Category: Beer Books

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Juke Joints, Jazz Clubs, and Juice

Mixologists are seen, in general, as a white dude.  Even though the history of cocktails is not that limited at all.  Which is why it is great to see much lauded author Toni Tipton-Martin puts the history of Black mixology back where it belongs.

The book is Juke Joints, Jazz Clubs, and Juice and it “spotlights the creativity, hospitality, and excellence of Black drinking culture, with classic and modern recipes inspired by formulas found in two centuries’ worth of Black cookbooks.”  

You can find drinks like the Absinthe Frappe, Clover Leaf Cocktail, Jerk-Spiced Bloody Mary and the Gin and Juice 3.0.  Sounds like a treasure trove of cocktail ideas.

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Pairity

Exciting beer book news as Em Sauter’s newest Pints & Panels book arrives next year in March. Entitled “Pairing Beer with Everything” it is a collection of classic Sauter infographics: “covering food, pop culture, sports, holidays, etc.”

I obviously enjoy pairing books and podcasts with beer so I think this new book will be a fun read that will wonder how you would have paired beers with basketball teams.

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Cities & Beer

Every twice in awhile, I will see an academic beer book pop up and even though the writing style can be, to say nicely, a little dry, some interesting factoids can be found.

Such is the case for Craft Breweries and Cities by Julie Wartell and Vince Vasquez.  Here is a bit about the scholarly work….

“This book brings together a diverse collection of case studies, perspectives, and research to explore how craft breweries have interacted with cities and neighborhoods in meaningful ways.

It provides a deeper understanding of the important issues facing neighborhoods, city government, and breweries, such as economic development, race and equity, crime, and sustainability. It demonstrates how craft breweries are meaningful contributors and participants in addressing these critical challenges.”

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Tasty

Taste is subjective but that doesn’t mean we can’t improve our tasting ability and one way to do that is to educate yourself with book learning from someone who can guide the way.

That person is Mandy Naglich. And she has an impressive CV.  Advanced Cicerone, check. Certified Taster, check. Certified Cider Professional, check. Completed all levels of WSET Spirits, check.

Also a journalist with credits for Vice, Taste of Home, VinePair, and Wine Enthusiast. 

Oh, and a book about tasting too. With the simple title, How to Taste. It is pre-order now and it is on my reading list.

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Beers Remembered

So, yes, I did buy a beer ‘zine and wasn’t super stoked by the topics covered or the writing. And yes, I did just buy another beer ‘zine from the same person.

But Beer Remembered is a different format. It is about “memorable beers and beer moments from the past few years. These aren’t beer reviews, but vignettes of moments captured…”

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UK Day – Reading About Cask

This fall has a lot of beer books coming out and add this new book on British cask ale from Des de Moor.  I am most interested on the past and future of cask chapters.  

The book covers:

  • “Making cask: an outline of the brewing and fermentation process in simple terms.
  • Cask from tank to glass: how brewers and licensees work together to deliver the unique features of cask, including the secrets of the cellar.
  • Cask compared: how cask differs from other beer formats.
  • The flavour of cask: how flavour works, how cask emphasises flavour, beer styles, cask beer and food.
  • The past of cask: how cask emerged from the development of industrial brewing in the 18th and 19th centuries to flourish as what was essentially ‘Britain’s lager’, was buffeted by the challenges of 20th century wars, near-abolished by big brewing groups in subsequent decades, and ultimately saved by consumer campaigning.
  • The future of cask: no longer a mass-market product, how can the format cope with the challenges of the 21st century as a niche drink for connoisseurs?”
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Scholars

I fondly remember the Scholastic Book Fairs during grade school and now there is a second Adult Book Fair this time at Mount Lowe Brewing in Arcadia featuring Octavia’s Bookshelf and Underdog Book Store.

There will be “book readings, “drunk” Q&A with the authors, an art show and auction, a book swap and beer and book pairing and so much more.”  

You just might end up with both a 4-pack of beer and books.

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Hidden Beers of Belgium

I know that Belgian beers and sour beers are at low ebb now but my gut tells me that is a passing phase.  

That means now is the time to research and the upcoming book, Hidden Beers of Belgium.  The book is still being written but mark it down in your future to read list.

This is the elevator pitch of the book, “Not only is this a useful guide to unheralded Belgian beers, but you’ll learn about the remarkable places these beers are produced and uncover the stories of the inspiring people who make them.”

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Review of Final Gravity ‘zine

Maybe I am just not a ‘Zine type of guy.  Keep that in mind for this review, mileage may vary.

The first ever Final Gravity is a nice amount of pieces, ten all told.  And the variety of writers and angles on craft beer is commendable too.  But aside from Lauren Mack’s writing on re-creating Seipp Brewing, nothing really dazzled.  And worse, there were two pieces, one about an artist and one about a touring musician that were barely tangential to beer.  

The piece written by brewery owner Betty Bollas read more like a to-do calendar than a diary.  There was just no spark to it.

I am hoping that issue 2 will have more interesting writing or I should amend to writing that maybe goes a little deeper and finds more of a rhythm to it.