John Holl

An approachable, informative guide to beer for readers looking to get more into the complexities of beer. Holl capably describes the core ingredients that go into beer (and how they affect flavor), as well as the features that characterize beer (besides just taste, there's nose, appearance, and mouthfeel). He also discusses where and how we consume beer- at the brewery, in our own homes, and with what glassware? What's an appropriate temperature? How can you tell if a glass/keg lines are clean? Drink Beer, Think Beer brings up many key things for beer explorers to keep in mind as they try new-to-them brews.

This book is very of-the-now, discussing the trend-chasing of the current beer scene (specific examples given are hazy NE IPAs and pastry stouts, but I do not think anyone writing in 2017 would've predicted how explosive the hard seltzer trend came to market). I appreciate that Holl mentions that not everything is glitter in the beer scene, mentioning that for a very long time it's been predominantly straight, white, and male with a penchant for juvenile humor, but it felt like a brief acknowledgement of some of the issues within the industry. The part about the secondary market/hype surrounding beer releases could also easily have gone in the "shadows" section, but there isn't a ready solution offered other than shaking of the head and going to a more lowkey brewery nearby why decrying the instagram crowd. I do think it's a tad unfair to completely decry screens, as they are just another medium for the fan culture/community surrounding beer (and people can definitely become absorbed with checklists instead of paying attention to the person across the booth from them, but you could argue that for most any hobby as well).

Lest you think I think poorly of this, though, I am contemplating getting my own copy and/or gifting it to my sibling, who just started dipping his toe into beers last year. DB, TB very neatly covers the important aspects, and it's up to the reader/drinker to further their study.… (más)

A temporary ebook from Netgalley.

I love craft beers. I love to pretend I cook. Sounds like the book for me!

Glancing at the first recipe, I suddenly wasn't so sure, three different kinds of flour and flaxseed meal, for pancakes? They might be really good pancakes, but I know I won't put that kind of effort into making them.

Well, let's keep going.

There's your standard beer food, like pretzels and wings. There's just about all aspects of the menu covered, including talk about beer. The sandwiches and burgers look really good. There's unique recipes, like avocado tacos.

Issues I have with this book is that not all recipes have servings, and some make big batches. There's a mustard recipe that calls for 5 cups of mustard powder. I'm hoping recipes like this will be adjusted for consistency. I'd have mustard for the next 5 years if I used that recipe.

There's an index of breweries, brewfests, and roadtrip suggestions. Not all the listed chefs have a recipe, which is too bad.

I will likely buy my own copy, as there are several recipes I'd like to try.… (más)