The rules
- Get 12 friends together — any number works, from 2 to 24; just match the number.
- Each person buys 12 cans or bottles of the same beer.
- Wrap all 12 in matching paper and write your secret number on each.
- At exchange night, hand one to each person. Everyone leaves with 12 different beers.
- Open one number per window — no peeking early.
- Rate it, guess who brought it, then find out at the reveal.
Sample schedules
- 12 weeks: start the first week of October, one beer each week until Christmas.
- 12 weekends: one beer every Friday–Sunday through the fall.
- 12 days: one per day, December 13–24.
The app shuffles the order, so beer #1 isn't necessarily opened first — that keeps the guessing honest.
Works with any number of people and any time period
Twelve is the classic, not a rule. Run it with 4, 6, 8, 16 or 24 people — everyone just brings one beer per person in the group. And it doesn't have to be the twelve weeks before Christmas: do twelve days in December, twelve weekends through the fall, or a countdown to a birthday, wedding or holiday party. You set the start date, the end date and the pace, and the app builds the schedule.
How to choose a good beer
- Go local: a brewery near you that others may not know.
- Pick something seasonal — winter warmers, stouts, spiced ales.
- Mix it up: if everyone brings IPAs, nobody wins. Coordinate styles in the group chat if you like.
- Buy all 12 of the same can so the wrapping hides what's inside.
Wrapping tips
Use plain or matching paper, tape the ends tight, and write your number big with a marker or sticker. Avoid tags that hint at the brewery.
Run it with WrappedDozen
The app hands out secret numbers, builds the schedule, unlocks each beer on time, collects ratings and guesses, and gives the organizer copy-ready messages for the group chat.