Customer Reviews

The Brewmaster's Table: Discovering the Pleasures of Real Beer with Real Food

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Before Garrett Oliver visited our wine/beer shop, I hadn't read a word of this book. Now, I can't put it down.

It was obvious, during his hour-and-a-half visit/tasting that he was a wizard. Grabbing various cheeses and beers from our shelves, seemingly on a whim, I wondered what he was up to. But tasting Ommegang's Three Philosophers Quadrupel alongside the ubiquitous Humboldt Fog; tasting Dupont's Miel with a sheepsmilk beauty; tasting Garrett's own Brooklyn Monster Barleywine alongside a stinky Stilton, it made us all realize that this guy was the brew master.

After that, I opened his book, and my world was changed forever. Food, which I had always tried to pair with wine, was transformed into a whole new experience. And the rows of weird-looking bottles that I used to simply stare at for hours during a slow shift at the store, now made sense. Who knew that the $5.50 Le Coq Imperial Double Stout was a "world classic"? Garrett did. Who knew that the $3.79 Schneider Wiess was a "tour de force"? Garrett did.

His book is at once a recipe for a culinary celebration, and an encylopedia of beer styles and producers. The simple organization of the book is perfect! He starts with the chapter: Wheat Beer, for example. Then, within that chapter, he addresses different styles and regions-for example, German weissbeer. That section is then divided into 3 parts: a history of the style and an explanation of the beer itself; pairing that beer with food; and, notable producers of that style. This simple yet intelligent organization lends to a broad base of interest and knowledge within each chapter.

Garrett doesn't get too technical, but he doesn't dumb it down either. There always seems to be a real passion flowing over the pages, and he is not shy about letting this passion show like a neon sign. Of course, he harbors a bit of arrogance over wine when it comes to pairing beer with food. However, the more I test out his suggested pairings, the more I realize that his arrogance is pure genius. The extent to which he has "researched" food pairings (groaning work, to be sure...) is simply amazing. With any given beer style, he will list ten or twenty different dishes or styles with which to pair that beer. I also enjoy his ability to invoke the essence of "place", as it relates to the beer experience. He writes of an experience in amsterdam, watching the barges, drinking beer with his salmon, and enjoying the moment. He recalls the homely atmosphere of London beerpubs with fondness. He describes the musty, cobweb-filled Belgium lambic houses in great detail.

And somehow, he manages to never drift too far on a tangent, and always pulls whatever experiences he has had back to history and the beer itself. The amount of knowledge in this book is astounding. His food pairings are exquisite (though sometimes, I think he is a bit too generous). The historical information is both interesting and helpful in understanding the beer and its roots. And his introduction and description of each style is impeccable. If you walk into a store like ours, and the sheer selection of beer scares you, just thumb to the index of The Brewmaster's Table, and you'll probably see a reference to whatever bottle you're holding in your hands.

Warning: this book will drastically change your culinary world! It will consume you, and turn every meal into a new opportunity to turn a good beer into a magical experience. As you pore over each chapter, you'll want to run down to the store and hunt down that particular style, just to see what Garrett's making such a racket about. The pages, with the absolutely beautiful photography and descriptions, will consume you to the point that you've just gotta have that Imperial Stout, right now! And if it hasn't happened already, this book will certainly make sure that you will never again let the likes of Budweiser fizzy water pass your lips.

As a fan of beer it is disappointing to go into a book store and see dozens of intelligent books about wine and then look at the beer books. There are several good books on homebrewing, recipes, and styles. However, this book looks seriously at beer and food. Sure there is some background information and history of beer. Mostly it lists many of the beers and what they pair well with. It is the kind of book needed to take beer more seriously.

Part One: The Basics
1. What is Beer?
2. A Brief History of Beer
3. Principles of Matching Beer with Food

Part Two: Brewing Traditions
4. Lambic
5. Wheat Beer
6. The British Ale Tradition
7. The Belgian Ale Tradition
8. The Czech-German Lager Tradition
9. New Traditions - American Craft Brewing
10. Unique Specialties

Part Three: The Last Word
Glassware, Temperature, Storage, and Service
Beer with Food: A Reference Chart
Index

Typically each style is talked about in general then a bunch of brewers are covered including food pairings. Garrett mentions in his foreward that a bunch of recipes from a who's who listing of chefs were left out of this edition. I look forward to another book with recipes. There are nice color pictures in this book too.

This book is a good introduction to craft beer for newbies, and a good source of information for connoisseurs as well. It surveys the major beer styles, and discusses the best food pairings for each, teaching skills that help the reader decide what beer to pair with which food.

