Book Description
In the first-ever history of American beer, Maureen Ogle tells its epic story, from the immigrants who invented it to the upstart microbrewers who revived it.
Beer might seem as American as baseball, but that has not always been true: Rum and whiskey were the drinks of choice in the 1840s, with only a few breweries making heavy, yeasty English ale. When a wave of German immigrants arrived in the middle of the nineteenth century, they promptly set about re-creating the pleasures of the biergartens they had left behind.
Just fifty years later, the American-style lager beer they invented was the nation’s most popular beverage—and brewing was the nation’s fifth-largest industry, ruled over by fabulously wealthy titans Frederick Pabst and Adolphus Busch. But when anti-German sentiments aroused by World War I fed the flames of the temperance movement (one activist even declared that “the worst of all our German enemies are Pabst, Schlitz, Blatz, and Miller”), Prohibition was the result. In the wake of its repeal, brewers replaced flavor with innovations like marketing and lite beer, setting the stage for a generation of microbrewers whose ambitions reshaped the drink.
Grab a glass and settle in for the surprising story behind your favorite pint.
Customer Reviews:
From Bath Tubs to Big Beer- Ogle Pulls It Off!.......2007-05-09
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 expectations for this work!
Yet, I am from Wisconsin, home of big brewers and big plumbing companies(think Kohler); I decided to give the book a shot.
Ogle is a good writer and perhaps an even better researcher. The book flows very well and will serve others as a resource in writing about the U. S. Beer Industry. There are not enough broad histories of American Brewing available.
The bibilography, end notes and index alone are worth the price of the book.
A few well chosen photos add to the value. I would liked to have seen more visuals.
Learning about a Start from the Big Brews.......2007-03-24
The book really showed an expansive knowledge of American Brewers since their beginning as Corporate Giants (1800's). This is not to say beer did not exist prior, but the capacities of different outfits were never too large prior.
I enjoyed the history of Carl Conrad and Adolphus Busch the most. Like most things, success comes from good business sense and accessible capital, the author makes the very clear. Not too impressed with Maytag however, who for all intensive purposes was from wealth, which I (unfariyl) see as sort of "cheating" when they've acually succeeded. Three cheers for Grossman!!!!
Beer Lovers, Grab a Brew and Pull Up a Chair.......2006-12-27
In the 1830s, few Americans had ever heard of, let alone tasted, beer. At that time, rum and whiskey were the favorite beverages of the American drinking public, with English ale running a distant third. Over the next half-century, however, thousands of enterprising German immigrants transformed American tastes so that, by 1880, beer had decisively supplanted all other liquors as the American national beverage. Ambitious Brew is an engaging account of that transformation.
The fashioning of an industry required the development of numerous technological and commercial innovations. Starting out as small operators that supplied local saloons, early brewers had to devise ways to ensure consistent quality in every batch of beer they made. Upon solving that problem, brewers who expanded their operations had to resolve issues related to the preservation, distribution and packaging of their products. They had to extend the shelf life of beer so that it would be consumable when it arrived at distant destinations. This was accomplished by experimenting with recipes and by using refrigerated railroad cars for shipping. Moreover, reliable transportation and sales networks had to be cultivated. And, to protect their reputations and prevent saloon keepers from diluting their brews, or replacing them with lower quality swill, brewers began shipping large quantities of their beer in labeled bottles rather than kegs. Thus, as the brewing industry expanded, secondary industries grew alongside it.
In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, a growing temperance movement threatened to dismantle the empires of such brewing giants as Anheuser-Busch, Pabst, Schlitz and others. The brewers, aware that taxes on their products accounted for more than one-third of the American government's revenues, paid little attention to their critics. Their security was shattered in 1913, when Congress ratified the Sixteenth Amendment that established the income tax as a major source of revenue. This amendment, in conjunction with the cumulative successes of the temperance movement over the previous several decades, made conditions favorable for the passage of the Eighteenth Amendment, which prohibited the production, sale and consumption of all alcoholic beverages in the United States. In January 1919, Prohibition became the law of the land.
Prohibition lasted from 1919 until 1933. During that time, some brewers kept their businesses alive by producing soft drinks and "near" (non-alcoholic) beer. Others diversified their companies and produced a variety of goods. Needless to say, most brewers did not survive. Those who did discovered that American culture had changed dramatically in a short fourteen year span. The American public had developed a taste for Coca Cola rather than beer. An entire generation had grown up without ever tasting beer. Thus, in the post-Prohibition era, brewers had to cultivate new images and new markets for their products. These struggles continue to this day, as American liquor consumption is still lower than it was before Prohibition.
