Synopses & Reviews
Michael Jackson, the world's foremost authority on beer, treats his subject with the reverence generally associated with fine wines. And why not? In Ultimate Beer, Jackson shows that beer, like wine, is best enjoyed when served at the right time, in the right conditions, and with the right dish. Ultimate Beer is an exhaustive, beautiful and entertaining trip through the world's finest brews complete with recipes, and food and beer pairings. After a concise overview of brewing ingredients and processes, Jackson explores a myriad of beers from every corner of the brewing world. Appreciate the flavors and ingredients of beer, from the sharp, hoppy bite of an India Pale Ale to the rich, sweet malt of a German double bock. His suggestions are organized by the situation in which they might best be enjoyed: from summer sippers to winter warmers, aperitifs to nightcaps. Engaging photography of each beer and its packaging accompanies Jackson's tasting notes, brief technical brewing information, and product-specific trivia. Jackson continues with chapters on matching beers to dishes, and follows that up with a brief guide to cooking with beer. Learn to serve beers to complement a wide range of foods, from red and white meats, shellfish, and vegetarian food. What makes a great beer? Why do beers taste the way they do? For any beer style, which are the best brews available? And which beers do you drink to accompany which foods? When you have shared Michael Jackson's insights into the vast range of brews now available, you'll never just ask for "a beer" again.
Review
It really is a great book. (Conan O'Brien, talk show host, Late Night with Conan O'Brien)
Review
Renowned beer guru Michael Jackson captures the glory of more than 500 of the world's best beers in his latest book, ULTIMATE BEER, with stunning photography as well as accurate and interesting descriptions of the beers. (Washington Post)
About the Author
The Maven of Malt. The Bard of Beer. The True King of Beers. The Sultan of Suds. Michael Jackson has been called by all of these names and more. Born in Leeds in the north of England and raised in Huddersfield, Michael Jackson has been a beer lover ever since his first taste at age 14. His other great love is journalism, and Michael has been a reporter since his teens. He first practiced his craft in Yorkshire and Scotland, then later throughout Great Britain. By the 1970's he combined his two favorite pastimes, becoming a roving beer reporter for The Independent. His travels eventually took him to the United States, where he is credited with helping launch and publicize the renaissance in microbreweries (particularly in the Pacific Northwest) and beer appreciation throughout the nation. Michael Jackson is now internationally recognized as the foremost authority on the beers of the world. In a front-page profile, The Wall Street Journal lauded him as "the world's leading beer critic." He travels the globe constantly, visiting hundreds of breweries every year. Hailed as a national hero in Belgium and regarded as one of the Founding Fathers of the North American microbrewery movement, his writings on beer have become standard reference works for beer makers and enthusiasts alike. No one has visited more breweries, tasted more beers, met with more brewmasters, or talked to more beer lovers than Michael Jackson. Michael is a Director-at-Large of the North American Guild of Beer Writers and a founding Chairman of the similar Guild in Britain. His Beer Hunter television series, broadcast on The Discovery Channel and PBS in the USA and shown in a dozen other countries, and his best-selling CD-ROMs have introduced the public to a whole new world of beer. He has written for The Washington Post, Playboy, The Wine Spectator, and many other publications. Among his other books on brew is Great Beer Guide, also by DK Publishing. Michael is a regular guest lecturer at the Smithsonian Institution, the National Geographic Association, the Anthropological Museum of the University of Pennsylvania, and numerous beer festivals around the world. He is also an expert on whiskey, and has written extensively on cocktails. He currently resides in London.