Boutique Beer
Reviewed By Ian Banks October 10, 2013
Author Ben McFarland
Distributor:
ISBN: 9781906417864
Publisher: Jacqui Small LLP
Release Date:
Website: http://www.newsouthbooks.com.au
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Beer – the drink of the Gods or so some say, forget about the entire wine thing and just focus on beer. What an excuse to get stuck into enjoying a beer as you attempt to work your way through the various selections, breweries and styles, tastes and flavours hidden in pages of this thoroughly eclectic collection of beers.
I have always wanted an excuse to go forth and savour every drop and now I think I may just have found it.
Many of the beers I have already tried and tested, as yes I have to confess I have savoured a beer or three in a many a pub, over a number of countries and found most of them enjoyable, if not to say very moorish; so I guess I could almost class myself as a small expert on the art of enjoying and drinking a good beer.
McFarland has accomplished what we beer drinkers only dream about; having the right to go forth and taste, all in the name of compiling a book on the subject.
This, in my humble opinion, has been done particularly well as he has endeavoured to detail the art of brewing what these days is termed as Boutique Beers; Hops are explained particularly well along with the various methods that can be used in this age old art. Indeed the entire process is very clearly explained so that the enlightened beer drinkers of the world have a full understanding of what it takes and the novices can, right from the beginning, understand the passion that goes into brewing the best that can be brewed, right to the final drop.
Even glass wear comes into the equation. Long gone are the days when beer was poured into the tankard, as boutique beer demands its own particular style to compliment the flavours; to show off so to speak.
There is a good dose of wit throughout the pages as befits the drink, a great deal of detail which adds another perspective to the art of Brewing and a very comprehensive collection of beers and ales from a broad cross section of the brewing industry worldwide.
The fascinating history that goes with the art of brewing is also detailed with incredible snippets of information such as: in King Henry VIII’s Court 4.8 million pints of ale and beer were drunk each year. Can you imagine that!
All I can say is thank you Ben McFarland for giving me the excuse to try a few more in the context of working my way through the couple of hundred brews I still have to taste and understand.
Thanks to this comprehensive look at beer I can now make a considered judgement at the Pub or the Bottle shop on just what I choose to sit and enjoy, wherever I am in the world.