Which beers are the best? Get the inside stories on Czech pilseners, German lagers, Belgian wheat beers and Trappist brews, classic British ales, Irish stouts, and American microbrews. The shelves of the supermarkets are packed with an every-changing array of beers from around the world. Bars, pubs, restaurants, and clubs stock an ever-greater range. Which will suit your tastes? Which is the beer for the moment? Will this beer be light, crisp, and refreshing; this one sweet, that one dry and bitter? TV Beer Hunter Michael Jackson has tasted them all. He describes the flavor and body of each beer, explains why beers taste the way they do, notes their strength and ideal serving temperature. Spot the best beers with aid of superbly shot photographs, each showing the bottle, label, and the properly poured beer in its ideal glass. Never before has beer looked so beautiful.
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Book Description
The world's 500 best beers!
Editorial Reviews
About the Author
Michael Jackson is the world's best-selling beer writer. He's written numerous books on the subject and has won many awards, including 1999 Glenfiddich Drinks Writer of the Year. Michael is also a journalist, and writes regularly for publications including The Independent and Whisky magazine. He lives in London. Find out more at www.beerhunter.com/about.html
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
23 of 23 people found the following review helpful
By Jeremy Ulrey
Format:Paperback
I'm not sure anyone in the world has sampled more brews than Michael Jackson. No, not that Michael Jackson. This one is (from what I've been able to discern) the pre-eminent beer critic in the world.
"Great Beer Guide" covers several hundred beers from all over the world but avoids the "x number of stars" format and, in fact, doesn't offer a numerical rating at all. It's assumed that if the beer was good enough to make it into this guide that it qualifies at the top of it's class, whether it be a pilsner, lager, or ale, or even one of the exotics like a lambic or barleywine.
The biggest draw of this book for me was the layout. Each of the 500+ pages is occupied by a single beer, which is pictured in both it's bottle incarnation and also as a draft, giving you not just an idea of what the beer looks like but also the official glassware it's intended to be served in. Some of the more unusual glassware includes a beer from Oregon that is served in a pint glass with a half-log as it's base!
In addition to the pictures the text also tells you what type of beer it is, where it's from, the alcohol content by both volume and gravity, and finally a description of the beer itself (again, there is no effort made to play favorites, but if the description sounds up your alley it would be more than worth your time to track the beer down).
Alas, many of the beers listed in the book have limited distribution, so depending on where you live you'll probably only have access to a reasonably small percentage of these brews. Nonetheless, I was able to track down quite a few by special order that the local liquor stores would probably have never stocked of their own accord. And who knows?
... Read more ›21 of 23 people found the following review helpful
By W. N. Hay
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Michael Jackson begins the book with a guide to the ingredients of beer and the types of beer and how they are brewed. That is very informative if you are a beer lover. He neglects the Westvleteren 12 but that is perhaps because it is near impossible to find in the United States. Under each beer is a wonderful description of the taste plus a picture of the glass and the suggested serving temperature. The serving temperature and the type of glass are critical. Enjoy this brilliant mans book. By the way he really knows his history.
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
By isala
Format:Paperback
Michael Jackson has sacrificed his liver so that others might know what beers are around!
This book covers just about every major beer there is. The only complaint I have is that I cannot taste them all. It covers the history of beer, different types of beers, different beer making techniques (you will be amazed!), in short - it covers everything about beer!
It has chapters on different beers, and different regions. Obviously, the chapters on Belgium, the UK, and Chech Republic are "must reads". In a very nice and generous touch, he also tells us about US microbreweries, that produces surprisingly potable products. We now live in Alaska, end enjoy the some of the local produce from the Alaska and Silver Gulch breweries. The book is a little bit to big to bring on the travel, but I think he has also written a pocket guide.
This book covers just about every major beer there is. The only complaint I have is that I cannot taste them all. It covers the history of beer, different types of beers, different beer making techniques (you will be amazed!), in short - it covers everything about beer!
It has chapters on different beers, and different regions. Obviously, the chapters on Belgium, the UK, and Chech Republic are "must reads". In a very nice and generous touch, he also tells us about US microbreweries, that produces surprisingly potable products. We now live in Alaska, end enjoy the some of the local produce from the Alaska and Silver Gulch breweries. The book is a little bit to big to bring on the travel, but I think he has also written a pocket guide.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By Noel Molloy
Format:Paperback
Another quality book from Mr. Jackson. Brilliant photographs, easy to read, enough to give one a thirst! Doesn't seek to impose his views by ratings (which I found a surprise). Unusual shape / format for the book, in a chunky style which I liked. I'm sure an enthusiast for beer like Jackson would like to have put many more than 500 beers into the book if it was at all possible.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Being one of the world's oldest beverages, beer was known to Egyptians and Mesopotamians, even written about by ancient Sumerians and still enjoyed to this day, the constant way of reinventing and flavor and introducing new brands can be overwhelming but not with this easy to read guide.
