Category: Beer Books

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Atlas of Beer


NatGeo is adding their touch to beer with their appropriately named Atlas of Beer. What I hope to see in the pages are a focus on the rest of the world because I know that the photos will be great and that the words will add to the tale.

Written by “beer geographers” Nancy Hoalst-Pullen and Mark Patterson, the book will feature maps, history, geography color photos and beer trends. More specifically it will include travel tips which will bookmark “the best breweries, beer festivals, and pubs in each location.”

Lastly, there will be beer recommendations from Garrett Oliver, the famed brewmaster of Brooklyn Brewery,

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A Beer & A Book – IT


I had not read Stephen King’s IT in a long time. IT and its main disguise as Pennywise is not something one forgets though. And with the movie adaptation coming up, I thought it a good time to face down my fear of clowns and re-read the 2nd longest book by the horror writer.

I soon realized that Pennywise is only a cameo player in the travails of The Loser’s Club of Derry. Henry Bower’s and his roving gang of bullies cause more mayhem and broken bones over the course of the book to our heroes. King does a great job of structure with the book. Laying out the events leading to the first major encounter in the 1950’s between Bill, Beverly, Ben, Richie, Mike, Eddie and Stan, interspersed with the special (and deadly) history of the Derry Township that IT had caused. Plus the return of the older versions in the 80’s to do final battle and end the killing once and for all. To weave those threads throughout 1000+ pages of book without the action flagging is a tremendous feat.

Though there are jolts enough in the book, I was more scared by Pet Sematary and The Shining in book form as the ordinary takes evil form as opposed to the hibernating and shape-shifting IT. And considering the age of the kids I was surpirsed that I also didn’t remember the sex scene at the very end of the book. Overall, IT and The Stand work King territory well. There is a reason why they keep wanting to film his books.

For beers, let’s start with Maine’s best known brewery, Allagash and their Ghoulschip Wild Ale. A sour pumpkin ale blend to set the sour mood. Then move on to the Maple Beast from Rockingham Brewery in Derry (New Hampshire). After sitting in a chair reading for so long, you might have achy bones. So finish with Krieky Bones from the BarrelWorks crew of Firestone Walker.

Then make sure to steer clear of the house on Nieboldt Street.

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The Book on Session Beers


Brewers Publications has a new beer book slated for release, Session Beers: Brewing for Flavor and Balance delves into the past, present and future of low ABV beers.

The book is by Jennifer Talley who has a brewing resume that includes Squatters Pub Brewery, Redhook Brewery, Russian River Brewing and Auburn Alehouse. That first citation is a Utah brewery where which means that Talley has had to work under ABV restrictions which is perfect training for writing a book on sessions beers.

If you want to dive into the recipes, development, ingredients and brewing process for the low ABV, then this book will have the information you need

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A Quote & A Beer – August 2017

There are too many great quotes out in the world to counter-act the crazy-ass tweets from SCROTUS. Time to highlight some wise words instead of breathlessly regurgitating nonsense and since this is a beer blog and not an anit-alt right blog, I will also suggest beers to pair with them. (Except for this first one of course)

“I’ll walk where my own nature would be leading:/ It vexes me to choose another guide.”
Emily Bronte

What kind of beer pairs with non-conformity? If I told you, well that would run counter to the advice from Bronte. But without giving a specific beer order to be followed, let me say this. Don’t order the IPA unless it is from a new brewery. Don’t order a barrel-aged bourbon stout: look to a pilsner. Find a hop that nobody is talking about, yet. Look over the whole tap list. If it comes down to it, order blindly. Call out a tap number and see what happens.

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The App-ford Companion to Beer


I have the doorstop sized hardbound Oxford Companion to Beer. It was a lovely Christmas present a few years back. Now, you can easily afford to have a world of beer data at your fingertips with the app version that is sold for a mere $5. You can’t beat that price.

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A Book & A Beer – Dodge City by Tom Clavin


Print the myth. When it comes to the Wild West, that was the standard but Tom Clavin cuts through the show to the facts beneath in his book about the notorious Dodge City.

The focus is squarely on Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson how they policed Kansas and other parts of the West and all of the people that gravitated into their orbit including Wild Bill Hickock, Jesse James, Doc Holliday, Buffalo Bill Cody, John Wesley Hardin, Billy the Kid, and Theodore Roosevelt.

The book is set-up in a vignette style. Chronological from birth to Event A to Event B and because the duo had such an eventful life, you can be excused for feeling exhausted after a while. 3/4 of the way through the book, I was hoping that either would settle down and marry someone other than an “frontier entertainer”. You almost need a flow chart to help manage all the names and shifting positions. Was Bat a Sheriff of a county or the undersheriff. Then next year he was a town marshall or was that Wyatt?

There is a tremendous amount of research here and it does cut away the myths effectively but it does sort of skimp on the city of Dodge itself. I would have liked to known more about it. With Earp and Masterson moving so much, the author follows their exploits and leaves Dodge behind a bit too much.

