Beer For Dummies

The fun and friendly guide to all things beer

Whether you′re new to beer or an enthusiast eager to get "hopped" up on all things related to the brew, Beer For Dummies helps you quickly educate your palate from recognizing the characteristics of ales, lagers, and other beer styles to understanding how to taste and evaluate beer. Plus, you′ll discover the best beer events around the world, as well as simple tips for buying and serving beer like a connoisseur.

The "suds" and bolts of beer gain an understanding and appreciation of beer in its many forms, get to know the ingredients used to make it, and grasp how it′s brewed

Tap into expert beer knowledge get the 411 on ales versus lagers, explore barrel–aged and wood–aged beer, and take a look at specialty and extreme beers

Roll out the barrels cut through mysterious label lingo, decode beer–tasting jargon, and get the know–how to buy and enjoy beer with confidence

Pour it on find out the right temperature to serve beer, how to choose the proper glassware, and tips for pouring like a pro

Ready, set, brew! get step–by–step instructions on brewing your very own batch of beer at home with a simple kit

Open the book and find:

The various styles of beer found around the world

Details on the latest and greatest types of beer available

Beer tasting and travels in North America, Europe, Asia, and elsewhere

Ideal serving temperatures and techniques for different types of beer

How to taste and evaluate beer

The essentials on beer–and–food pairings

Recipes for cooking with beer

Learn to:

Familiarize yourself with various styles of beer from around the world

Grasp the ingredients and processes that brewers use to make beer

Buy, serve, and enjoy beer wisely

Foreword xvii

Introduction 1

Part I: Getting a Taste of Beer 7

Chapter 1: Drink Up! Beginning with Beer Basics 9

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

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

Part II: 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 59

Chapter 6: Exploring Barrel–Aged and Wood–Aged Beer 71

Chapter 7: Diving In to Extreme Beer 81

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

Part III: Buying and Enjoying Beer 105

Chapter 9: The Better Way to Buy Beer 107

Chapter 10: Looking at Label Lunacy and Marketing Mayhem 119

Chapter 11: Serving Beer 133

Chapter 12: Making Your Buds Wiser: Tasting and Evaluating Beer 147

Chapter 13: Dining with Beer 161

Chapter 14: Cooking with Beer 171

Part IV: Exploring Beer around the World and at Home 187

Chapter 15: Sampling Beer in North America 189

Chapter 16: Trying Beer in Europe, Asia, and Elsewhere 209

Chapter 17: Embarking on Beer Travel and Tours 231

Chapter 18: Brewing Beer at Home 247

Part V: The Part of Tens 277

Chapter 19: Ten Ways to Grow Your Appreciation of Beer 279

Chapter 20: The Ten Best Beer Cities in the World (And a Few Extras) 287

Chapter 21: The Ten Best Beer Festivals in the World 295

Part VI: Appendixes 301

Appendix A: A Quick Guide to Beer Styles and Stats 303

Appendix B: A Short History of Beer (For the True Beer Nut) 315

Index 325

Marty Nachel is a beer educator, an award–winning homebrewer, a BJCP Certified Beer Judge, on the panel of professional beer judges at the Great American Beer Festival, and a former beer evaluator at the Beverage Testing Institute. He is also the founder and administrator of the Ale–Conner Beer Certification Program.

Steve Ettlinger is the author of seven books, most of which are about food and food–related subjects. His most recent is Twinkie, Deconstructed.