The Beer Lover's Rating Guide [Paperback]

Robert Klein (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1995

Never buy a bad beer again! Bob Klein's passion for beer has taken him on a decades-long, 90,000-mile journey in search of brews from every corner of the globe. Here, in easy-to-use form, is a record of what he found--with entries rated 0 to 5 and given a spirited description from first impression to last sip. --Backcover

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

This guide will quickly become the best friend of any true beer connoisseur. Author Bob Klein actually makes his living drinking, judging, and writing about beer. This encyclopedia came about when Klein realized he had sampled so many different brews over the years, he couldn't remember which he had tried.

Klein first describes the different styles of beer, from ales to stouts, and provides the best storage temperature and a basic range of coloring and alcohol content for each style. He then recommends the proper glass from which you should drink each style of beer and suggests foods that particular brews should be paired with.

The lion's share of the book is Klein's rating guide, which begins with a rundown of his judging methods for taste and aroma. Entries in the guide are arranged in alphabetical order by beer name, and each beer is ranked on a number system from zero to five (with anything below a three being a big waste of taste buds). In addition to detailed descriptions of each beer's flavor, Klein also tells where the beer is brewed and the type of brewery that produces each brew.

This pocket-sized reference ends with an alphabetical listing of beers by state and by country (so you know what you should be drinking wherever you happen to be), by style, by uniqueness, and by odd names. An index of brewpubs and a section for making your own rating notes round out the guide. --Cristina Vaamonde

Review

This is a great little reference book! It fits neatly into your pocket or briefcase, and contains just about all the information you need on over 1200 beers from around the world. Everything from Aass Amber, to Zip City Vienna is rated by Klein. Although you may not agree with Mr. Klein's tastebuds on all the beers he rates, you will respect his honest and knowledgeable opinions.

Klein does more than just rate the beers however. He discusses beer styles, color, aroma, taste, temperatures, brewery types, glassware, and how to listen to your beer. The appendixes include beers by state and country, best beers by style, best beers for novices, odd beer names, rating notes, breweries, and brewpubs.

The guide is filled with interesting beer facts and tips. You will pick this one up and use it again and again. -- The Ale & Lager Examiner

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Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Workman Pub Co (July 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1563056828
• ISBN-13: 978-1563056826
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 3.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (115 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,656,495 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Example, March 9, 2000

By 

Phillip D. Williams (Tennessee) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Beer Lover's Rating Guide (Paperback)

Page 191: Orval scores 2.1; Pabst Blue Ribbon scores 2.1. If this sounds about right to you, then by all means buy this book. Otherwise, you are better off trusting your own judgement when tasting beer instead of this "guide".

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Oooh, he's updating this fall!, July 27, 2000

By 

"djwitzel" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Beer Lover's Rating Guide (Paperback)

Now we'll get to see if Bob has tried to make his reviews more than a few colorful, useless adjectives based on one bottle or draft sample. While I commend the quantity of beers sampled, it would be nice to see him do a good job comparing and judging beers this time. If he really still thinks that a large number of mass-produced American Light Lagers are better than *objectively* better (read: no additivies, adjuncts or fillers) lagers and pilsners from smaller breweries, let alone some of the best beers in the world, well, he's entitled to his opinion but any semi-serious beer judge would laugh in his Brussels-lace-covered face. I'll be looking for this book in the local B&N before I plunk down any money, here or elsewhere -- given the uselessness of the 1995 version, I suggest the same caution for anyone considering the purchase of the update.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars THE TIME IS RIGHT FOR AN UNBIAS REVIEW, March 28, 2000

By 

MARK MILLER (The Great Midwest) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Beer Lover's Rating Guide (Paperback)

After forcing myself to read every single review, I felt the need to review this book in order to help others confused by the previous 5 star or 1 star reviews. The truth is somewhere in between. Klein does think he is reviewing wine with all his flowery words and he is inconsistant with clearly comparable brews. However, the hard info defining the different types as well as bringing to light new brands and even known brands with unheard of products deserves some entertainment value. Which brings about the most important part of this review. Buy this for entertainment purposes only! Don't take the reviews seriously as they are absurdly overstated and inaccurate!