The period from the 1930s through the 1960s was a time of consolidation. Many small and medium sized breweries went out of business or were bought out by larger companies. In the latter decades of the twentieth century, this trend toward increased centralization was countered by the home brewing movement and the microbrewing industry. Currently, even though Anheuser-Busch and Miller dominate American brewing (these two companies sell over 50% of all beer consumed in the USA), small and regional brewers are making a comeback. In the early twenty-first century, large and small brewers are learning from each other and rejuvenating the brewing industry. In Ogle's opinion, an exciting future is open for business to the next generation of innovative brewers.
Carefully researched, filled to the brim with technical information and populated with colorful personalities, Ambitious Brew provides a unique lens through which to examine American culture. Ambitious Brew is more than a story about the indelible imprint German immigrants made on their adopted land. And it is more than a tale of how American consumers prompted those immigrants to adapt traditional products for new palates. Indeed, at its heart, Ambitious Brew is the fascinating story of how distinct cultural features have blended to enrich the fabric of a vibrant society. It is a story that needed to be told, and Ogle has told it very well. Beer aficionados and readers interested in popular culture and history will enjoy Ambitious Brew.
A heady survey for any with more than a casual interest in beer or brewing........2006-12-12
There are numerous 'brewer's guides' on the market and a few books which cover microbrew history; but AMBITIOUS BREW is one of the most comprehensive titles yet on how big brewers evolved in America. From early pioneers and founding fathers to immigrants who brought their brews to America, AMBITIOUS BREW follows the rise of corporate manufacturing in the country and provides a heady survey for any with more than a casual interest in beer or brewing.
Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch
How Beer Made History.......2006-11-30
The Pilgrims brought beer to the United States, so we have from the beginning been a beer-drinking nation. But we drank porter and ales, as well as rum and other spirits. It wasn't until the immigration of the Germans in the nineteenth century that brewmasters started making lager and the brewing entrepreneurs joined the lists of their fellow robber barons in other fields. In _Ambitious Brew: The Story of American Beer_ (Harcourt) historian Maureen Ogle has chronicled a story as intricate as that of the rise of the oil, transportation, and banking tycoons, detailing how American taste has shaped beer and vice versa. Beer would become not only an employment for millions and the nation's fifth-largest business, but a focus of social and religious reform. Eventually manufacturing beer would be attempted by small-scale brewers devoted to a more "authentic" product than the big breweries were putting out. The story of American beer making thus extends into immigration, big business, individual rights, and more, so that Ogle's is a valuable social history not restricted to just the beverage.
In the 1840s, Germans poured into the area around Milwaukee, and German brewers started making lager (rather than ale that was already here). The "new" beverage was touted as a healthier drink than spirits, and by 1860 there were lager saloons in large and small cities, and not just Germans came in for the fun. Making lager on a large scale, though, was a new idea, and the giants of the industry came into it almost by chance. Eberhard Anheuser, for instance, had made his fortune in soap-making, but acquired a brewery in 1859 as a debt settlement. A common charge against American beer is that it is insubstantial compared with traditional European versions, and has been watered down to cut costs. This is an oversimplification. The big change in American lager came over a hundred years ago when brewers started experimenting with rice or corn in their mashing tuns. American barley had more protein than the European barley the brewmasters were used to, and the protein clouded and soured the beer. It was not a change to cut costs; corn and rice actually cost more than barley, but had the necessary carbohydrates without the excess protein. The successful brewers, and the saloons that they supplied on contract, became the target of such organizations as the Anti-Saloon League at the turn of the last century. The temperance movement was at least partially powered by anti-German feeling, especially as the First World War loomed. The beer magnates, in a rare inability to respond to a commercial change, did little, and national prohibition was adopted in 1919. When America had had enough of the hypocrisy of prohibition, brewers were ready, but demographics meant that there were subsequent lows in the 20-to-40 age group of beer drinkers, and drinkers had gotten used to using spirits or sugary or bland soft drinks (and had the same hankering for bland foods). Beer was also implicated in weight gain. Responding to the market, beer got lighter and blander, until there was rebellion in the 1960s and more flavorful beers became popular again.
The taste for out-of-the-ordinary beers climaxed with the microbrew movement in which brewers with verve and ambition that could rival the Germans of the nineteenth century put out beers that were distinctive, like Fritz Maytag who brought out Anchor Steam Beer. Home brewing only became legal again in 1978, and many of the microbrewers were essentially homebrewers trying something bigger. Most of the time, for all their enthusiasm, it didn't work. Producing the volumes of a commercial product is just too different from making a few gallons in the basement, and the pursuit of the elusive twin goals of quality and consistency was fraught with poor odds. Craft beers now get less than 5% of the beer market, probably because Anheuser-Busch is holding on to its large market share, but even so, big brewers have made a show of bringing out small brews. It's all part of the continuing bustle to find a market and fill it, a distinctly American tale here served up as an entertaining history.
