Friends!
The time has come to dust off your holiday hangovers and get ready for the annual **Secret Drunken Santa Beer Exchange**! Back by popular demand, this tradition brings all the joy of gifting and receiving incredible beers with a dash of mystery. Inspired by The Fellowship of the Drink (FotD), this is your chance to make someone’s doorstep a little brighter—and boozier—this winter. Here’s how it’ll all go down:
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Important Dates:
Now - Dec 27th:
Sign up! Post in this thread that you’re in, and don’t forget to **send me a PM** with the template below.
Dec 27th (ish):
I’ll email you your giftee’s details. This is where the fun begins.
Jan 15th - Jan 24th:
Shipping window! Pack up your box and send them to your giftee.
Jan 31st (ish):
The grand reveal! I’ll post the list of Santas and giftees for everyone to toast their matches.
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How It Works:
Think of it as Christmas 2.0:
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What’s in the Box?
Your gift should include:
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To Join In:
Send me a PM with the following template:
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FAQ:
1. Can I join after Dec 27th?
Probably not. Once I hit "send" on the emails, adding a new participant causes a fair bit of disruption. Make sure you reach out to me immediately if you decide to join near the deadline, and I'll let you know if it can be done.
2. Why the late shipping schedule?
Santa’s been busy—and maybe had a few too many. Seriously though -- the holidays are stressful, and there's no need to add one more thing to the mix. This schedule lets us avoid the chaos of holiday shipping and ensures no sleighs drop your box at the North Pole.
3. Do I have to follow my giftee’s preferences?
Not necessarily! Preferences are just a guideline. I haven't had a barleywine I've liked, but that may just be that I've not had the right one. Send what you think your giftee will like.
4. What if I need to drop out?
Life happens. Just let me know as soon as possible. After Dec 27th, dropouts are more disruptive, but we’ll figure something out.
5. What's with the box size limit?
This isn't a standard FotD round where you know who you're selecting, and who is selecting you. There should be no pressure to send a porch bomb resulting from the anonymity. The goal is to swap some good beer and have fun - not to clear out your cellar. Save that for the next FotD!
6. Are you (Thorrak) participating?
Yes! Through the combined magic of Microsoft Excel, drinking before sending the emails, and having the memory of a goldfish, I've been able to avoid spoiling my Santa for the past several years, and expect to be able to do the same this year as well.
---
Rules & Participation Guidelines:
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Questions? Ask away! Let’s make this year’s Secret Drunken Santa the best one yet. Cheers!
The time has come to dust off your holiday hangovers and get ready for the annual **Secret Drunken Santa Beer Exchange**! Back by popular demand, this tradition brings all the joy of gifting and receiving incredible beers with a dash of mystery. Inspired by The Fellowship of the Drink (FotD), this is your chance to make someone’s doorstep a little brighter—and boozier—this winter. Here’s how it’ll all go down:
---
Important Dates:
Now - Dec 27th:
Sign up! Post in this thread that you’re in, and don’t forget to **send me a PM** with the template below.
Dec 27th (ish):
I’ll email you your giftee’s details. This is where the fun begins.
Jan 15th - Jan 24th:
Shipping window! Pack up your box and send them to your giftee.
Jan 31st (ish):
The grand reveal! I’ll post the list of Santas and giftees for everyone to toast their matches.
---
How It Works:
Think of it as Christmas 2.0:
- You sign up.
- You’re assigned as "Santa" for someone in the swap, and are sent their information.
- You pack up a box of beery goodness and ship it off.
- A few days later, magic happens — beer appears on your doorstep from your own Santa!
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What’s in the Box?
Your gift should include:
- Up to 128 fl.oz. of beer. That could mean four 32-oz crowlers, a variety pack of cans, a couple bombers, or one gallon of Grade D hooch. Be creative within the limit!
- One non-beer item. Maybe a t-shirt, a hat, glassware, a tap handle, or even some weird beer-themed socks. Anything fun that you think your giftee would love (or at least be amused by)!
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To Join In:
Send me a PM with the following template:
- HBT Username:
- Email Address:
- Name & Shipping Address:
- Beer Preferences/Dislikes: (What should your Santa know about your taste?)
- Availability: Can you receive beer anytime between Jan 16-Feb 1? (If not, let me know specific dates.)
- Optional: T-shirt size (or let me know if t-shirts aren’t your thing).
---
FAQ:
1. Can I join after Dec 27th?
Probably not. Once I hit "send" on the emails, adding a new participant causes a fair bit of disruption. Make sure you reach out to me immediately if you decide to join near the deadline, and I'll let you know if it can be done.
2. Why the late shipping schedule?
Santa’s been busy—and maybe had a few too many. Seriously though -- the holidays are stressful, and there's no need to add one more thing to the mix. This schedule lets us avoid the chaos of holiday shipping and ensures no sleighs drop your box at the North Pole.
3. Do I have to follow my giftee’s preferences?
Not necessarily! Preferences are just a guideline. I haven't had a barleywine I've liked, but that may just be that I've not had the right one. Send what you think your giftee will like.
4. What if I need to drop out?
Life happens. Just let me know as soon as possible. After Dec 27th, dropouts are more disruptive, but we’ll figure something out.
5. What's with the box size limit?
This isn't a standard FotD round where you know who you're selecting, and who is selecting you. There should be no pressure to send a porch bomb resulting from the anonymity. The goal is to swap some good beer and have fun - not to clear out your cellar. Save that for the next FotD!
6. Are you (Thorrak) participating?
Yes! Through the combined magic of Microsoft Excel, drinking before sending the emails, and having the memory of a goldfish, I've been able to avoid spoiling my Santa for the past several years, and expect to be able to do the same this year as well.
---
Rules & Participation Guidelines:
- Must be in the Continental US.
- Must be of legal drinking age.
- Must be an active HomeBrewTalk member for at least 6 months, with recent posts, prior (successful!) participation in beer swaps, or a vouch from a previous FotD participant.
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Questions? Ask away! Let’s make this year’s Secret Drunken Santa the best one yet. Cheers!
