A “fascinating and well-documented social history” of American beer, from the immigrants who invented it to the upstart microbrewers who revived it (Chicago Tribune). Grab a pint and settle in with AmbitiousBrew, the fascinating, first-ever history of American beer. Included here are the stories of ingenious German immigrant entrepreneurs like Frederick Pabst and Adolphus Busch, titans of nineteenth-century industrial brewing who introduced the pleasures of beer gardens to a nation that mostly drank rum and whiskey; the temperance movement (one activist declared that “the worst of all our German enemies are Pabst, Schlitz, Blatz, and Miller”); Prohibition; and the twentieth-century passion for microbrews. Historian Maureen Ogle tells a wonderful tale of the American dream—and the great American brew. “As much a painstakingly researched microcosm of American entrepreneurialism as it is a love letter to the country’s favorite buzz-producing beverage . . . ‘Ambitious Brew’ goes down as brisk and refreshingly as, well, you know.” —New York Post
t's a great time for America's beer drinkers. Craft beer is more popular than ever, and more breweries are cropping up every day. But you can't tell a pilsner from a bock? An IPA from a witte? Confused by whiskey-like barrel aged beers and crisp, fruity saisons? Are you thirsty, but not sure where to start? Start Here. This book will take you through the main elements that make beer what it is, from malt to hops to water, and introduce you to fantastic brews around the country that highlight the diverse styles and ingredients of the beer world. From where to find it to what glass to put it in, you'll learn everything you need to know (and then some!). Time to get drinking, and remember–Beer is for Everyone!
Beer in the United States has always been bound up with race, racism, and the construction of white institutions and identities. Given the very quick rise of craft beer, as well as the myopic scholarly focus on economic and historical trends in the field, there is an urgent need to take stock of the intersectional inequalities that such realities gloss over. This unique book carves a much-needed critical and interdisciplinary path to examine and understand the racial dynamics in the craft beer industry and the popular consumption of beer.
The Brewers Association's Guide to Starting Your Own Brewery distills the wisdom of craft brewing veteran Dick Cantwell into one text that delivers essential industry insight. American craft brewers have always exhibited a sense of community and collegiality but the success of the industry is embodied by the production of consistently high-quality beer at community-oriented breweries. This book is an indispensable resource for aspiring brewery owners to turn that vision into reality. At every level, brewing is about careful planning and execution of processes. The author shows that this is no different when starting a brewery. Cantwell walks the reader through initial planning, from site selection, size, staffing levels, your brewery concept, and dealing with delays, to business planning and raising capital. Regulatory and legal issues are discussed—not least a brewery's obligations to the inland revenue service—along with strategies essential for starting and growing your operation, such as production and sales planning and brewery expansion either on site or opening new locations. The author includes several example business plans that are explored in detail, and peppers the book with his own personal and hard-won insights on everything from guerilla marketing to applying epoxy resin flooring. Within this big picture, the author weaves in critical aspects like brand identity, marketing, quality assurance, and distribution, not to mention details like equipment options, securing ingredients, and installing flooring and drainage that will stand up to the demands of a busy brewery. Finally, once your brewery opens its doors, the process of brewing needs to continue smoothly. You need to plan and adapt your brand portfolio, operate sustainably, dispose of wastewater correctly, and package and present your product in a way that will appeal to customers. Craft breweries pride themselves on conscientious operation, maintaining the safety of their staff and operating responsibly within their community, all the while being profitable. From concept to operation, this book gets you on the right track to succeed in one of today's most dynamic industries.
From an award-winning journalist and beer expert, a thoughtful and witty guide to understanding and enjoying beer Right here, right now is the best time in the history of mankind to be a beer drinker. America now has more breweries than at any time since prohibition, and globally, beer culture is thriving and constantly innovating. Drinkers can order beer brewed with local yeast or infused with moondust. However, beer drinkers are also faced with uneven quality and misinformation about flavors. And the industry itself is suffering from growing pains, beset by problems such as unequal access to taps, skewed pricing, and sexism. Drawing on history, economics, and interviews with industry insiders, John Holl provides a complete guide to beer today, allowing readers to think critically about the best beverage in the world. Full of entertaining anecdotes and surprising opinions, Drink Beer, Think Beer is a must-read for beer lovers, from casual enthusiasts to die-hard hop heads.
Best Book at the North American Guild Beers Writers "Effervescent and informative . . . This chronicle will intoxicate both beer nerds and history buffs." —Publishers Weekly A book for both the beer geek and the foodie seeking a better understanding of modern food and drink On the night of April 17, 1945, Allied planes dropped more than a hundred bombs on the Burghers' Brewery in Pilsen, Czechoslovakia, destroying much of the birthplace of pilsner, the world's most popular beer style and the bestselling alcoholic beverage of all time. Still, workers at the brewery would rally so they could have beer to toast their American, Canadian, and British liberators the following month. It was another twist in pilsner's remarkable story, one that started in a supernova of technological, political, and demographic shifts in the mid-1800s and that continues to unfold today anywhere alcohol is sold. Tom Acitelli's Pilsner: How the Beer of Kings Changed the World tells that story, shattering myths about pilsner's very birth and about its immediate parentage. A character-driven narrative that shows how pilsner influenced everything from modern-day advertising and marketing to immigration to today's craft beer movement.
Charting the birth and growth of craft beer across the United States, Acitelli offers an epic, story-driven account of one of the most inspiring and surprising American grassroots movements.
Charlotte has entered a golden age of craft brewing. Join author Daniel Hartis for a journey into the center of this of the Queen City's beer scene. While the fermented frenzy of Charlotte's craft brewing fans may feel altogether new, it evokes a forgotten heritage that dates back to colonial days. Beginning with Captain James Jack, whose tavern was a Patriot haven burned by the British during the American Revolution. Local beer writer, and founder of charlottebeer.com, author Daniel Hartis follows a frothy trail through the highs and lows of this sudsy story. Grab a pint and discover how Prohibition took hold of Charlotteans. Ruminate over odes to beer by the Brew Pub Poets Society, and sample the personality and spirit on tap today around this North Carolina city. Charlotte Beer includes photos and a foreword by the Executive Director of the North American Guild of Beer Writers, Win Bassett.
