My dad and I have been known to enjoy a beer together on occasion. This was probably one of those occasions.

The first sip of beer I ever had was from my dad’s can of Hemeling. I’d better not say how old I was, but I think that particular beer was discontinued in the mid 80s. I took a while for me to become a hophead (and I’m still trying to convert my dad to the joys of an imperial IPA) but he certainly gave me an early headstart in the beer world. And I imagine your dad probably gave you your first sip of beer too. So this Father’s Day (it’s coming up on Sunday, June 21st if you’re not sure) why not buy your dad the gift he deserves – the gift of beer. Here are five awesome beer gifts to get your dad this weekend.

For the sociable dad

As long as pa doesn’t mind waiting a week, make him a voucher and take him to the annual Solstice Festival. Beers from 25 breweries, live music, plenty of nosh and a branded beer mug that he can keep forever to reminid him his children give awesome gifts.

Where? Broederstroom

How much? R120

Not in easy reach of Broederstroom? Give your dad an IOU for Hop ‘n’ Vine, the Craft Beer Project’s boutique beer and wine festival that is finally making a comeback in Cape Town in July.

Swap these cocktails for beers and enjoy the view from the 12 Apostles

For the fancy dad

Tell him to get his glad rags on and get down to the 12 Apostles Hotel for their new beer and food pairing experience, where five elaborate canapes come with four beers and a craft cider.

Where? Cape Town

How much? R175

Not feeling fancy? Take your dad to a beer-centric bar for a taster tray and a burger instead – try Banana Jam in Cape Town, Unity Bar in Durban or Beerhouse in Jo’burg.

For the dad who likes to beer surprised

Time is running out to order a League of Beers mixed case, but if you order like, right now, you’ll find you have just enough time to rush a Wild Card Mixed Case to your old man. It’s the perfect gift if you don’t know much about beer but would like to get your dad a cool beer gift. Choose from a case of six, 12 or, if you really love your dad, 24 mystery beers – it’ll be just as exciting for you since you won’t actually know what you’ve bought him until they arrive…

Where? If you live in a major city in SA you still have enough time.

How much? R250 for six beers, R380 for 12 and R750 for 24.

Want to get your dad the gift that keeps on giving (beer)? Sign him up for League of Beers’ Beer of the Month club and he’ll get a case of 12 beers each month (R399 per month).

Vincent from The Beer Keg, Brendan from Copperlake and Danie from SAB prove that Copperlake’s brew-your-own experience is a blast

For the dad who likes a bit of BIY

If drinking the beer that others have made isn’t enough, why not get your dad the gift of brewing? Not just your dad actually – you’ll need to get nine other dads (or at least nine other beer lovers) along to enjoy Copperlake Breweries’ Brew Your Own experience. You spend a full brew day (seven hours) with Copperlake’s founder Brendan, then three weeks later, return to sample their brew – 25 litres of it on tap and a further 25 litres to take home in bottles. Plus your dad can take his mates to Copperlake’s new brewpub to boast that the beer he helped brew is now on tap at a pub. If your dad loves beer but not so much the brewing side, Copperlake are also offering bottomless beer to dads who have booked for father’s day. Contact the brewpub for more information.

Where? Copperlake Breweries, Johannesburg

How much? R500 per person.

A great gift doesn’t have to cost anything – if a brewday is out of your price range, how about taking your dad to a meeting of his local homebrewing club – the SouthYeasters in Cape Town, Wort Hogs in Gauteng or the East Coast Brewers in Durban and Pietermaritzburg. He’ll get to talk beer, taste beer and of chat to others to learn how to make beer.

For the true brewer dad

This daddy brewed this beer himself…and he can teach you to do the same!!

If your papa already brews his own and wants to learn more, club together with your siblings and buy him an awesome three-day advanced brewing course in Cape Town (August 21st-23rd) . Brewing Beyond the Basics will feature guest speakers from local breweries and cover everything from ingredients and the brewing process to red tape, licencing, marketing and opening a brewpub. Plus there’ll be plenty of beer and food.

Where? Cape Town

How much? The three-day course is R1650

Not in Cape Town? Why not send your dad to Beer Boot Camp in Johannesburg? The day-long brew indaba includes John Palmer as the key-note speaker.

So, what was the first beer you shared with your dad? Tell us what an awesome dad you have – and what you’re getting him for Father’s Day.