O'Briens Craft Beer Club

What's in the box: A selection of craft beers chosen by O'Briens; the site does not state the number of beers, the styles or the breweries.

O'Briens is a long established Irish wine and drinks retailer with shops around the country. Its website has a Subscriptions section alongside its wine, spirits and beer ranges. The craft beer club is part of that, but the site's front page gives far more space to the O'Briens Wine Club. It also does not explain how the beer subscription works: how many cans or bottles arrive, how often, what it costs, or which breweries are featured. Read the subscription pages carefully before you sign up. On the plus side, the retailer behind the club is a known name. The shop offers next day delivery on orders placed by 5pm, free click and collect, and free delivery on orders over €100. The site does not say whether those terms apply to club deliveries. The beer deals on the homepage lean towards big brands such as Peroni and Moretti, so craft fans should confirm that the club really focuses on independent and Irish brewers. If you already shop at O'Briens, or you like the idea of buying from an established Irish retailer rather than a single brewery, it is worth a look. If you want a clear brewery lineup and tasting notes before you subscribe, a specialist craft beer club may suit you better.