Celebrate Oktoberfest by Drinking Up Beer Books

The Beer Bible,by Jeff Alworth
Just beginning your beer adventures? bee The Beer Bible is a great place to start. Beer expert and author Jeff Alworth artfully pens the big book of beers and explains all beers—breaking the book up into four sections (ales, lagers, wheat beers, tart & wild ales) and then delving into the taste, process, and history of each brew. Though the book discusses complex subjects, Alworth’s tone is inviting—just like a satisfying pint.

The Complete Beer Course: Boot Camp for Beer Geeks: From Novice to Expert in Twelve Tasting Classes, by Joshua M. Bernstein
Swishing, sniffing, and sipping are usually reserved for wine tastings. But tasting beer can also be quite profound (and much less intimidating). As the title of this book promises, The Complete Beer Course will take readers from newbie to connoisseur in 12 tasting classes. The book is available in hardcover—the beers are sold separately.

Cheese & Beer, by Janet Fletcher
With The Beer Bible and The Complete Beer Course under your belt, it’s now time to take enjoyment of beer to the next level: pairing. Pairing a certain drink with a certain food creates a mix in the mouth that draws particular characteristics out of each. And honestly, which food is better to pair than cheese? After explaining the tenets of pairing, this appetizing book takes on the beautiful task of telling readers exactly which beers to pair with which cheeses.

The American Craft Beer Cookbook: 155 Recipes from Your Favorite Brewpubs and Breweries, by John Holl
Beyond pairing beer with food, cooking with beer can also be a delicious adventure. Prolific food and beer writer John Holl serves up 155 dishes that have been shared by beloved brewpubs and breweries. With recipes like American Wheat Beer Steamed Clams and Chocolate Jefferson Stout Cupcakes, this book is ideal for the beer aficionado and experimental chef alike.

Vintage Beer: A Taster’s Guide to Brews That Improve Over Time, by Patrick Dawson
This book makes a great addition to a veteran beer drinker’s collection. Taking on the cryptic world of aged beer, it discusses what brews make great vintages, how to find them, and what to look for when tasting them. The author even gives a guide to creating a home beer cellar, complete with which beers to buy and the process of how to age beer.

Goodnight Brew: A Parody for Beer People, by Ann E. Briated and Allie Ogg
While this book is a play on the classic children’s story, Goodnight Moon, this parody is intended for a slightly older readers (ideally those 21 and over). It includes clever lines like, “goodnight, wildebeest and yeast”, and playful illustrations like pictures on the wall of ‘chocolate stout’. While it won’t put beer lovers to sleep, it will put them in a good mood. Best when read aloud to a group of beer-loving friends over a pint.
What books are you raising this Oktoberfest?