Book Description
What do you get when you cross a journalist and a banker? A brewery, of course.
"A great city should have great beer. New York finally has, thanks to Brooklyn. Steve Hindy and Tom Potter provided it. Beer School explains how they did it: their mistakes as well as their triumphs. Steve writes with a journalist's skepticism-as though he has forgotten that he is reporting on himself. Tom is even less forgiving-he's a banker, after all. The inside story reads at times like a cautionary tale, but it is an account of a great and welcome achievement."
—Michael Jackson, The Beer Hunter(r)
"An accessible and insightful case study with terrific insight for aspiring entrepreneurs. And if that's not enough, it is all about beer!"
—Professor Murray Low, Executive Director, Lang Center for Entrepreneurship, Columbia Business School
"Great lessons on what every first-time entrepreneur will experience. Being down the block from the Brooklyn Brewery, I had firsthand witness to their positive impact on our community. I give Steve and Tom's book an A++!"
—Norm Brodsky, Senior Contributing Editor, Inc. magazine
"Beer School is a useful and entertaining book. In essence, this is the story of starting a beer business from scratch in New York City. The product is one readers can relate to, and the market is as tough as they get. What a fun challenge! The book can help not only those entrepreneurs who are starting a business but also those trying to grow one once it is established. Steve and Tom write with enthusiasm and insight about building their business. It is clear that they learned a lot along the way. Readers can learn from these lessons too."
—Michael Preston, Adjunct Professor, Lang Center for Entrepreneurship, Columbia Business School, and coauthor, The Road to Success: How to Manage Growth
"Although we (thankfully!) never had to deal with the Mob, being held up at gunpoint, or having our beer and equipment ripped off, we definitely identified with the challenges faced in those early days of cobbling a brewery together. The revealing story Steve and Tom tell about two partners entering a business out of passion, in an industry they knew little about, being seriously undercapitalized, with an overly naive business plan, and their ultimate success, is an inspiring tale."
—Ken Grossman, founder, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Download Description
What do you get when you cross a journalist and a banker? A brewery, of course. ""A great city should have great beer. New York finally has, thanks to Brooklyn. Steve Hindy and Tom Potter provided it. Beer School explains how they did it: their mistakes as well as their triumphs. Steve writes with a journalist's skepticism-as though he has forgotten that he is reporting on himself. Tom is even less forgiving-he's a banker, after all. The inside story reads at times like a cautionary tale, but it is an account of a great and welcome achievement."" -Michael Jackson, The Beer Hunter(r) ""An accessible and insightful case study with terrific insight for aspiring entrepreneurs. And if that's not enough, it is all about beer!"" -Professor Murray Low, Executive Director, Lang Center for Entrepreneurship, Columbia Business School ""Great lessons on what every first-time entrepreneur will experience. Being down the block from the Brooklyn Brewery, I had firsthand witness to their positive impact on our community. I give Steve and Tom's book an A++!"" -Norm Brodsky, Senior Contributing Editor, Inc. magazine ""Beer School is a useful and entertaining book. In essence, this is the story of starting a beer business from scratch in New York City. The product is one readers can relate to, and the market is as tough as they get. What a fun challenge! The book can help not only those entrepreneurs who are starting a business but also those trying to grow one once it is established. Steve and Tom write with enthusiasm and insight about building their business. It is clear that they learned a lot along the way. Readers can learn from these lessons too."" -Michael Preston, Adjunct Professor, Lang Center for Entrepreneurship, Columbia Business School, and coauthor, The Road to Success: How to Manage Growth ""Although we (thankfully!) never had to deal with the Mob, being held up at gunpoint, or having our beer and equipment ripped off, we definitely identified with the challenges faced in those early days of cobbling a brewery together. The revealing story Steve and Tom tell about two partners entering a business out of passion, in an industry they knew little about, being seriously undercapitalized, with an overly naive business plan, and their ultimate success, is an inspiring tale."" -Ken Grossman, founder, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Customer Reviews:
A well-written book that goes down as smoothly as Brooklyn Lager.......2007-08-23
I've no great interest in the brewery business, but I do enjoy well-written, instructive tales of entrepreneurship. 'Beer School' definitely falls into that category. One-time journalist and co-founder Steve Hindry can really write. No surprise there. The pleasant surprise is that ex-banker and fellow co-founder Tom Potter's chapters are just as enjoyable. Like their beer, the chapters go down smooth. The arrangement of the book makes it clear who's written what parts - the chapters are given names that start with either "Steve Tells..." or "Tom Tells...". Where Steve has written a chapter, we get Tom's viewpoint with "Tom Weighs In," and vice-versa. Sounds sort of clunky, but it's well executed by the co-authors. They clearly worked very closely in shaping a final, cohesive product. As a result, the format works well.
