Synopses & Reviews
The fun and friendly guide to all things beerWhether you're new to beer or an enthusiast eager to get "hopped" up on all things related to the brew, Beer For Dummies helps you quickly educate your palate — from recognizing the characteristics of ales, lagers, and other beer styles to understanding how to taste and evaluate beer. Plus, you'll discover the best beer events around the world, as well as simple tips for buying and serving beer like a connoisseur.
The "suds" and bolts of beer — gain an understanding and appreciation of beer in its many forms, get to know the ingredients used to make it, and grasp how it's brewed
Tap into expert beer knowledge — get the 411 on ales versus lagers, explore barrel-aged and wood-aged beer, and take a look at specialty and extreme beers
Roll out the barrels — cut through mysterious label lingo, decode beer-tasting jargon, and get the know-how to buy and enjoy beer with confidence
Pour it on — find out the right temperature to serve beer, how to choose the proper glassware, and tips for pouring like a pro
Ready, set, brew! — get step-by-step instructions on brewing your very own batch of beer at home with a simple kit
Open the book and find:
The various styles of beer found around the world
Details on the latest and greatest types of beer available
Beer tasting and travels in North America, Europe, Asia, and elsewhere
Ideal serving temperatures and techniques for different types of beer
How to taste and evaluate beer
The essentials on beer-and-food pairings
Recipes for cooking with beer
Learn to:
Familiarize yourself with various styles of beer from around the world
Grasp the ingredients and processes that brewers use to make beer
Buy, serve, and enjoy beer wisely
Synopsis
The fun and friendly guide to all things beerBeer has always been one of the world's most popular beverages; but recently, people have embraced the rich complexities of beer's many varieties. Now, with Beer For Dummies you can quickly and enjoyably educate your palate—from recognizing the characteristics of ales, lagers, and other beer styles to understanding how to taste and evaluate beer.
The author, a beer connoisseur, shares his own expertise on this subject, revealing his picks for the best beer festivals, tastings, and events around the world as well as his simple tips for pouring, storing, and drinking beer like an expert brewmeister.
- New coverage on the various styles of beer found around the world including: real ale, barrel aged/wood aged beer, organic brews, and extreme beer
- Updated profiles on the flavor and body of each beer, explaining why beers taste the way they do, as well as their strengths and ideal serving temperatures
- How to spot the best beers by looking at the bottle, label, and a properly poured beer in its ideal glass
- The essentials on beer-and-food pairings and the best ways to introduce beer into your cooking repertoire
From information on ingredients like hops, malt, and barley to the differences between lagers and ales, this friendly guide gives you all the information you need to select and appreciate your next brew.
About the Author
Marty Nachel is a beer educator, an award-winning homebrewer, a BJCP Certified Beer Judge, on the panel of professional beer judges at the Great American Beer Festival, and a former beer evaluator at the Beverage Testing Institute. He is also the founder and administrator of the Ale-Conner Beer Certification Program.
Steve Ettlinger is the author of seven books, most of which are about food and food-related subjects. His most recent is Twinkie, Deconstructed.
Table of Contents
Foreword xviiIntroduction 1
Part I: Getting a Taste of Beer 7
Chapter 1: Drink Up! Beginning with Beer Basics 9
Chapter 2: From the Sublime to the Ridiculous: Beer Ingredients 17
Chapter 3: A Little Brew Magic: Understanding How Beer Is Made 25
Part II: Taking a Look at Beer Styles — Old, New, and Revived, Too 35
Chapter 4: Getting to Know the Mother Beer Categories: Ales, Lagers, and More 37
Chapter 5: Investigating "Real" Ale 59
Chapter 6: Exploring Barrel-Aged and Wood-Aged Beer 71
Chapter 7: Diving In to Extreme Beer 81
Chapter 8: Checking Out Organic, Gluten-Free, and Kosher Beer 93
Part III: Buying and Enjoying Beer 105
Chapter 9: The Better Way to Buy Beer 107
Chapter 10: Looking at Label Lunacy and Marketing Mayhem 119
Chapter 11: Serving Beer 133
Chapter 12: Making Your Buds Wiser: Tasting and Evaluating Beer 147
Chapter 13: Dining with Beer 161
Chapter 14: Cooking with Beer 171
Part IV: Exploring Beer around the World and at Home 187
Chapter 15: Sampling Beer in North America 189
Chapter 16: Trying Beer in Europe, Asia, and Elsewhere 209
Chapter 17: Embarking on Beer Travel and Tours 231
Chapter 18: Brewing Beer at Home 247
Part V: The Part of Tens 277
Chapter 19: Ten Ways to Grow Your Appreciation of Beer 279
Chapter 20: The Ten Best Beer Cities in the World (And a Few Extras) 287
Chapter 21: The Ten Best Beer Festivals in the World 295
Part VI: Appendixes 301
Appendix A: A Quick Guide to Beer Styles and Stats 303
Appendix B: A Short History of Beer (For the True Beer Nut) 315
Index 325