Sometimes there's more to beer than meets the eye. Like tea it's more of a simple, easy and relaxing beverage that lacks the arrogance of coffee and hard liquors and the overly sweetness of cocoa and some wines. Even thought I like all the above beer is still an incredible invention, it's perfect for a weekend afternoon or chilled one or two for dinner when I just don't feel like cooking. I really do drink it because it like everything about it, not to get tipsy and forget everything, people tend to look down on it for some reason, but beer deserves some love and appreciation. Apparently one beer a day is good for the circulation, the hard part is having just one!
This book is more of a large pocket manual, but too thick to fit into any pocket, with each beer in alphabetical order taking places on each page, showing beautiful photos of the bottle, the proper glassware for serving and all sorts of flavor and history information. I can count on this to inform, entertain and show me beers that I will probably never tastes or find but at least I know to be on the lookout! I tend to like lighter beers, and the Asian ones always seem to tickle my fancy, currently Tiger beer just has my heart, and its extremely simple and non fussy I even love the name, which represents my favorite animal. Fruit flavored beers are also fun, but when I feel like something sweet. Currently having discovered great strawberry ale I am in search of new and untested brews.... Read more ›
Sometimes there's more to beer than meets the eye. Like tea it's more of a simple, easy and relaxing beverage that lacks the arrogance of coffee and hard liquors and the overly sweetness of cocoa and some wines. Even thought I like all the above beer is still an incredible invention, it's perfect for a weekend afternoon or chilled one or two for dinner when I just don't feel like cooking. I really do drink it because it like everything about it, not to get tipsy and forget everything, people tend to look down on it for some reason, but beer deserves some love and appreciation. Apparently one beer a day is good for the circulation, the hard part is having just one!
This book is more of a large pocket manual, but too thick to fit into any pocket, with each beer in alphabetical order taking places on each page, showing beautiful photos of the bottle, the proper glassware for serving and all sorts of flavor and history information. I can count on this to inform, entertain and show me beers that I will probably never tastes or find but at least I know to be on the lookout! I tend to like lighter beers, and the Asian ones always seem to tickle my fancy, currently Tiger beer just has my heart, and its extremely simple and non fussy I even love the name, which represents my favorite animal. Fruit flavored beers are also fun, but when I feel like something sweet. Currently having discovered great strawberry ale I am in search of new and untested brews.... Read more ›
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
MUST HAVE!
If you're serious about beer and really getting a grounding in the fantastic offerings out there, anything written by the beer god himself Michael Jackson is a must. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Ian M Wilmot
4.0 out of 5 stars
Michael Jackson rocks
A great handy reference if you are serious about your beers. Jackson (GRHS) has done much to shine the spotlight on some lesser known, but great beers in this book. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Vinod Menon
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book for finding beers that you may never see in any stores
Michael Jackson (Yes, Michael Jackson) has been all over the world, literally, trying beers that you may never find anywhere. Great photos and descriptions. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Tyson Jay Gillmore
5.0 out of 5 stars
very helpful guide
i enjoy this guide and refer to it often before
i make a trip to the beer super stores. With the higher pricing of some of the craft beers,
it's good to know in advance... Read more
i make a trip to the beer super stores. With the higher pricing of some of the craft beers,
it's good to know in advance... Read more
Published 6 months ago by M. Carlson
5.0 out of 5 stars
mouth-wateringly beautiful!
Just looking at the pictures was enough reason for me to buy it. Seeing all these beautiful and delicious beers in their proper glasses made me want to run to the store and buy... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Greg Michaels
5.0 out of 5 stars
awesome starter book
If you have some idea of the different styles, but want learn more, this is great! I enjoyed the breif history but to the point. Any jargon is explained.
Published 10 months ago by Nico
5.0 out of 5 stars
beer guide
Life is too short to drink lousy beer. This book lists 500 of Michael Jackson's favorite brews. If you don't know who Michael Jackson is then you must not know much about beer. Read more
Published on February 15, 2011 by J. C. Chambers
4.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent book but...should be thicker !
The writtings are vivid and excel in their quest for the entertaining, clear picture of each brew analyzed. Read more
Published on May 25, 2010 by F. A. Lage Filho
5.0 out of 5 stars
The best overview of the worlds great beers.
If you like to Drink or Brew good beer this is a good book to read. It has great pictures and comprehensive descriptions of 500+ of the best beers in the world, and, and the... Read more
Published on November 26, 2009 by amazonian
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good guide!
It's a great guide. It fulfills what it was made for! I recommend it.
Published on October 27, 2008 by Daniel Mantoanelli
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