The Beer Bible

by Jeff Alworth

Overview

“The only book you need to understand the world’s most popular beverage. I swear on a stack of these, it’s a thumping good read.”––John Holl, editor of All About Beer Magazine and author of The American Craft Beer Cookbook
 
Imagine sitting in your favorite pub with a friend who happens to be a world-class expert on beer. That’s this book.
 
It covers the history: how we got from gruel-beer to black IPA in 10,000 years. The alchemy: malts, grains, and the miracle of hops. The variety: dozens of styles and hundreds of recommended brews (including suggestions based on your taste preferences), divided into four sections––Ales, Wheat Beers, Lagers, and Tart and Wild Ales––and all described in mouthwatering detail. The curiosity: how to read a Belgian label; the talk of two Budweisers; porter, the first superstyle; and what, exactly, a lager is. The pleasure. Because you don’t merely taste beer, you experience it.

Winner of a 2016 IACP Award 

“Covers a lot of ground, from beer styles and brewing methods to drinking culture past and present. There’s something for beer novices and beer geeks alike.”––Ken Grossman, founder, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
 
“Erudite, encyclopedic, and enormously entertaining aren’t words you normally associate with beer, but The Beer Bible is no ordinary beer book. As scinitillating, diverse, and refreshing as man’s oldest alcoholic beverage itself.”––Steve Raichlen, author of Project Smoke and How to Grill

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780761168119
Publisher:	Workman Publishing Company, Inc.
Publication date:	08/11/2015
Pages:	656
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.40(d)

About the Author

Jeff Alworth is a writer living in Portland, Oregon. He writes about beer, cider, and occasionally, politics. His books include: The Beer Bible (Workman), The Widmer Way (Ooligan), The Secrets of Master Brewers (Storey), and Cider Made Simple (Chronicle). His books have twice been cited by the North American Guild of Beer Writers as Best Book, and in 2016 The Beer Bible was named best wine, spirits, or beer book by the International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP). He also co-hosts the Beervana Podcast, where he and Oregon State University economics professor Patrick Emerson discuss beer and the economics of beer. Jeff regularly gives educational speeches, guided tastings, and corporate presentations, and teaches courses about cider and beer.
 

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments v

How to Use This Book ix

Part 1 Knowing Beer 1

Finding Your Bearings 2

From Gruel-Beer to Black IPA in 10,000 Years 11

How Beer Is Made 32

Tasting Beer Like a Brewer 58

Part 2 Ales 75

Bitters 78

Pale Ales 96

India Pale Ales 105

Mild Ales 122

Brown Ales 131

Porters and Stouts 140

American Ales 166

Barley Wines and Old Ales 191

American Strong Ales: Double or Triple IPAs 205

Scottish Ales 213

Ales of the Rhine: Kölsch and Altbier 229

Belgian Ales 243

Saisons and Rustic Belgian Ales 263

French Ales 281

Abbey and Trappist Ales 297

The Beers of Italy 318

Fresh-Hop Ales 332

Lesser-Known and Emerging Styles 338

Traditional Regional Ales 353

Part 3 Wheat Beers 361

German Weizen 364

Belgian Witbier 378

Tart German Wheat Ales: Berliner Weisse and Gose 389

Part 4 Lagers 399

Dark Lagers: Dunkel, Schwarzbier, and Czech Tmavé 402

Czech Lagers 414

Pale Lagers: Pilsner, Helles, and Dortmund Export 416

Amber Lagers: Märzen and Vienna Lager 438

Bocks 449

Mass-Market Lagers 464

Lesser-Known Lagers 474

Part 5 Tart and Wild Ales 491

The Lambic Family 494

The Tart Ales of Flanders 514

Wild Ales 528

Part 6 Enjoying Beer 541

Serving and Storing Beer 543

Pairing Beer with Food 554

At the Pub 563

Beer Tourism 576

Appendixes 595

Glossary 596

Style Origin Maps 602

Hop Varieties at a Glance 606

Bibliography 614

Tours and Interviews 617

Index 619

Credits 643

About the Author 644

Editorial Reviews

… a box of treats… It’s a delight to find a book about beer that covers the subject in such breadth and depth at the same time as making it seem fresh and new again” – Pete Brown, All About Beer

“A must-read.” – Craft Beer & Brewing

“Jeff Alworth has an impressive track record as a leading exponent of the global craft beer movement… this tome will educate and leave you thirsty for a cold one”  – Book Page

“a tome worthy of its name” – Food+Wine.com

“Beer enthusiasts will welcome this guide that feels like one is spending time with a well-versed drinking pal” – Library Journal

“The Beer Bible endows beer lovers with the same incredible depth and scope of information that Karen MacNeil’s The Wine Bible gave to enophiles” – Tasting Panel Magazine
 

From the Publisher

08/01/2015
Alworth (Beer Tasting Quick Reference Guide; beervana.blogspot.com) sets out to create a comprehensive guide similar to Karen MacNeil's The Wine Bible. Both books are meant to be read in pieces and are intended for anyone from novice to connoisseur. While MacNeil focused on looking at wine through place of origin, Alworth prefers to explore the world of beer through brewing styles. Of course, when talking about beer, some places are considered traditional brewing regions, and drinks from breweries in Germany and the UK are well represented, as are many American craft breweries. The author also discusses less famous brewing regions, such as the Czech Republic and Belgium and even devotes space to brewing traditions in Asia and Africa. Additionally, Alworth goes beyond brewing style, writing about such topics as drinking glass shapes, beer labels, and the simple pleasures of a well-made beverage. VERDICT Beer enthusiasts will welcome this guide that feels like one is spending time with a well-versed drinking pal.—Ginny Wolter, Toledo-Lucas Cty. P.L.

Library Journal