In the world of beer, there is nothing quite like learning about the history, science, and storage of a good bottle. The books now cover draft beer systems and craft beer trends. It also teaches you how to prepare for the Cicerone exam, the equivalent of a wine sommelier.
Brewing Up a Business by Sam Calagione
Brewing Up a Business is a memoir and advice journal by the founder of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery. Calagione tells his story as a young entrepreneur building a craft beer empire. Unlike most books about beer, Brewing Up a Business isn't about beer. Instead, it's an account of the brewmaster's life, and it's filled with stories of his experiences and insights about his business.
While hops are the most recognizable ingredient in beer, malted barley is its backbone. The author also explains the true miracle of yeast fermentation and pays homage to the forgotten ingredient that's essential for brewing beer: water. Water is the one constant that is essential to brewing a perfect beer. Throughout the book, you'll discover what's in the world's most popular beer.
Tasting Beer by Randy Mosher
The author is a nationally recognized expert on the topic of brewing and beer. His writing has appeared in a variety of publications, including The New York Times, Bon Appetit, and the Wine Enthusiast. He is active in the leadership of the Chicago Beer Society and the American Homebrewers Association. In addition, he is a partner in the 5 Rabbit Cerveceria brewery in Bedford Park, Illinois.
Randy Mosher's book offers a detailed guide to the craft of brewing. It includes the history of beer, ingredients, and methods for brewing. While it's a bit technical and sometimes difficult to follow, this is an accessible, detailed, and highly informative book on beer brewing. You'll learn a lot from Randy Mosher's love of the craft, and you'll find it useful when it comes to sharing stories about the beer you're enjoying.
The Beer Bible by Jeff Alworth
Among Jeff Alworth's books, "The Beer Bible" is my personal favorite. With over six hundred pages of information, the book covers everything from the history of beer to food pairings. The author makes the process of beer reading fun, while remaining authoritative and approachable. His knowledge of beer makes it a great resource for anyone interested in the topic. In addition to covering beer styles, the book also gives a good overview of the changing industry.
As a native Oregonian, the book contains a slant toward American craft brews. The author lives in Portland, Oregon, so his recommendations will mostly be based in the Pacific Northwest. This makes the book a great resource for people who live in that region. As a bonus, you'll find many recipes and beer pairing tips for meals in the book, too. In addition to the book, you can also learn a lot about beer by attending Alworth's reading events.
Beer For Dummies by Marty Nachel
There are a lot of good books about beer out there. There are those written by Marty Nachel, a certified beer judge and award-winning homebrewer, and then there are those written by food writers, like Steve Ettlinger. But let's focus on beer. This is a guide for homebrewers. And if you're wondering how to make great beer, you can't go wrong with Beer For Dummies. It contains over 100 recipes from award-winning homebrewer Marty Nachel.
The second book in the series is called Brewing Elements. This book covers malt, an ingredient used to make wort, which is the basis for the yeast and hops. These two ingredients feed on the sugar water to produce alcohol. Malt has been used in beer brewing for centuries, and the author discusses its history. It also affects the color and taste of a beer, and its alcohol content. Using malt correctly is one of the secrets of great brewing.
Homebrew Beyond the Basics by Mike Karnowski
With over 25 years of experience as a homebrewer and commercial brewer, Mike Karnowski's book about beer is a great introduction to the world of brewing. This comprehensive book contains ample color photos, charts, and data. It's written for beer enthusiasts with some experience in brewing, but beginners will also benefit from its information. For example, the book covers the basic concepts of all-grain brewing and different types of fermentation. Later sections focus on souring and other alternative ingredients.
In Radical Brewing, Karnowski covers beers not included in BJCP style. This naturally fun book will delight both newcomers and seasoned homebrewers. It moves beyond analysis to inspire creativity. This all-encompassing homebrewing book is a wonderful resource for beer lovers looking for a fresh perspective. It also offers tips and recipes for brewing sour beer, so you can experiment with different flavors and styles.