Books About Beer

Oh Beautiful Beer: The Evolution of Craft Beer & Design by Harvey Shepard (Countryman Press / W.W. Norton & Co.)

The recent craft beer boom has led to the emergence of many new breweries. With so many options available it takes more than taste to stand out. The visual identity of the brand is oftentimes just as important. Oh Beautiful Beer is an illustrated history of beers’ visual history and the many evolutions in bottle shapes and label designs. Combining aspects of an art history book and historical record, the book will be particularly interesting for any craft beer lover who is also a geek for graphic design.

The author takes you through the brewers’ process and public responses to the unique label and logo designs developed to distinguish certain products and their brewers. The book tells the story of how brewers created a stronger customer relationship through sculpting the beer’s brand identity. With photographs and product designs, Oh Beautiful Beer explains how the application of art to beer marketing accelerated the growth, commercialization and admiration of local breweries and their values. You gain insights into the development of beer brands and how graphic design added a new dimension to the drinker’s relationship with beer and its brewers. Ranging from beer in tin buckets through prohibition to the rise of craft breweries and gastropubs today, Oh Beautiful Beer is a gorgeous casual read that educates you about the history of the brewing industry and its generational product styles and brand art.

Beer Bites: Tasty Recipes and Perfect Pairings for Brew Lovers by Christian DeBenedetti & Andrea Slonecker (Chronicle Books)

Beer Bites is a handy book of cooking inspiration for beer lovers and food enthusiasts alike. Containing dozens of unique recipes for appetizers, snacks and meals, it directs you to the only way to better your dining experience — mixing food with a properly paired brew. This guidebook educates you about why certain foods pair so well with certain craft beers. Containing overviews of the diverse characteristics of beers and its many types, the book includes instructions for easy do-it-yourself meals that you can compliment with just the right beer.

This cookbook is organized into chapters pairing culinary concepts such as ‘Fruit and Spice,’ ‘Hoppy and Herbal,’ ‘Crisp and Clean,’ etc.. Recipes include Chicken Peach Zucchini Kabob with Salsa Verde, Pork & Shrimp Vientamese Crepes, Kimchi Quesadillas, and not-so-crazy twists on favorites like dips, wings, nachos, and popcorn.

The authors lead you through each recipe step-by-step, adding comments about the intentional combination of flavors and mixology, all while encouraging you to experiment with your own culinary ingenuity.

A great coffee table book for craft beer bars, cafes or your home, Beer Bites provides creative and intoxicating twists on conventional food fare. It is chock full of tasty ideas that will elevate any dinner party. From traditional plates to exotic appetizers, Beer Bites can be the go-to guide for sophisticated cooking and drinking for anyone who appreciates culinary and craft beer excellence.

The Brewer’s Tale: A History of the World According to Beer by William Bostwick (W. W. Norton & Co.)

The Brewer’s Tale, written by William Bostwick, beer critic for GQ and the Wall Street Journal, takes you on the historical adventure of how humans made, drank and celebrated beer. Part travelogue, part history and part culinary escapades, Bostwick discovers the tales and fails of brewing over the ages and collects a range of wild recipes and stories of how brewing techniques came about. Written like a travel log and instruction manual, Bostwick imparts his wealth of knowledge about beer like an encouraging pal while connecting ancient brewing insights to modern day practices.

The Brewer’s Tale is full of fascinating facts about brewing and its historical transformations. Through his extensive research and world travel, Bostwick explores the 5,000 year old quest for beer magic through historical lenses such as ‘The Shaman,’ ‘The Monk’ and ‘The Patriot.’

From the redwoods of Sonoma County to medieval monasteries in Britain, he comically narrates the mysterious, outlandish and ingenious stories of how humans brewed and drank beer through the ages.

An intoxicating book for craft beer lovers and home brewers, The Brewer’s Tale leads the reader through time to better understand where the inspiration for modern beers came from.

Beer Pairing:The Essential Guide to Tasting, Matching and Enjoying Beer & Food by Julia Herz & Gwen Conley (Voyageur Press)

Beer Pairing playfully educates the reader about what makes beer and food taste so great together. Taking a scientific approach, it illustrates the biological and chemical phenomena that enable taste and aroma to pleasurably engage your senses. Reading this book will give you a comprehensive understanding about how your taste buds interact with food and beer and the chemistry that creates unique culinary experiences.

Beer Pairing gives you thorough lessons in both conventional and creative ways to combine craft beer and food when at home or out and about. This book takes you through the best traditional methods of pairing as well as how to go about discovering exotic collaborations. Full of dinner ideas and recipes for craft beer infused food, it provides interesting insights into how to enhance your dining experience.