What drew me to the book originally was the forward by Mike Bloomberg. His endorsement is good enough for me.
A very good read.......2007-06-05
By nature, I am not a "reader"... I have a large stack of books that I've picked up over the years to pacify me while traveling. Most still have their respective airline ticket stubs safely marking the spot where I left off reading. So yes, it's a tad ironic that I'm now leaving a book review here... However, I read this cover-to-cover in two (long) evenings (that alone will tell anyone that knows me that this was a really good book!) so I'm at least qualified to comment on THIS one.
I've homebrewed for a couple of years and am in the early stages of investigating the feasibility of trying to make a living out of brewing. The story in the book really struck close to home for me... My potential partner and I work in fields that really couldn't be further from the brewing industry, much like the authors. While I know that the odds are against us, it was refreshing to read a story of someone that took a swing at it and hit a home run.
The book is by no means a step-by-step business plan for starting a brewery. It is much more a story of the trials and tribulations that faced them as they progressed from a crazy dream to a crazy success. It's a story about partnership. It's a story about taking a leap of faith. So don't purchase it expecting a step-by-step recipe for you to go out and quit your day job, but do purchase it and expect a general high-level look at starting a brewery, some good general business ideas that you may not have thought of, and a good story to tie it all together.
I found it to be a very honest, open story... The authors take turns writing chapters, and there were at least a couple of times that they were so honest that I caught myself thinking "Jeez, I'm pretty sure that the other guy's going to read this... Are you sure you wanted to say that?!" As you progress through the book though, you learn that this is just the relationship that they've built over the years... Very honest and open with one another whether it is good news or bad. I think that reading about the partnership was really one of the biggest take-aways that I got out of the book, but it certainly has more to offer than that.
In summary, I really enjoyed this book and would have no issues whatsoever giving it a very high recommendation for anyone that is considering starting ANY new business, brewery or not.
A+.......2007-02-28
I just finished Beer School and thoroughly enjoyed it. As a beer lover, and a fan of Brooklyn Brewery's products, I enjoyed learning about how the beer came to life, as well as the birth (rebirth?) of craft brewing in the United States. Mayor Bloomberg was right in the introduction, the book will make you thirsty.
As for the business aspect, I teach high school economics and intend to use some examples cited in Beer School to illustrate my lessons. If I taught on the college level, this book would be one of the required readings. It is a great example of entrepreneurship, economies of scale, marketing, start-ups, and business plans.
A fascinating story of triumph and trials..........2007-02-08
Just from a title perspective, this book was too good to pass up... Beer School: Bottling Success at the Brooklyn Brewery by Steve Hindy and Tom Potter. But even better, the book delivers the goods on a number of levels. One of the most enjoyable business book reads I've had in awhile...
Contents: Steve Tells How Choosing a Partner Is Like a Second Marriage; Steve Discusses the Importance of Building a Solid Team; Tom Talks about Creating the Business Plan - A Money-Raising Tool and More; Tom Asks, "What's the True Mission of the Business?"; Steve Discusses the Keys to Successfully Motivating Employees; Tom Tells the Story of Their Dot-Com Revolution - Fishing for Finance and Failing; Steve Talks about Building a Brewery in Brooklyn; Steve Discusses Publicity - The Press Wants You!; Steve Reveals How the Revolution Kills Its Leaders First; Tom Talks about Cashing Out and Reinventing the Business, Again; Tom Wants to Know If You Have What It Takes; Timeline; Index
Hindy was a foreign correspondent for a news agency, and Potter was an executive at a bank, but both felt as if they wanted to do something different in their lives. Their love of home-brew beer gave Hindy the idea of starting a brewery in their hometown of Brooklyn, a city rich with brewery history. Potter was less convinced about the whole project until he visited a homebrewer's convention in 1986. This was right at the start of the microbrew phenomenon, and they decided to seriously pursue their dream. The book chronicles their work from 1986 through 2005, while also distilling what they learned about entrepreneurship along the way. And since this is beer "school", each chapter ends with them giving themselves a grade on how they did in that particular area. Unlike many business books that make the principals all-knowning and omniscient, Hindy and Potter are brutally honest about what worked and what didn't, where they were skillful and where they got lucky. It's a fascinating read, both for the brewery story and for the business insights.
