion: Bogle Phantom  

If you’re lucky enough to find a bottle of 2011 Bogle Phantom, be sure to pick it up! This wine is released once a year (last year in August). At $21 a bottle, it’s a steal compared to other wines with similar flavor profiles. Phantom is a blend of Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Mourvèdre grapes which is aged for 24 months in American Oak barrels. The end result is a wine with cherry, black pepper, vanilla, and berry notes. It pairs well with steak and other hearty meals as well as dark chocolate.

Everyday Wine: Apothic Red 

Apothic Red is our whole family’s go to red wine. At about $10 a bottle it is super affordable and since it is a blend, you always know what you’re going to get. Apothic Red is made from Zinfandel, Merlot, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes with hints of black cherry, vanilla, and mocha. It pairs well with everything from hamburgers and chicken wings to chocolate desserts.

Current Favorite Beer: Victory Dirtwolf Double IPA

While most double IPAs (and even some regular IPAs) these days are too hoppy even for my dad who is a huge fan of IPAs, Victory Dirtwolf Double IPA does not fall into that category. The mix of four different hops (Citra, Chinook, Simcoe, and Mosaic) that Dirtwolf uses results in a very well balanced IPA that even I can admit is pretty good (which is saying a lot coming from an IPA-hater like me). This beer is perfect for summer since it pairs well with burgers and bbq, but is available all year round.

Everyday Beer: Yard’s Thomas Jefferson Tavern Ale 

If you’re a history buff, then Yard’s Thomas Jefferson Tavern Ale is the beer for you. It was specially developed with the help of a historian to recreate the beer that Thomas Jefferson brewed on Monticello. This golden strong ale is made using rye, honey, and wheat and packs a delicious punch at 8.0% ABV. It’s recommended that you pair Thomas Jefferson Tavern Ale with a hearty meal such as pork chops or roast duck.