Beer for Dummies

by Nachel, Marty; Ettlinger, Steve

• ISBN13: 9781118120309
• ISBN10: 1118120302
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-01-03
• Publisher: For Dummies

Summary

The fun and friendly guide to all things beer Beer 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.

Author Biography

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 xvii

Introduction 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