There aren't too many business books with stories about being robbed at gunpoint of $30000, visiting a metal fencing operation to get a fork-lift battery charger back, and getting a visit from organized crime and union leadership, intent on getting a piece of their business. Even if you dropped the business lessons, the narrative of the Brooklyn Brewery would be enough to make this a recommended read. When you add in the small business information, this becomes a must-read for anyone dreaming of starting their own business. And if you're already interested in homebrewing or microbrews, then this book will probably end up being read in a single sitting.
An excellent read on a number of levels...
Outstanding read!.......2007-01-05
Having been a Wall Street executuve during the crazy dot com days I can relate to what Steve and Tom went through. Lucky for them they started the business before the greed and craziness and were able to weather through decisions they made during that time that turned out badly.
I have helped finance dozens of start-ups and Beer school is an excellent source for those thinking of starting their own business. While non fiction it reads like a suspense novel
Book Description
Here we go. Gene "The Contrary Farmer" Logsdon has taken on some controversial subjects in his time, but this time he has bitten off ("sipped on" doesn't sound right) a topic bound to raise strong feelings on both sides of society's moral boundary lines. His subject is alcohol and its traditional role on the family homestead. Not surprisingly, Gene speaks the bare-naked truth, and finds a lot more good than bad to say about booze. Alcohol has historically played a significant role in agricultural life. In colonial times it was the most "liquid" alternative to hard currency as a means of exchange. Alcohol was the most reliable, safest, and most convenient way to store the grain harvest, and was an integral commodity on nearly every farmstead. Because it was so valued--does this surprise us?--the government muscled in, looking for its own piece of the action. George Washington was the first of many politicians to regulate alcohol as a means to generate revenues and gain political control. Good Spirits is a rare and brave revisionist view of history. Logsdon is a master at exposing the absurdity of the commonplace. Does it really make sense that the government can make it illegal for us to combine common substances (grain, water, and yeast) on our own property? Can it be true that every war effort in the nation's history has been fueled literally and figuratively by alcohol and the tax revenues it produces? Why must the farmer fund the government that oppresses him? In between good-natured tirades, Logsdon makes sure the reader learns some valuable lessons. He tells us how to make beer; he teaches the rudiments of distilling; he interviews Booker Noe (patron of America's First Family of bourbon) to tell us how to sip and tell; and he adds lively tales from alcohol's quasi-legitimate past. This is vintage Contrary Farmer: 100-proof, single-barrel select. Good Spirits is outrageous, entertaining, enlightening, and an eye-poppingly interesting, natural and holistic look at the role of alcohol. You will savor this book like a snifter of Calvados, the double-distilled apple brandy of Normandy that evaporates on the tongue like a heavenly ambrosia. Heady stuff, but delicious when consumed in moderation.
Customer Reviews:
Twelve pack of wine coolers.......2000-06-07
Good Spirits by Gene Logsdon is a light, easy read, suitable for reading on rainy summer days while swinging on the front porch swing. Best served with cold wine coolers, inexpensive California Chablis, home-made beer and/or gin-&-lemonade.
Gene Logsdon writes, "On the subject of alcohol, hypocrisy is the standard-bearer of public opinion in America.....More evil is done in the name of good than in any other fashion, because the goal of persuading people to act morally invites the idea that the end justifies the means." Lest there be any doubt, Gene Logsdon is strongly against the stigma attached to the (moderate) consumption and production of alcohol.
Logsdon is a good story teller. The first chapter is an unsanitized version of American history that illustrates the origins of our schizophrenic policy on alcohol. The remaining 11 chapters are a mix of three fictionalized "true-life" stories and eight how-to manuals.
Finally, this is not a hard core how-to book. Reading this book will not prepare you to run Seagram's out of business. However, it might give you the gumption to sneak a few jugs of cider into the garage when your wife isn't looking....for scientific experimentation, that is.
If you love bourbon and farming.......2000-01-29
I found this a fascinating read. If you love a. bourbon and b. farming, like me, this is right up your alley. Great for a winter day before the fireplace.
Amazon.com
The rise and fall of beer trends--from sports sponsorships to low-cals, and status-conscious imports to creatively crafted microbrews--mirror, in many ways, the larger culture that embraces them. Philip Van Munching, a young journalist who also represents the third generation in his family to toil in the beer business, offers a clever and knowing look at its ups and downs in Beer Blast: The Inside Story of the Brewing Industry's Bizarre Battles for Your Money.
Book Description
Brewing, a venerable American industry, once was dominated by family-owned firms serving a loyal clientele. In the late 1970s, however, the conglomerates got involved, and the beer wars erupted. In Beer Blast, a veteran of the beer wars (from the famous Van Munching clan, importers of Heineken) shares his wealth of colorful, often amazing stories about the personalities, battles, and follies of the beer biz.
From the Hardcover edition.
