Tag: beer book

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Pubs

Pubs and Ireland go hand and hand and though the pub landscape has certainly shifted, but they are integral to tourism and to re-kindling social interaction that was lost in Covid Time.

That is prologue to this post about Donal Fallon’s new book on the history both known and hidden of the pubs in Dublin.  Per the book description The Dublin Pub features “the stories of Dublin’s early houses, gay bars and shebeens. Drawing from rich archival collections, The Dublin Pub includes previously unpublished photographs as well as oral recollections that bring the history of the Dublin pub to life.”

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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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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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Daddy Likes Beer

When I was younger, I did my share of babysitting and that was more than enough for me. So I don’t fit the group that Mike Lukaszewicz is writing for in his children’s book, Daddy Likes Beer.

Maybe he will write a sequel about Uncles.

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The London Pub

If you do not have plans to sit with a mild in an English pub this holiday season, then I have the next best thing, a photo album / love letter to the old London pub.

Per the publisher, “This collection of glorious vintage photographs is a celebration of London’s best boozers and the people who brought them to life. Without its pubs, London just wouldn’t be London. They are the heart (and liver) of this great city.”

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For the Defense

This is a very thorough dismantling of a word through the lens of marketing, economics, history, philosophy and even social media. And I dug every moment because it did not play favorites or set- up straw men to easily knock down. This is rigorous and since I recently watched Hamilton, it made me think of the Federalist papers a bit.

Brown starts with using a (5) part definition of a craft brewery written by Dan Shelton of Shelton Brothers. Those qualifications were ingredients, methods and equipment, spirit, control and ownership structure. Which is probably too much to have to apply to each and every brewery. By the end, Brown has whittled and refined it into (4) comprised of skill/creativity, quality, autonomy and motivation. Bigger ideas but also simpler to understand in my opinion. With only motivation being somewhat opaque.

Some other cool ideas that I ran across:

Skilled craftspeople are considered less than a typical pencil pusher.

Workers should also spend time thinking and thinkers spend more time working.

Craft is a moving target

The concept of under erasure. Where a word is inaccurate in explaining or describing an idea but is also necessary so it is shown but crossed out.

If you haven’t noticed, I highly recommend buying this. Worth every penny.

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Bohemian Forest

With LABW11 in the rear view, time to re-broaden our horizons and look all around the beer world and I have a book choice for you that will help with that, The Brewery in the Bohemian Forest by Evan Rail.

When the ancient brewery in the Czech forest town of Kout na Šumavě reopens, rumors start to circulate about a mysterious brewing book found hidden in the crumbling brewhouse walls. The beer from Kout is so strangely delicious that many who taste it think that it has to be made using secrets — or even magic — from the old brewing log. Enchanted by the taste of Kout lager, Evan Rail makes several journeys out to the brewery, even bringing Anthony Bourdain to film a segment on Kout for the TV show “No Reservations.” But the world of Czech beer is full of secrets… and some secrets definitely do not want to be revealed.