I did find out some fun facts. Bat Masterson ended up in New York as a sportswriter of all things. Mentoring the golden generation of NY sports journalists. Wyatt’s older brother Virgil is buried in Portland, Oregon which is cool to know.

Beer Wise, gotta find some or trade for some Tallgrass Brewing beers from Manhattan, Kansas. Buffalo Sweat Stout or A Campfire Classic are perfectly suited for a tale of the prairie.

Or you can go bitter and get the Stone Revolver Series. Get it. Revolvers. Gun Play. A bit too on the nose maybe.

Getting really to the point there is a Tombstone Brewing and they have a Little Wyatt beer.

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An Old Cellar


I had hoped to see another archaeological beer collaboration between Dogfish Head and Dr. Patrick McGovern but I guess that a book about past beers (along with home brew recipes) will have to do for now.

Getting to know more of the historical backstory of fermentation should be quite enlightening.

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A Book & A Beer – George Lucas, A Life


http://www.powells.com/book/george-lucas-a-life-9780316257442/2-2

I hesitated a bit in front of the biography of George Lucas by Brian Jay Jones. It is hefty and not due to photos from the sets of Star Wars. This book goes back to the beginning from Modesto through Skywalker Ranch.

Jones starts with Lucas as youngster as the son of a prosperous stationery store owner in Modesto. Reveals his racing car and mechanic roots and his breaks that got him into USC and film school at just the right time to befriend so many people crucial to his films.

It spares no feelings either. Lucas is shown with many warts here. Most notably in his personal relationships. But he is also shown as incredibly tenacious in his business. Willing to spend everything on not just one movie, but then the next and the next. If Star Wars had failed or Empire Strikes Back had not struck such a chord, checks would have come due.

This biography moves by quickly without feeling rushed. Jones could have gone down side alleys easily. But he pushes through so you can learn all manner of details about Lucas. His first marriage, how he interacted with studios, and tidbits about Star Wars.

To drink with this, it would have to be an #independent brewery. Lucas was fiercely protective of what he wanted to do and did not brook interference.

Start with Change Order IPA from Dust Bowl Brewing to get an idea of the area from whence Skywalker came and then move on to try either Holiday in Troy or Space XPA at L.A. Ale Works founded by an USC alum. Then finish with Faction Brewing and their Imperial Stout.

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Traveling in Belgium


I have not been to 1 of the 11 Trappist breweries around the world but I can sorta go through the new book Trappist Beer Travels, by Caroline Wallace, Sarah Wood, and Jessica Deahl. According to the authors the book, “provides complete coverage of abbey histories, beer profiles, and travel tips in Belgium, Italy, Netherlands, Austria, and the United States.”

I like the idea of merging the history of each abbey with beer. And I hope that the photography can really capture such diverse places as Chimay, Westvleteren, newbie Tre Fontane, and even America’s first Trappist brewery, Spencer.

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A Book & A Beer – The Mezcal Rush


http://www.powells.com/book/mezcal-rush-explorations-in-agave-county-9781619028449/62-0
I was perusing the new food and bev. books at the renovated Glendale Central Library when I noticed The Mezcal Rush tucked in amongst the choices. Not knowing much about either the drink or the author, I took a flyer and checked it out.

Writer Granville Greene takes you to far flung points in the hinterlands of Mexico to mezcal fabricas to introduce us to the maestro mezcaleros who create this agave based spirit. Very distinct from the tequila that Americans know about.

Along the way we learn the process of making Mezcal and the people who make it and their differing opinions on it.

I learned about the diversity of agave plants. Their biology and their destruction and preservation. I learned about what makes Mezcal separate from tequila and the different style variants and I learned about how it is blended and marketed and sold to bars and restaurants for prices north of $100 while the distiller might live in a town with one phone. I also learned that I would make a crappy artisanal Mezcal maker and would probably end up stuck on the spines of an agave. Even weirder still, I learned there is a Mezcal made with poultry and spices called pechuga.

Greene writes with wonder throughout. He treads a fine line between participant, friend, fan and drinker to bring the inside story to those who don’t know about it. He hits several sub-themes that craft beer fans will recognize and though he sometimes prods a particular point a bit hard, still does not come across as preachy. The agave illustrations are really cool as the chapter breaks but I wish there were photos of the fabricas and the people and of the agave harvesting. That would have added another layer to a fascinating tale.

To pair with this dive into the world of Mezcal, the first stop would be Coronitas. The stubby bottles of Corona that are referenced as the drink of choice from small town to small town.

Closer to home, I would pick Foam Top Cream Ale from Beachwood Brewing. There is a Mezcal variant called Crema that made me think of cream ales.

Since I have not seen an agave beer or a beer aged in Mezcal barrels, I will have to recommend Tequila Merkin from Firestone a Walker as a close substitute. But when you drink it, remind yourself that tequila is to Mezcal what an ale is to a lager.