From amber American ale to hearty Irish stout, golden Bavarian wheat to rich British bitter, beer is the beverage of choice for a new and sophisticated audience of gourmets. More and more, people are appreciating the ancient art of brewmaking and the ever-expanding range of modern brewing masterpieces. The Beer Companion is the ultimate guide for those who are intrigued by the fabulous variety of beers available today. This authoritative volume provides both a fascinating look at the brewing process and indispensable ratings for 125 of the world's finest breweries.
The strong and rising interest in quality beer celebrated by The Beer Companion is to a great extent a new phenomenon. Indeed, the period that followed Prohibition saw the mass-marketing of dull, homogeneous beer across the continent. Over the last two decades, however, beer drinkers have rediscovered the wonderful complexity of finely crafted beer. In this full-color, lushly illustrated volume, author Stephen Snyder recounts the history of beer and also provides a guided tour of the process of beer making. A detailed breakdown of the world's beer styles follows, including a discussion of the technical parameters for the major styles of beer. In addition, expert advice on buying, storing, and tasting beer addresses questions like: What are the warning signs that a brew has been exposed to heat and may be skunked? At what temperature should beer be stored? and What size head is ideal?
At the core of The Beer Companion are reviews of 125 of the world's best breweries with ratings of their top products. These exemplary brewers are grouped as:
- Classics -- perennial award winners, consistently ranked among the world's best, breweries that have created or defined a classic beer style
- Laureates -- smaller or lesser-known award winners, producers of exceptional beers of consistent quality
- Rising Stars -- above-average quality, trendsetters, and master brewers to watch
Each superb profile includes the history of the brewery and its products, great tips for pairing the beers with food, and a connoisseur's rating. A complete appendix includes helpful cross-references such as top-rated beers by style and fascinating information like the ten strongest beers in the world.
Packed with information, intelligently organized, and beautifully illustrated, The Beer Companion is the indispensable guide for today's lover of great beer.
