American Craft Beer delivers craft beer news and lifestyle 24/7. We view this business as entertainment and we cover it that way. And maybe that’s why we’re constantly being hit up by different media groups asking us to share with our readers about everything from hangover cures and beer-related products to new music, movies, and books….And yes, we get lots and lots of books to review.
And we’ve three completely different kinds of beer books for you this week…
The Beer Bible by Jeff Alworth
There’s an amazing number of craft beer books being released nowadays. But if you’re looking for a primer – something that touches all those beer bases without geeking you out – Jeff Alworth’s The Beer Bible is a smart place to start. This is a big book and at 644 pages Alworth covers a lot of ground. Beer styles and their history – the author takes on over 100 styles and showcases the beers that best define them. Beer tourism, food pairings and the drinking experience itself – Alworth approaches all of these subjects in a manner that’s never elitist and always entertaining. Written with both newbies and the beer savvy in mind The Beer Bible is a beautifully crafted reference book that’s modern, straight-forward and actually fun.
Oh Beautiful Beer: The Evolution of Craft Beer and Design by Harvey Shepard
We believe craft beer is an art form – but that art isn’t just limited to what’s in your glass. The craft beer movement has led to an explosion of new breweries – and beers with labels as artful as what you’re drinking. Inspired by Harvey Shepard’s hugely popular website, Oh Beautiful Beer is a sumptuous, full color collection of the industry’s most brilliant label designs and imaging. As perfect for those who appreciate graphic design as it is for beer lovers , Oh Beautiful Beer presents the evolution of craft beer and design with over 200 pages of well positioned visuals punctuated with “just enough” information about the breweries, the beers, and the artists responsible for giving each beer its vibe.
The Brewer’s Tale: A History of the World According to Beer by William Bostwick
William Bostwick, a beer critic for The Wall Street Journal and an avid homebrewer himself, takes on beer’s storied past in The Brewer’s Tale which debuts in paperback this week. Equal parts travelogue, social history and culinary adventure, Bostwick’s tale takes readers on an unlikely journey, from the dawn of civilization (where he uncovers wild stories and ancient recipes) into today’s world of brewing. Writerly and insanely enthusiastic, The Brewer’s Tale is the ultimate history lesson which follows beer’s legends from Babylon to the pubs of South Boston and is a brilliantly entertaining read.