Ambitious Brew: The Story of American Beer (Paperback)

by Maureen Ogle (Author)
Key Phrases: big beer, contract brewers, few brewers, United States, Adolphus Busch, New York (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Conventional wisdom has it that giant breweries, driven by corporate greed, have flooded the U.S. with inferior-tasting swill, and the only beer worth drinking is from scattered boutique microbrewers. Nonsense, says Ogle: companies like Miller and Anheuser-Busch are actually near-perfect embodiments of the American dream (in which "liberty nurtured ambition, and ambition fostered success")—and if their beers became noticeably blander 50 years ago, it's because consumers wanted it that way. Ogle (All the Modern Conveniences) looks back at the early years of brewers like Phillip Best, Frederick Pabst and Adolphus Busch as they rose to success making European-style beers for fellow immigrants, converting plenty of native palates along the way. Such men, she claims, should be heralded as captains of industry like Gilded Age icon J.P. Morgan. This material is strong, as is Ogle's analysis of the slow but steady rise of the Prohibition movement, but her narrative loses momentum as she tries to encompass the post–WWII era and add the most successful microbrewers to her list of heroes. Her exuberant musings on the American spirit become distracting, but there's more than enough drama in the family sagas to keep even the soberest of readers turning the pages. (Oct.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

PRAISE FOR AMBITIOUS BREW

 

"A fascinating and well-documented social history that sheds fresh light on the bubbly sociable beverage."--Chicago Tribune

 

"From lager-making German immigrants to today's microbrew-meisters, a sudsy, briskly told survey of American beer. B+."--Entertainment Weekly

See all Editorial Reviews

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Product Details Paperback: 432 pages Publisher: Harvest Books (October 8, 2007) Language: English ISBN-10: 0156033593 ISBN-13: 978-0156033596 Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.3 x 0.9 inches Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies) Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (17 customer reviews) Amazon.com Sales Rank: #123,561 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books) Popular in these categories: (What's this?) #51 in  Books > Cooking, Food & Wine > Drinks & Beverages > Beer #81 in  Books > Science > Agricultural Sciences > Food Science #83 in  Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Agricultural Sciences > Food Sciences

Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!

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Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
big beer, contract brewers, few brewers, craft brewers, new brewers, other brewers, many brewers, most brewers, small brewers, craft brewing, new brewery, largest brewery

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
United States, Adolphus Busch, New York, Frederick Pabst, Phillip Best, Miller Brewing, New Albion, San Francisco, August Busch, Fritz Maytag, Lilly Busch, Charles Best, Los Angeles, Chestnut Street, Gus Busch, George Ehret, Jim Koch, Philip Morris, Wayne Wheeler, Anti-Saloon League, Lone Star, August Uihlein, Ken Grossman, Best Brewing, Schlitz Brewing

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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!

