Beer Book Binge

It is good to see more and more craft beer books on the shelves. Here are three that you should peruse online or, heavens forbid, in an actual bookstore.

Wood & Beer – combine Peter Bouckaert from New Belgium with Dick Cantwell, the quality ambassador for the Brewer’s Association and you will get some seriously in depth knowledge about wood an what happens when beer comes into contact with it. Just bought it and will review later.

The Beer Geek Handbook – I really enjoyed the slim cellaring book from Patrick Dawson, Vintage Beer. His latest seems heavy on illustrations and is more jokey in tone. Might be better as a gift to those outside the craft scene to help them understand why beer ignites such passion.

The Opposite of Woe – For this political season, combine one Denver craft beer entrepreneur with the mayor’s office and the governorship and see how brewing a beer is similar to getting a bill passed.  From two-time Mayor of Denver and Governor of Colorado, John Hickenlooper.

Woody

Brewers Publications, has a new book out and it has two beer stars talking barrels. Wood & Beer: A Brewer’s Guide by Dick Cantwell (formerly of Elysian Brewing) and Peter Bouckaert from New Belgium, deep dive into “the many influences of wood as a vehicle for contributing tremendous complexity to beers fermented and aged within it.”
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“Wood & Beer covers not only the history, physiology, microbiology and flavor contributions of wood, but also the maintenance of wooden vessels.”

And if Matt Brynildson, the brewmaster at Firestone Walker Brewing Company blurbs enthusiastically about the book, then it might be worth leafing through. It might be pegged more for brewing but ardent craft beer fans will most certainly pick up nuggets of wisdom that will help them enjoy beer from the wood better.