Sure, a glass of wine on the dock as the sun sets is lovely. And happy hour is nothing without a signature cottage cocktail. But the quintessential cottage tipple is, undoubtedly, beer. We’ve assembled the best beer gear around to give you some truly quality quaffing. All you have to bring are the brews.
Magnetic can cooler
We don’t advocate drinking and driving (even on a lawnmower), but if you’re barbecuing and don’t want to risk knocking your drink over when you flip that whole rack of ribs, these are just the ticket. Equipped with a magnetic base and a thick layer of insulation, the corrosion-resistant stainless steel cup holders are just right for a can. More info: Amazon
Beer scoop
Most of the time, a cooler full of ice cold beer means a cooler full of ice—which means ice cold hands. Protect your pinkies with this cooler scoop that works on cans and bottles equally well. Equipped with a bottle opener and a tough edge to help you chip through ice blocks, this is an indispensable tool if you need to enjoy a cold one away from your fridge. More info: After 5
Bottle cap table lamp kit
Chances are you’ve built up quite a collection of bottle caps at the cottage (and if you haven’t, it’s not that hard). And chances are, it’s going to rain at least one day of your cottage odyssey. What better way to commemorate the good times and make the rainy time pass faster than with this table lamp kit that makes good use of your old bottle caps? The light measures 12 inches and uses a standard light bulb. More info: Homewetbar.com
Bud lights
Yes, it’s the worst pun ever, but this bottle-shaped string of lights is a conversation starter, if nothing else. Add a little atmosphere to your deck, kitchen or cottage man-cave with this multi-coloured ten-foot, ten-light string that’s usable inside and out. More info: Boozin' Gear
Make your own
This popular kit from the Brooklyn Beer Shop gives you everything you need to make an artisanal IPA in your own cottage kitchen. Each kit produces a gallon of beer—but brews take a month to process, so start early to enjoy the fruits of your labour while the summer’s still warm. (And if you don’t know an IPA from an ESB, check out their companion book.) More info: Chapters-Indigo
Beer bubble savers
A flat beer is like a flat earth—just wrong. Shaped like bottle caps, these colourful little numbers fit snugly over the mouth of your beer bottle, sealing in the carbonation if you have to—for whatever reason—leave your beer for a bit. Made from food-grade silicone, they fit most standard-sized bottles and are dishwasher safe and reusable. More info: Amazon
Red party cup beer koozies
If you can’t get that darn Toby Keith song out of your head, at least you can keep your beer icy cold while you sing it over and over. And over. These dense foam insulators keeps the heat out and the cool locked in—and keeps your hands dry so you can clean those five-pound bass safely. More info: Boozin' Gear
The perfect pair
Nothing complements a cold beer like a big slab of barbecued meat. Earn your grillmaster stripes with our Summer Grilling cookbook—it’s brimming with insider tips and mouthwatering recipes to help you get your grill on. More info: Cottage Life Store