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Customer Reviews

17 Reviews 5 star:  (9) 4 star:  (7) 3 star:    (0) 2 star:  (1) 1 star:    (0)           Average Customer Review 4.4 out of 5 stars (17 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews 9 of 9 people found the following review helpful: 4.0 out of 5 stars A story for beer aficionado's, history buffs, or brewing insiders, November 10, 2006 By  Brett A. Saffell "Joe Sixpack" (Milwaukee, WI) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    This review is from: Ambitious Brew : The Story of American Beer (Hardcover) Once I had penetrated the first three chapters of this book, I found it a fascinating and quick read. However, those first three chapters took about two weeks, despite a persistent interest in beer and brewing. I covered the remaining five chapters in two days. The first several chapters (and 40 or so years of chronology) cover the beginnings of American brewing by explaining the origins of the Best brewery (which would become Pabst), the Uihlein's (Schlitz), and Adolphus Busch. These chapters passed slowly, and didn't entertain the way that popular history can (like Winchester's A Crack in the Edge of the World or Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything, Stephen Ambrose, etc). However, I was extremely engaged by everything that followed. I thought the explanation of the causes and context of Prohibition was excellent. The narrative of changes in brewing in post-World War II America (consolidation, the dawn of modern marketing) was also very interesting, and did a nice job integrating societal and business changes into that story. I erroneously thought I'd experienced first-hand the rise of craft beer in America, but Maureen did a very nice job educating me on the true origins of this trend. I was bogged down by the beginning of this book, but thrilled with the middle and end of it. This book would be a great resource for beer connoisseurs looking for an understanding of why American brewing is what it is, and as a cautionary tale for brewing executives. 2 of 3 people found the following review helpful: 2.0 out of 5 stars Like a text book, January 17, 2008 By  John Nixon (Seattle, Washington) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    This review is from: Ambitious Brew : The Story of American Beer (Hardcover) I've read a lot of books about beer and this one took me a long time to read. It was kind of like reading a text book because it was very 'factually detailed'. I was expecting this book to have more of a personality than it did. I learned a lot about the business end of beer but not so much about the social aspect of it. Many of the chapters seemed to take much too long to get to their point. 4.0 out of 5 stars Great history of American beer industry, May 28, 2009 By  AC (San Diego, CA United States) - See all my reviews This is a very good book about the history of American brewing post-1850. If you're looking for a book that looks at brewing in colonial or early American history, this isn't going to help you. It's basically about the roots of the current American brewing industry and how it got its start with German immigrants. A lot of detail is spent on why pilsner was so popular, why American tastes changed for blander beer, and how microbrewing has changed the industry. The author's research shows that the industry was less to blame for light, pale, bland beer, and was instead a response to changing tastes of the American public. There's quite a bit of information about the interesting characters who ran the big breweries and the rise and fall of various brewing companies.		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 4.0 out of 5 stars Scattershot history of beer in America - focused on the big ones. This book offers a very scattered view of the history of beer in America. Rather than focusing solely on the A-B, Schlitz, or Pabsts of the world (all of whom could likely have... Read more Published 4 months ago by Jason M. Stokes 5.0 out of 5 stars Great read Bought it for my daughter who works at a local brewery. Said it was a great read! Published 7 months ago by Colorado Mom 5.0 out of 5 stars How the beer industry became industrial. . . . This is a business history of brewing in America. What is especially fascinating is the story of the rise of the great brewing families and the impact of Prohibition. Read more Published 8 months ago by Lynn Hoffman, author:The Short... 5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book My wife bought this for my birthday, and I completely enjoyed it. Shortly after finishing it, I was in St. Louis and toured the Budweiser brewery. Read more Published 14 months ago by John Andree 4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting survey of American lager-brewing history This is a great book if you're looking to learn something about the history of American lager brewing, and in particular about the giants (and now-deceased giants) of the... Read more Published 16 months ago by Puck Mendelssohn 4.0 out of 5 stars Amazing history of American Brewing This book is a must have for a homebrewer or anyone interested in the history of American entrepreneurs. Read more Published 16 months ago by Knud A. Hermansen 5.0 out of 5 stars A stimulating epic of fascination, competition and passion for beer Ambitious Brew takes you on a journey through America, often peering with a European's eye at the wealth of opportunity in an unfolding land. Read more Published 17 months ago by Carolyn Smagalski 5.0 out of 5 stars Ambitious History Mauren Ogle has shown herself to be a historian of the first order with he latest book Ambitious Brew: The Story of American Beer. Read more Published 20 months ago by M. Stoughton 4.0 out of 5 stars From Bath Tubs to Big Beer- Ogle Pulls It Off! I must admit that knowing that the author's earlier works included "All the Modern Conveniences: American Household Plumbing, 1840-1890" did not necessarily lead me to have great... Read more Published on May 8, 2007 by James E. Quinn 5.0 out of 5 stars Learning about a Start from the Big Brews The book really showed an expansive knowledge of American Brewers since their beginning as Corporate Giants (1800's). Read more Published on March 24, 2007 by Andrew Krone Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

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Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Harvest Books (October 8, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0156033593
• ISBN-13: 978-0156033596
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #123,561 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #51 in	Books > Cooking, Food & Wine > Drinks & Beverages > Beer
  #81 in	Books > Science > Agricultural Sciences > Food Science
  #83 in	Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Agricultural Sciences > Food Sciences

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A story for beer aficionado's, history buffs, or brewing insiders, November 10, 2006

By	Brett A. Saffell "Joe Sixpack" (Milwaukee, WI) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Ambitious Brew : The Story of American Beer (Hardcover)

Once I had penetrated the first three chapters of this book, I found it a fascinating and quick read. However, those first three chapters took about two weeks, despite a persistent interest in beer and brewing. I covered the remaining five chapters in two days.

The first several chapters (and 40 or so years of chronology) cover the beginnings of American brewing by explaining the origins of the Best brewery (which would become Pabst), the Uihlein's (Schlitz), and Adolphus Busch. These chapters passed slowly, and didn't entertain the way that popular history can (like Winchester's A Crack in the Edge of the World or Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything, Stephen Ambrose, etc).

However, I was extremely engaged by everything that followed. I thought the explanation of the causes and context of Prohibition was excellent. The narrative of changes in brewing in post-World War II America (consolidation, the dawn of modern marketing) was also very interesting, and did a nice job integrating societal and business changes into that story. I erroneously thought I'd experienced first-hand the rise of craft beer in America, but Maureen did a very nice job educating me on the true origins of this trend.

I was bogged down by the beginning of this book, but thrilled with the middle and end of it. This book would be a great resource for beer connoisseurs looking for an understanding of why American brewing is what it is, and as a cautionary tale for brewing executives.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Like a text book, January 17, 2008

By	John Nixon (Seattle, Washington) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Ambitious Brew : The Story of American Beer (Hardcover)

I've read a lot of books about beer and this one took me a long time to read. It was kind of like reading a text book because it was very 'factually detailed'. I was expecting this book to have more of a personality than it did. I learned a lot about the business end of beer but not so much about the social aspect of it. Many of the chapters seemed to take much too long to get to their point.

4.0 out of 5 stars Great history of American beer industry, May 28, 2009

By	AC (San Diego, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This is a very good book about the history of American brewing post-1850. If you're looking for a book that looks at brewing in colonial or early American history, this isn't going to help you. It's basically about the roots of the current American brewing industry and how it got its start with German immigrants. A lot of detail is spent on why pilsner was so popular, why American tastes changed for blander beer, and how microbrewing has changed the industry. The author's research shows that the industry was less to blame for light, pale, bland beer, and was instead a response to changing tastes of the American public. There's quite a bit of information about the interesting characters who ran the big breweries and the rise and fall of various brewing companies.