Beer For Dummies

Become fluent in the universal language of beer

Beer For Dummies is your companion as you explore the wide world of the third most-consumed beverage globally. Learn to recognize the characteristics of ales, lagers, and other beer styles. Perfect beer-and-food pairings. And embark on the ultimate beer tour, Dummies-style! Whether you're a beer novice or a brewery regular, there’s always something new to learn. We’ll help you pick the right beer for any occasion, understand why beers taste the way they do, and give you a handy reference to their strengths and ideal serving temperatures. This updated edition takes you a journey around the world of new beers—hazy-juicy in the U.S., Italian grape ale, Brazilian Catarina sour. You’ll also get up to date on the latest beer review apps and how the internet is shaping and reshaping beerdom. Cheers!

• Make an informed choice when selecting a beer and pairing with food
• Learn the fascinating process of brewing the different types of beer
• Discover world beer culture and new beer innovations
• Heighten your enjoyment of the subtleties of craft beer

This book is an excellent resource for aiding your understanding, purchasing, drinking, and enjoyment of beer.

Marty Nachel is a longtime beer writer, professional beer judge, and beer educator. He has been a contributor to various national and regional print and online beer and food publications.

Steve Ettlinger is the author of 9 books, most of which are about food and food-related subjects.

Introduction 1

Part 1: Getting a Taste of Beer 5

Chapter 1: Drink Up! Beginning with Beer Basics 7

Chapter 2: From the Sublime to the Ridiculous: Beer Ingredients 17

Chapter 3: A Little Brew Magic: Understanding How Beer Is Made 25

Part 2: Taking a Look at Beer Styles — Old, New, and Revived, Too 35

Chapter 4: Getting to Know the Mother Beer Categories: Ales, Lagers, and More 37

Chapter 5: Investigating “Real” Ale 61

Chapter 6: Exploring Barrel-Aged and Wood-Aged Beer 73

Chapter 7: Acid Trips: In Search of Sour Beer 85

Chapter 8: Checking Out Organic, Gluten-Free, and Kosher Beer 93

Chapter 9: Is Beer Going to Pot? Hemp Beer, CBD Beer, and THC Beer 105

Part 3: Buying and Enjoying Beer 113

Chapter 10: The Better Way to Buy Beer 115

Chapter 11: Looking at Label Lunacy and Marketing Mayhem 127

Chapter 12: Serving Beer 135

Chapter 13: Making Your Buds Wiser: Tasting and Evaluating Beer 149

Chapter 14: Dining with Beer 163

Chapter 15: Cooking with Beer 173

Part 4: Exploring Beer Around the World and at Home 189

Chapter 16: Who Really Owns Which Brands? 191

Chapter 17: Sampling Beer in North America 201

Chapter 18: Trying Beer Around the World 219

Chapter 19: Embarking on Beer Travel and Tours 239

Chapter 20: Brewing Beer at Home 253

Chapter 21: Beer in the Digital World 285

Part 5: The Part of Tens 293

Chapter 22: Ten Ways to Grow Your Appreciation of Beer 295

Chapter 23: The Ten Best Beer Cities in the World (And a Few Extras) 303

Chapter 24: The Ten Best Beer Festivals in the World 311

Chapter 25: The Ten Most Important Beer Competitions in the World 319

Part 6: Appendixes 327

Appendix A: A Quick Guide to Beer Styles and Stats 329

Appendix B: A Short History of Beer (For the True Beer Nut) 339

Index 351

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.