A post this morning from lagerale regarding the book "Notes On A Beermat" reminded me that I've been meaning to start a thread regarding beer books.
I'm curious to know what books about beer & related pursuits are on the shelves of other Bar Towellers. Any books you'd particularily recommend? Or warn others away from?
I'll try and post my own list & thoughts sometime soon, but in the meantime, let's hear from the rest of you.
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Beer Books
Just finished this book:
http://www.manwalksintoapub.com/
Bloody hilarious. A good primer on British Beer history as well and offers and interesting look at how we've come to be the lager obsessed society we are now. Even praises and gets in a few shots at CAMRA as well. This was a great Christmas gift from a buddy and I can't recommend it highly enough.
http://www.manwalksintoapub.com/
Bloody hilarious. A good primer on British Beer history as well and offers and interesting look at how we've come to be the lager obsessed society we are now. Even praises and gets in a few shots at CAMRA as well. This was a great Christmas gift from a buddy and I can't recommend it highly enough.
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old faithful
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There are some great books out there. I have a decent library of them, having started collecting back in the 70's. Recently I threw out a number and kept what I felt were the more important ones.
First, as we see from the various threads, some people are interested to delve into the subject more than others. Some books tend to have more a social and historical bent, which appeals to some and less to others.
Michael Jackson's books on beer are a must for anyone who wants in-depth consumer information but also the larger historical perspective often with bits of social observation thrown in. As Michael Hancock once told me, Jackson's books are "entertaining": beer is the main focus but only a part of the story in a sense. His key books for me are the seminal 1977 World Guide To Beer and the Beer Companion volume of some years ago. The pocketbooks are very good too but he hasn't updated the last one in some years, still that last edition (from early 2000's I think) is well worth having.
In Canada, Steve Beaumont's books are indispensable and benefit in particular from Steve's accurate and lengthy taste notes, he writes some of the best in the business.
Beyond that there is a huge range and new ones coming out all the time. For some, especially a beginner looking to acquire volumes of permanent value, buy anything (basically) Jackson has written on beer and the books Steve Beaumont has authored.
Finally, All About Beer, the U.S. beer magazine, is a great way to keep up to date on mostly U.S. developments. And, it reviews most new beer books of interest so that is a way to learn about new books on beer.
If you join the U.K.-based Campaign for Real Ale, you will get their periodical, What's Brewing. It tends to have a real ale focus and can be a bit strident in my view but its heart is in the right place and it will keep you updated on the beer scene in the U.K.
Gary
First, as we see from the various threads, some people are interested to delve into the subject more than others. Some books tend to have more a social and historical bent, which appeals to some and less to others.
Michael Jackson's books on beer are a must for anyone who wants in-depth consumer information but also the larger historical perspective often with bits of social observation thrown in. As Michael Hancock once told me, Jackson's books are "entertaining": beer is the main focus but only a part of the story in a sense. His key books for me are the seminal 1977 World Guide To Beer and the Beer Companion volume of some years ago. The pocketbooks are very good too but he hasn't updated the last one in some years, still that last edition (from early 2000's I think) is well worth having.
In Canada, Steve Beaumont's books are indispensable and benefit in particular from Steve's accurate and lengthy taste notes, he writes some of the best in the business.
Beyond that there is a huge range and new ones coming out all the time. For some, especially a beginner looking to acquire volumes of permanent value, buy anything (basically) Jackson has written on beer and the books Steve Beaumont has authored.
Finally, All About Beer, the U.S. beer magazine, is a great way to keep up to date on mostly U.S. developments. And, it reviews most new beer books of interest so that is a way to learn about new books on beer.
If you join the U.K.-based Campaign for Real Ale, you will get their periodical, What's Brewing. It tends to have a real ale focus and can be a bit strident in my view but its heart is in the right place and it will keep you updated on the beer scene in the U.K.
Gary
Looking up tupalev's recommendation "Man Walks Into a Pub" I came across the following two books that look interesting, anyone read them?
300 Beers to Try Before You Die
Beer: The Story of the Pint
300 Beers to Try Before You Die
Beer: The Story of the Pint
"Everything's better with monkeys!"
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Man Walks Into A Pub is very good and offers the angle of the ad agency guy because the author used to work in that business. It has a humourous bent but under that guise contains a lot of solid business and other information.
Notes on a Beermat is very good, too, one of my favourites.
The Cornell book pictured is superb, another must, but quite historical in its approach.
Gary
Notes on a Beermat is very good, too, one of my favourites.
The Cornell book pictured is superb, another must, but quite historical in its approach.
Gary
Although he talks about the history of Beer Ads, I didn't get the Ad agency angle from his writing at all (I didn't read his bio, so I didn't know). Comes off more like a guy who likes to drink in good pubs. Saying that he is writing as a former ad agency guy would likely scare a few people off, so I thought I would share my 2 cents.Man Walks Into A Pub is very good and offers the angle of the ad agency guy
A few topics ago, I mentioned the book, "The Brewmaster’s Table: Discovering the Pleasures of Real Beer with Real Food" by Garrett Oliver of Brooklyn Brewery. I still haven't finished it, but I like the author's style and everytime I read a chapter, I feel like drinking whatever style he was describing. What's even better is his passion for pairing great beer with various food styles - something that can turn a good beer and good food into a great experience! Highly recommended....