Customer Reviews:
Beer Blast is a blast.......2003-07-25
This is terrific reading, not only for beer lovers and marketing buffs. Philip van Munching, grandson of the man who first brought Heineken to the United States, has written a non-fiction book that contains all the ingredients of a first-class thriller: megalomanic dynasties, a fatal car accident the evidence of which was tempered with, mad-gone advertising gurus, and conglomerates trying to take over the hood ("get your girl in the mood quicker, and get your jimmy thicker with St. Ides malt liquor"). Along the way, the reader learns quite a bit about marketing. That is what the Ivy-League-trainined marketing whiz kids at Anheuser-Busch, Miller, and Coors, apparently never did. Instead, they squandered away hundreds of millions of dollars in their futile attempts to win one of the most fiercely fought business wars of the last twenty five years: the war for the American beer market. Van Munching knows how they did it, and he tells it with wit and an incredible insider's knowledge. Great story, great writing, great book!!!
Very good read.......2003-01-25
This book was very informative and written quite well. I would strongly recommend this book for anyone that likes to read about industry profiles. I also liked the fact that I did not have to know that much about the beer industry in order to enjoy the book.
Smooth, crisp, flavorful.....just a great book.......2001-12-05
Now here's a book about something near and dear to my heart (and mouth). I bought this book when it first came out after hearing a radio interview with Philip Van Munching and finding him not only very informative, but also hilarious. This book is very entertaining and informative (and it always makes me thirsty for a cold one, but I digress).
Being in the Van Munching family it's hard to knock him for his emphasis on Heineken (is he supposed to know more about Miller and Anheiser Busch than his own family's company?) The book gives a very detailed background of the beer industry in the US but mainly focuses on the period beginning in the seventies which he refers to as the "Beer Wars" when Anheiser Busch, Miller and Coors began to take over.
Anyone interested in business, advertising and marketing in particular, will really enjoy this book. Oh yeah, and if you like to enjoy a cold one from time to time you'll also like this book. I've aleways been more of a microbrew drinker myself (beer snob) so I've never really enjoyed anything brewed by the big three. After reading this book I don't think I'll be enjoying anything from them anytime soon. Like one of the reviews on the back of the book says, " I don't know which one of them deserves my money less." Cheers!
What You want to know about the beer industry!.......2001-05-12
This book is a great read and an interesting study of the beer industry and its history. The author due to his ties (son of the Heineken importer) provides great insight, but also some thoughtful and usable management and marketing analysis.
Bubbly, dry and very palatable.......2001-01-10
Philip van Munching's book is less about the history and genesis of US beer - though those bases are very well covered - than it is about the lunacy of marketing, the most bogus science of the last century. It seems extraordinary that global brands are in the hands of so many people who appear this clueless - how the brewing giants ever sell a drop is unimaginable. But PVM tells their tale with a great deal of skill and wit, and - like most of the beers he describes - there's a zesty bitterness to most of the opinions. The best compliment? This is a guy I'd really like to share a beer with . . . .
Book Description
A History of Beer and Brewing provides a comprehensive account of the history of beer. Research carried out during the last quarter of the 20th century has permitted us to re-think the way in which some ancient civilizations went about their beer production. There have also been some highly innovative technical developments, many of which have led to the sophistication and efficiency of 21st century brewing methodology. A History of Beer and Brewing covers a time-span of around eight thousand years and in doing so:·Stimulates the reader to consider how, and why, the first fermented beverages might have originated·Establishes some of the parameters that encompass the diverse range of alcoholic beverages assigned the generic name 'beer'·Considers the possible means of dissemination of early brewing technologies from their Near Eastern originsThe book is aimed at a wide readership particularly beer enthusiasts. However the use of original quotations and references associated with them should enable the serious scholar to delve into this subject in even greater depth.
Customer Reviews:
The Best Beer History Book I've Ever Read or Seen.......2007-03-29
This is simply an amazing book. Its a bit long, but its packed with information. Not only did I learn a tremendous mount about beer history, I also learned about the history of western civilization. The author's writing style is very entertaining for the most part. The book was not without its dry moments, but the fascinating parts more than made up for it. I learned more than I ever expected. I can't wait to use the insights I've gained from this book to hone my brewing techniques and recipes.
Average customer rating:
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The Barbarian's Beverage: A History of Beer in Ancient Europe
Max Nelson
Manufacturer: Routledge
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 Beer
| Drinks & Beverages
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General
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Classics
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| Literature & Fiction
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All Titles
| Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007
| Stores
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ASIN: 0415311217 |
Book Description
This book presents all of the evidence for beer in ancient Europe, and demonstrates the important technological as well as ideological contributions made by the Europeans to the history of beer.
