Maybe it’s time to break in the new Kindle you got for Christmas or get cracking on your resolution to read more in the New Year. Whatever your reason is for book perusal this winter, why not supplement your heroic beer intake by learning more about your favorite beverage? The number of books on craft beer has been steadily growing, with options ranging from beer 101 to growing your own hops to constructing elaborate beer and food pairings. Whatever your niche, there’s a beer book sure to pique your interest.
The basics
“The Complete Beer Course: Boot Camp For Beer Geeks: From Novice to Expert in 12 Tasting Classes” by Joshua M. Bernstein – Regarded as “boot camp” for beer, “Beer Course” is structured as a 12-part program that will transform a beer beginner into a well-versed connoisseur. Better yet, Bernstein offers suggestions for beers to drink while reading. Every book should have that.
“Pocket Beer Guide: The Essential Handbook to the Very Best Beers in the World” by Stephen Beaumont and Tim Webb – Beer journalist Michael Jackson published the original “Pocket Guide” in 1982, attempting to rank and review as many beers as possible from around the globe. Beaumont and Webb carry the torch with the revised “Pocket Beer Guide,” containing snippet reviews of over 3,000 beers.
Homebrewing
“Beer Craft: A Simple Guide to Making Great Beer” by William Bostwick – Some of us live in studio apartments and cannot afford the luxury of installing a 10-barrel brewing system. This is the book for you artisan stove-top brewers; recipes for unique and tasty one-gallon batches. “Beer Craft” is simple and clear, yet also goes in depth with bits of brewing history, as well as tips from the pros over at Sierra Nevada and Stone.
“Sacred and Herbal Healing Beers: The Secrets of Ancient Fermentation” by Stephen Harrod – For anyone interested in herbs, folklore, and homeopathy, this is a super interesting read on brewing with herbs and creating medicinal beers and mead from ingredients like yarrow, juniper, and mugwort.
Culinary
“The American Craft Beer Cookbook: 155 Recipes from your Favorite Brewpubs and Breweries” by John Holl – A compilation of recipes from popular breweries and brewpubs, this book is an essential for the gourmand/beer lover. Full of vivid pictures, as well as stories behind the recipes, Holl will surprise even the most avid craft beer fan with the ingenuity of these recipes, as well as clever pairings.
“Cheese & Beer” by Janet Fletcher – We’re finally starting to branch out from the typical cheese/wine pairings of our parents generation and into the multi-faceted and delicious world of beer and cheese. This well-researched and beautifully photographed book explores how beer and cheese complement each other.
Local
“Beer Lover’s New England” by Norman Miller – A complete guide to New England breweries from Massachusetts beer blogger Norm Miller. This book not only showcases the best brews at each spot, but well-thought out beer vacation itineraries and pub crawls in cities across the northeast.
