Books

Drinkology Beer
By James Waller
Stewart, Tabori & Chang, October 2011, $22.50

Drinkology Beer follows the general trajectory of an average college student: It starts off ambitious, immersing itself in the classics (see references to Kierkegaard, Gilgamesh and English-Greek translations like “yeast” to “zestos,” meaning “boiled”), then lapses for a couple semesters into the fatuity of frat parties—complete with instructions on some not-even-inventive drinking games—and finally sobers up enough at the end to learn how to brew and cook for itself (recipes conclude the book). The style glossary is credible, though, and Waller aces it in Part 1, where his inner history geek shines; for example, to illustrate that Lambics were once considered a style of the lower classes, he includes a rendering of the painting Peasant Wedding by Pieter Bruegel the Elder, where the beer being poured is, “in all probability,” a Lambic—a bit of a circular argument, but still, a nice touch. A pocket-size book with squint-print, it’s a great gift for the craft beer-curious college student.

Brewed Awakening: Behind the Beers and Brewers Leading the World’s Craft Brewing Revolution
By Joshua M. Bernstein
Sterling Epicure, November 2011, $24.95

While Drinkology stagnates in undergraduate years, Brewed Awakening goes straight to a Ph.D. program. Finally breaking the beer-book template, Bernstein skips redundant style histories and dives right into the flavor profiles of different hop strains and which craft beers showcase them—an incredible resource. His experience as a seasoned journalist lends the book a strong backbone of objectivity and thorough research. Through interviews and profiles, he fleshes out the hot topics of today’s beer scene: session beers, nanobreweries, a section on Brewdog’s colorful history, the “real ale” debate—he even shows us “how to suss out a proper pint” when ordering a cask ale. Bernstein’s own beer reviews and unexpected “to try” suggestions compliment each topic. There’s also a calendar of homebrew competitions, and tips on cellaring beers. Read this book, and you’ll be able to saunter down to your local watering hole and comfortably parry with any geek mouthing off about the latest upset in today’s beer culture. ■