Average customer rating:
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The Art of Cidermaking
Paul Correnty
Manufacturer: Brewers Pubns
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Baking
| Cooking, Food & Wine
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Beer
| Drinks & Beverages
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General
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History
| Gastronomy
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General
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Reference
| Cooking, Food & Wine
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History of Technology
| Technology
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Book Description
The Art of Cidermaking takes you back to making cider like your many great granddads.--All About Beer
Customer Reviews:
Basic and Thorough.......2000-06-29
While not a big beer drinker, I do enjoy a good cider now and then. Coming from a family that makes sweet cider I was interested in brewing a good batch or two of the hard stuff. Mr. Correnty does a good job of giving history and practical advice. He keeps the brewing expenses to a minimum and gives loads of information from recipies, to brew supplies, to apple selection.
Product Description
Here is a hard cover, fully-illustrated reprint edition of one of the truly classic brewing books -- Origin and History of Beer and Brewing. In 1911, brewing scholar John P. Arnold set out to fill a void that existed in brewing literature. It was to be a tribute to the founders of the world-famous Chicago brewing school, the Wahl-Henius Institute of Fermentology, on the occasion of its 25th anniversary. Up to that point, there had no comprehensive study of the brewing of beer throughout history. Arnold, a writer and historian, was particularly well-suited to tackle the collossal job of assembling a global history of brewing. He was a former student of the Wahl-Henius Institute and long-time editor of the Siebel Technical Review. In recognition of Arnold's contribution to the study of brewing history, BeerBooks.com has reprinted Origin and History's pages exactly as they appeared in the first edition, complete with nearly 100 illustrations. An original 1911 copy was digitally scanned, professionally enhanced and reproduced in a hard cover format. In his foreword, Arnold gave some sense of the daunting challenge that this book represented: "The historian must strive to penetrate into the daily doings and occupations of the people...He must settle down with them, help them brew the honey-mead, watch them till their fields and sow their millet, barley, oats, or spelt, bake their bread and from it learn to make their beer...he must join them at their gatherings, clannish meetings and convivial feasts, when they discuss their common affairs over a stoup of ale or a tankard of foaming beer...He must be able to picture for himself the days of the tavern and the tap-room, the 'Golden Age' of drinking and feasting...Then, and not until then, will we learn and understand the true history of beer and brewing from the early beginning to the present day." That Arnold achieved this lofty goal is shown by the simple fact that, nearly a century later, the Origin and History of Beer and Brewing remains a cornerstone work in brewing literature.
Book Description
Pete reflects on his life with beer, and shares everything he knows about beer and brewing. Written for the average person who doesn't know everything about beer, but would love to ask.
Customer Reviews:
Pete, Keep your day job!.......1999-01-24
Pete Slosberg is a great brewer. His ales are tasty and his ideas on changing the face of brewing in america are legendary. On the down side, Pete is not a writer. Beer for Pete's Sake covers the spectrum of beer today, but just barely scratches the surface of any subject. If you really want to read this book my recomendation is, wait for the paperback.
I liked this book. A must for beer aficianados........1999-01-22
I just finished this book and thought it deserved plugging for a couple of reasons. First, even though this book was clearly not intended as a "how-to" treatise, it has THE BEST introductory overview of the brewing process and, more importantly, the various factors involved in brewing and how they affect the final product that I have yet read, surpassing every homebrew how-to book in this important regard. These other books tend to either be too general or too detailed in addressing these issues, so that the most basic general principles the reader needs to appreciate to understand brewing can often get lost, but Pete nails most of them dead-on in his brief coverage of the matter. For this portion of the book he deserves at least a FOUR-star rating. The rest of the book is fun and informative without going into too much detail for the sake of detail, a common failing of many beer books, making for a quick and lighthearted read. His interest in beer lore has enabled him to bring together many anecdotes concerning beer in a single volume which one would probably have to look all over the place to find. The book concludes with a comprehensive bibliography which was interesting to read in and of itself. In fact, I was so impressed with the book and so dissapointed that is ended as soon as it did that I am going to write Pete and ask him to recommend some particular titles for further reading enjoyment.
I would rate this book overall at FOUR Stars and intend to seek an autographed copy to add to my collection.
A fun book that tells you everything about beer.......1998-08-22
This is a great book for everyone to read. Even a nonbeer drinker will find the stories and information interesting. It was also a fun book and an easy way to learn about beer.
Recommended for beer geeks only........1998-05-15
Pete Slosberg, the "Pete" of Pete's Wicked Ale, started as a homebrewer and became a craft or "micro" brewer. This biography starts well, but ends up chatty and full of self-congratulatory anecdotes. Slosberg has a good discussion of beer types and why brewers shouldn't worry too much about what category their beer is in. Not much useful information on the business side of craft brewing. Slosberg repeats a number of stories about beer origins and phrases, most of them reprinted in other books. Definitely recommended for brewing aficionados.
