Reading books on paper hasn’t completely fallen out of fashion, as these relatively new releases prove. Whether you’re in the mood for a light and humorous romp through beer culture, a meditative look at the flavors in beer and food, or a step-by-step visual guide to brewing, these books have you covered.
The Beer Geek Handbook
by Patrick Dawson
Storey Publishing | Paperback $14.95 | 192 pages
We’re such fans of Dawson’s writing that we feature him frequently in Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine®, so it’s no surprise that his second book—a humorous guide to the intricacies of craft-beer culture—is a must-read. The book’s exhaustive yet entertaining approach to critical subjects such as “what time should you show up to a brewery-only bottle release” or “why collaboration beers are always worse than a brewery’s regular releases” makes it the perfect gift for anyone who’s ever considered standing in long lines to buy beer.
Food & Beer
by Daniel Burns & Jeppe Jarnit-Bjergsø
Phaidon | Hardcover $49.95 | 256 pages
Some books we love for what they help us learn and do, and some books we love simply for the sheer beauty of how they approach their subject. This stunning coffee-table book is more latter than former—a meditative look at the flavors in beer and food and how they work together in the cuisine and beer pairing of Brooklyn’s Tørst beer bar and Luksus restaurant. While we won’t necessarily be making any of Chef Daniel Burns’s gorgeous minimalist dishes, the insight into how he and Evil Twin’s Jeppe Jarnit-Bjergsø think about flavor is worth the price of admission.
The Illustrated Guide To Homebrewing
by Dave Carpenter
Unfiltered Media | Paperback $24.99 | 144 pages
There are a lot of books about homebrewing out there on the market, but The Illustrated Guide to Homebrewing is the first to approach the subject with extensive step-by-step photos and a thoroughly modern graphic approach. Of course, we’re biased, since we edited and designed this book by Zymurgy Editor Dave Carpenter, but hey—we wouldn’t have spent our time on it if we didn’t believe in it! Dave’s no-nonsense approach to brewing plus clear and concise explanations and steps will help you brew better beer, whether you’re brewing with extract or all grain.
Homebrew All-Stars
by Drew Beechum & Denny Conn
Voyageur Press | Paperback $24.99 | 224 pages
The concept is fantastic—rather than one viewpoint on brewing, why not pull together a list of brewing all-stars and tap their knowledge on the styles and techniques that they brew best? Beechum and Conn have the connections and the know-how to pull this together like few others could. The result is this book—entertaining, inspiring, useful, recipe-packed, and chock full of priceless nuggets of insight gained through years of brewing. It’s a great addition to any brewer’s bookshelf.