Lagerale
For those looking to get insight into the craft brewing world would do well to pick-up "Brewing up Business" by Sam Calagione, president of Dogfishead. Its an excellent look at the philosophy behind the company and to the struggles he faced in growing his company. I find it a hilariious read, but that may be because it strikes such a chord with me.
The second book on this subject is the just realeased "Beer School" by Steve Hindy and Tom Potter, founders of Brooklyn Brewing. This book is required reading if you have ever thought of opening your own brewery. Its really terrific.
The second book on this subject is the just realeased "Beer School" by Steve Hindy and Tom Potter, founders of Brooklyn Brewing. This book is required reading if you have ever thought of opening your own brewery. Its really terrific.
"Every day above ground is a good one."
I second the recommendation for Calagione's book, with the caveat that it does tend to lean a bit heavy on the business side of things at times. Great to hear about more about the history of such an interesting company.PRMason wrote:For those looking to get insight into the craft brewing world would do well to pick-up "Brewing up Business" by Sam Calagione, president of Dogfishead. Its an excellent look at the philosophy behind the company and to the struggles he faced in growing his company. I find it a hilariious read, but that may be because it strikes such a chord with me.
The second book on this subject is the just realeased "Beer School" by Steve Hindy and Tom Potter, founders of Brooklyn Brewing. This book is required reading if you have ever thought of opening your own brewery. Its really terrific.
Beaumont's Premium Beer Guide (?) Was very cool as well and was my first intro to a lot of great beers. The Canadian Guide is practically a mandatory read but by virtue of the pace of technology is quickly obsolete as breweries come and go or add products. Hmmm I havent pulled either of those off the shelf in a while.. may have to do that soon.
Cheers,
Jeremy
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I agree that Man Walks Into A Pub is not about the business of selling beer although I got numerous insights into that process from the book in light of the author's background, at least that's how I recall it, but it is indeed a good recent history of English beer and is very interesting and well-written in a light-hearted way. I think he became intrigued by beer as such when he started that job (unlike many of his counterparts around the world unfortunately!).
A book that is frankly about the beer flogging game is Lagerheads, which came out two years ago and last year again in a revised edition. It was written by a National Post business writer. It offers many insights into the world of mass beer but is hardly about beer as such. I counted 4 references to microbreweries in the Index. As late as 2005 they simply didn't rate on the radar screen for a book like this.
It remains an interesting book on the beer advertising and marketing businesses for those interested in that part of the beer world, I wonder if Cass (who is an ad executive) has read it. There are many good stories in it, eg how Pamela Anderson first came to national prominence.
Gary
A book that is frankly about the beer flogging game is Lagerheads, which came out two years ago and last year again in a revised edition. It was written by a National Post business writer. It offers many insights into the world of mass beer but is hardly about beer as such. I counted 4 references to microbreweries in the Index. As late as 2005 they simply didn't rate on the radar screen for a book like this.
It remains an interesting book on the beer advertising and marketing businesses for those interested in that part of the beer world, I wonder if Cass (who is an ad executive) has read it. There are many good stories in it, eg how Pamela Anderson first came to national prominence.
Gary
Most of my books & interest is in homebrewing.
For a good start, I'd recommend:
The Brewmaster's Bible: The Gold Standard for Home Brewers by Stephen Snyder
Dave Miller's Homebrewing Guide: Everything You Need to Know to Make Great-Tasting Beer Paperback by David G. Miller
For some deeper reading & awesome reference:
Designing Great Beers : The Ultimate Guide to Brewing Classic Beer Styles Paperback by Ray Daniels
New Brewing Lager Beer : The Most Comprehensive Book for Home and Microbrewers
by Gregory J. Noonan
For an artsie approach:
Radical Brewing: Recipes, Tales and World-Altering Meditations in a Glass by Randy Mosher
(I read about 20 books before I jumped right into all-grain brewing).
Charlie Papazian's stuff is a good read... I really liked "Brew like a monk", and some of the classic style series stuff is great as well.
Here's the Brewers association recommended reading:
http://www.beertown.org/education/reading.html
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For a good start, I'd recommend:
The Brewmaster's Bible: The Gold Standard for Home Brewers by Stephen Snyder
Dave Miller's Homebrewing Guide: Everything You Need to Know to Make Great-Tasting Beer Paperback by David G. Miller
For some deeper reading & awesome reference:
Designing Great Beers : The Ultimate Guide to Brewing Classic Beer Styles Paperback by Ray Daniels
New Brewing Lager Beer : The Most Comprehensive Book for Home and Microbrewers
by Gregory J. Noonan
For an artsie approach:
Radical Brewing: Recipes, Tales and World-Altering Meditations in a Glass by Randy Mosher
(I read about 20 books before I jumped right into all-grain brewing).
Charlie Papazian's stuff is a good read... I really liked "Brew like a monk", and some of the classic style series stuff is great as well.
Here's the Brewers association recommended reading:
http://www.beertown.org/education/reading.html
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inertiaboy
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Thirded though we've got plenty of time, it's getting the ingredients that's been tough. We should get cracking though so that there'll be some brews for summer.inertiaboy wrote:I'll second that recommendation. I bought this for some bedtime reading and it made me want to start brewing again. Now, just to find the time...
I've got about five or six other brew books scattered about...
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