Average customer rating:
- A Well-done book on the Topic
- Do you want to brew great ales???
- A must have for technical minded brewer's
- good for history, short on brewing information
- Very well done
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Pale Ale, Revised: History, Brewing, Techniques, Recipes (Classic Beer Style Series, 1)
Terry Foster
Manufacturer: Brewers Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0937381691 |
Book Description
Never before has the evolution of pale ale been so thoroughly explored. Terry Foster pays proper homage to this distinctive ale, and the substyles it has spawned.
Customer Reviews:
A Well-done book on the Topic.......2007-02-06
Terry Foster's "Pale Ale" is to be commended for it's excellent treatment of this historical style of beer, and it can be recommended both to the style's homebrewers and enthusiasts.
Foster writes about the history of pale ale with verve. This section shines among all the others. I know of no source that is more informative nor more engrossing on the subject of the history of this beer, or even english beer in general (though I have not read any other books in this series.) Foster not only explains the evolution of pale ale in isolation, but also its relationship with other beers that have been its commercial rivals through out history.
Foster is a clear advocate of the British Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) and shows his CAMRA biases. But this bias never taints a candid discussion of Pale Ale as discovered both in England and the U.S. Indeed, as an American with no experience with Real Ale, I quite enjoyed his discussion of Real Ale: while reading, I more than once considered how to brew and (especially) to serve a bitter in the "real" way--a subject which he discusses in some detail. In addition, Foster is an open advocate of innovation--never does he scold the brewer who wants to innovate on this classic style, though he does warn against calling serious deviations "Pale Ales", something he considers both harmful and misleading.
Homebrewers with a great deal of experience with pale ales will not find themselves learning a great deal that's new about pale ale brewing. The book is not intended for those with no experience brewing: if you are trying to learn to brew for the first time, get Charlie Papzian's "Complete Joy of Homebrewing" or John J. Palmer's "How to Brew". In general, I found the chapter on Brewing Pale Ales to be pretty standard. This book won't tell you anything about making a pale ale if you've already absorbed Ray Daniel's "Designing Great Beer." On the other hand, those with a few but not many homebrews to their credit and with a zeal for developing their own recipes will likely find themselves inspired with new ideas after reading this book. (However, I would really recommend Designing Great Beer first.)
The book contains recipes, one for each sub-style in the pale ale family, but the book emphasizes recipe creation over delivering recipes. None of the recipes are purported "clones." All the recipes have both extract and all-grain versions. I haven't tried the recipes but all look as though they will produce good pale ales. However, the recipes section of the book is short, a fact for which this reviewer was grateful, but those seeking a tomb of recipes should look elsewhere.
This is a very well done book on beer. Regarding the history of pale ale and it's serving, it surpasses all other works I know. On the other topics it covers, it rivals the competition as far as pale ale is concerned. Why not five stars? Well, I feel that the section on brewing pale ale could have been considerably more probing. That chapter didn't go beyond Daniel's Designing Great Beers and I felt as though that should have been a possibility, indeed a reality, in a book dedicated to Pale Ale.
Do you want to brew great ales???.......2006-09-01
IF the answer is yes, you have to buy this book. There is a wealth of information of grains, hops, and their flavor contributions to your beer. Not just to pale ales but to how different grains will affect different styles of beer. Their is a reason why this book is the first in the series. Buy it first and the rest will fall into place. Great book to own whether you are a homebrewer, like me, or a professional brewer.
A must have for technical minded brewer's.......2004-04-06
You will be getting good information on Hops, both varieties and flavor characteristics, and malts, their flavor and color contributions. Terry Foster does an excellent job of explaining the science behind ale brewing which is applicable to most styles of brewing.
good for history, short on brewing information.......2001-04-06
I liked the historical information, the main reason for my rating, but was disappointed in the lack of brewing information. Maybe it will tell you enoough to get an idea of whether or not you actually want to brew Pale Ale but you won't learn the how part.
Very well done.......2000-08-31
Any homebrewer that enjoys making and drinking pale ales needs this book. As an avid reader of the Classic Beer Styles Series, I feel that the author has taken some of the best aspects of the previous 15 books and combined it all into one, making this one of the most useful in the series. The second edition of the book is a tremendous improvement over the first.
The book is longer than most of the others in the series, but only because the author broke the pale ale category into many subcategories. He does not discriminate - he explains all pretty much equally. The recipes are different and thoroughly presented; the method of dispensing each is even specified. All in all, a very useful reference for the homebrewer.
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