Wisely, Oliver omits the technical descriptions of beer styles and focuses on what they taste like. For homebrewers and beer geeks (hey, I'm one myself), discussions of IBUs and original gravities are great, but they can turn off people who are just interested in drinking good beer and in expanding their beer horizons. And this book is as much about spreading the good word about craft beer as it is about appealing to those who already love it. However, there is enough information about history and brewing to appeal to the most advanced brewer. Indeed, Oliver does a good job at keeping it breezy and accessible without being pedantic or "dumbing down" the material.

The appendix at the end provides a list of suggested beer and food pairings. It is useful and provides a quick reference that you can consult before heading out to the store.

If you have any interest in craft beer and good food, you will enjoy this book.

The content of the book deserves all the accolades that other reviewers have heaped upon it, so I won't repeat what has already been said.

Garret Oliver's passion for beer and food is evident from the first paragraph. The prose is at once zealous, lighthearted, and entertaining, and his enthusiasm is infectious. Once opening the book, one can't help but consider what beer to accompany the next meal or snack, to the point of planning menus for the whole week. A delightful must-read for anyone looking to improve their culinary life; also an invaluable resource to any restauranteur, chef, sommelier, caterer, gourmet food or beer retailer.

I read alot, and use Amazon alot, and have read many beer books, but this is the first time I've been prompted to write a review. This is by far the best book on beer I've read. Comprehensive, delightful, and informative, it would be enjoyable even for someone who was not a beer enthusiast. I don't particularly care about pairing beer with food, and so might have overlooked this volume. However, even passing lightly over the sections about beer-food combinations, it remains the best book on beer I've seen! It's my beer bible!

I've had this book for 2 years and just bought it for a friend because I've loved it so much. I've reread this book twice because there is so much great information. This book changed the way I look at, buy and drink beer. I'm also a home brewer and this book gave me a whole new perspective on what I was trying to make and what I wanted from my beer.
There are few books that talk about pairing beer with food and I think this is THE book on the subject.
If you want to broaden your beer horizons, this book will do it. You will never look back.
Enjoy!

I take this book with me whenever I enter any store with a good selection of beer. It has proven to be an invaluable source of advice as i peruse the shelves of imported and craft beers. i never appreciated how good beer and foods could go together before i tried some of the combinations in this book. The discussions of various Belgian styles, particularly the Saisons, has been eye opening for me.

I recommend this book highly to anyone who wants to expand their beer experiences and more importantly, to anyone who wants to experience how different beers and different foods can come together in some wondrous ways.

Between 1850 and 1880, "Brewers Row" in Brooklyn became home to eleven breweries, due to a massive influx of immigrants from Germany. By the end of the century, Brooklyn had become a major center for brewing, boasting 48 brewing establishments.

In the spirit of this brewing tradition, Garrett Oliver emerges. As Brewmaster and a partner of Brooklyn Brewery, he imparts his knowledge like flakes of gold, creating traditional styles of beer with classic depth. An avid lecturer, he articulates the connection between fine food and beer with the passion of a master.

THE BREWMASTER'S TABLE - DISCOVERING THE PLEASURES OF REAL BEER WITH REAL FOOD is a bible for the beer foodie. Mr. Oliver entices you into his world, using colorful words to tease you into submission. Once captured, he takes you on a grand journey, matching food tastes with beer styles, introducing you to fine European traditions, and creating a burning desire for more.

The reader travels with him throughout Europe, to the Payottenland district west of central Brussels, home to lambic beer. Discover the Bavarian Weissbiers, with their strong spices and malt sweetness, merging seamlessly with Thai, Indian, Mexican and Chinese foods. Visit the pubs of London, with their English Bitters and Imperial Stouts. Enter the fascinating world of Trappist and Abbey Ales - Chimay from Abbaye Notre-Dame de Scourmont and Westmalle from Abdij Trappisten van Westmalle - and onward, through the Czech Republic and returning to America, where traditions are merged by the artisans of beer.

Whether you are a connoisseur of beer, a gourmet cook - captivated with the art of pairing food with beer, or an individual with a passion for palatable treats, THE BREWMASTER'S TABLE leads you into the pleasures of real beer with real food.

There are lots of books on beer craftsmanship, beer history and even beer styles; but through all the beer books I've read, none can touch Garrett's handling of pairing beer styles and food. Garrett approaches his task from a standpoint of making it fun and enjoyable. He writes in a very friendly, light-hearted (but serious) and easy-going style and pulls from vast experiences to help the reader along.
If you're looking to take your enjoyment of beer (and food) to another level, I would recommend this book highly.

I'm a professional brewer. I've been brewing for close to two decades now; and I've met Garrett several times (he's a great guy: a great host and very pleasant and accommodating). I've also studied sensory evaluation and food pairing on my own so most of what's in the book wasn't new to me, but I still found it very interesting and entertaining. There were some tidbits of history that were new to me; and Garrett certainly knows how to pair. I did a beer tasting several years ago and semi-promoted this book ('05?) and it went over really well. Looking back through it now it still holds up. Highly recommended!