Weekend Cooking: Books and Beer

I'm definitely a wine kind of person, yet sometimes a beer is just the better the choice, and I've had fun exploring different kinds of beer over recent years. Of course enjoying a cold beer on a hot summer day is not the same as having any real knowledge about the different kinds of brews and which ones to serve with which foods. In an effort to school myself, I, naturally, turned to books, both serious and fun.

Here are three such beer books I've been meaning to share with you. One is a good starting point for learning more and the others are for entertaining or just having some fun. Besides showing you the cover of each book, I've also included a scan from between the covers so you can get an idea of what's inside. (Click the images to see them more clearly.)

The Pocket Beer Guide by Stephen Beaumont and Tim Webb (Sterling Epicure, 2014). My copy of this beer guide is an ARC dating from 2014, but I still find the book to be plenty useful. The handy paperback covers thousands of beers from around the world. The listings are by country then by region and finally by brewery, and each one includes descriptions of the beer plus a star rating. You'll also find a little bit of information about the brewery itself as well as a few recommendations for local brew pubs. Note that the guide sticks to some of the better-know brewers rather than the small artisan (craft) breweries that are springing up everywhere these days. One complaint is that there's no index. Still, it's a useful reference to take to the store or bar or to slip into your bag when traveling.

Cheese & Beer by Janet Fletcher (Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2013). When I look at this book, I think of hot summer evenings on the deck with friends just as readily as cold winter nights entertaining guests in front of the fireplace. The heart of the book, of course, are recommendations for finding delicious pairings of beer and cheese. The book is organized by type of beer (ales, porters, lagers, pilsners, and more) and for each one, Fletcher provides tasting notes, and other information, recommended beers, and matching cheeses. The lists of beers cover both regional hits and national favorites, and the range of cheeses follow suit. There's enough information so you can easily create your own pairings from local resources. Useful beer and cheese indexes make it a snap to plan your next get-together.

Cookies & Beer by Jonathan Bender (Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2015). This book just says fun, fun, fun to me. Move over cheese and main dishes and make room for cookies! I have to be honest here, I like this book for the beer recommendations and for the fabulous cookie recipes. I'm not overly taken by the idea of inviting friends over for a cookie and beer party. On the other hand, why not? Maybe you could host the perfect Saturday afternoon open house or even a unique adult birthday party. Regardless, you can't go wrong with the solid beer choices and delicious-sounding cookie recipes, with flavors ranging from chocolate to spices, fruits, nuts, and whole grains. Yum!

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Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book reviews (novel, nonfiction), cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs, restaurant reviews, travel information, or fun food facts. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. You do not have to post on the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page.

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Weekend Cooking: The World Atlas of Beer by Tim Webb and Stephen Beaumont

Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, beer, wine, photographs. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. You do not have to post on the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page. More information at the welcome post.

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Any book that starts with the following words is bound to be both fun to read and informative:

Wine may accompany dinner and fine whisky a good book, but beer always seems to go better with life. Yet as with any companion, it should be chosen well and properly understood.

And indeed The World Atlas of Beer by Tim Webb and Stephen Beaumont delivers on both accounts. Further, this oversize, glossy book is also beautiful to look at, with its large photographs, colorful graphics, and clear design.

But don't be fooled by first impressions. The World Atlas of Beer is much more than a coffee table book. It starts with a section titled "The Nature of Beer," which is a history of the beverage, from its origins in ancient Mesopotamia to the modern-day craft brewer. In several short chapters, the authors cover an amazing range of topics, such as:

• How beer is made
• The characteristics of the different beer styles
• Beer glassware, including their pros and cons
• Beer and food pairings

The latter was one the chapters I turned to first because I don't know very much about how to pick a beer to go with a particular dish. Fortunately, Webb and Beaumont make it easy by providing a handy chart for quick reference. One thing I learned is that beer is often a better pairing with a cheese board than is wine. I can't wait to do some exploring along those lines.

The bulk of the book is, as the title tells you, an atlas of beers. From Old World to New and from West to East, Webb and Beaumont traveled the world visiting breweries and tasting and describing more than 500 beers. Their goal was to present a variety of representative styles made in traditional and upcoming brewing regions. They make little mention of the mass manufacturers and limit each brewery to only one type of beer. The authors clearly state that they had no intention of creating a best-of-the-world list but instead wanted to highlight the great variety of beers available to 21st-century drinkers.

Each regional section of the atlas introduces us to the types of beer, describes some of the breweries, and provides a short history. You'll find a chart of the local best-sellers, a map of where to find the breweries, photos of bottles and labels, and tasting notes. Scattered throughout are stories about individuals, festivals, and ingredients. In other words, there's an amazing amount of information in The World Atlas of Beer.

One of the great features of the atlas is that Webb and Beaumont made sure the book could be used in a number of ways. For example, as you plan your next vacation, check the atlas to learn about the beers local to your destination. For more immediate fun, don't forget to plot out some local adventures as well. No matter where you live in the world, there are bound to be nearby breweries.

Thumb through the atlas before your next visit to the beer store. Wouldn't it be fun to take a world tasting tour right in your own living room? Check out the food pairing advice for your next party and impress your friends. Learn about a beer festival and make arrangements to attend. Or simply read The World Atlas of Beer to increase your knowledge of this ancient drink.

Tim Webb and Stephen Beaumont must have felt extremely lucky when they set out to explore the world of beers, from the familiar bocks and porters to the extreme beers flavored with exotic ingredients. Beer lovers across the globe can look forward to many hours reading and using The World Atlas of Beer.

The scans are of pages 78 and 117 in the book, chosen to give you an idea of what you'll find in the atlas. Needless to say, the quality of the book far exceeds the quality of my scans. Click the images to enlarge them.

Buy The World Atlas of Beer at an Indie or at a bookstore near you (link leads to an affiliate program).
Sterling Publishing / Sterling Epicure, 2012
ISBN-13: 9781402789618
Source: Review (see review policy)
Rating: B+
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy).

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