We recently had a beer tasting party and used this wonderful book to hightlight our tasting of many different beers from around the world. The index makes finding the beers easy and quick. The tasting notes are concise and very descriptive. This book is perfect for anyone wishing to explore the amazing and innumerable nuances of beers!

This is yet another volume in the current "Eyewitness Companions" series. Interested in the world of beer? This represents a nice introduction. As Michael Jackson, the author, says: "Like wine, beer is grown--it is an agricultural product, perhaps the first known to civilization."

The book begins with an introductory section, featuring a short history of beer. Back when humans were hunter-gatherers, when grain, water, and yeast interacted, this (Page 15) ". . .made people feel 'blissful.'"

The next section is called "From Grain to Glass." This part features the basic ingredients of beer, water, grain, and hops (among others)--plus yeast. Following this, "Beer Styles." Yummy! The reader finds out about Belgian wild beers, wheat beers (a nice variation!), porters and stouts, ales, and lagers. Next, "Enjoying Beer." One interesting discussion is on beer-hunting, finding really tasty, distinctive beers rather than the generic bland stuff most often drunk. As Jackson says (Page 62) ". . .ask for a beer, and the chances are you will get an insipid brew. . . ." So, one most "beer hunt" to find interesting varieties. The book also exp0lores the linkage of food and beer (just as some wines go better with certain foods, so, too, with beer!). For example (Page 68),"Try a Munich-style dark lager with sausage or pastrami. . . ."

Finally, the heart of the book. An enumeration of beers by country and region. This is not exhaustive. Unless I missed these, two beers I have enjoyed in Paris and Geneva are not represented--Cardinal and Kronenbourg. Beers are listed and described for some of the following: Czech Republic, Germany, Belgium, British Isles, other European countries, the United States, Canada, Japan, and so on. For the most part, not much time is spent on any single beer. The tradeoff? Many more beers are described. So, one sacrifices depth with breadth.

In the end, this is a lot of fun! There are problems, such as some major beers not being covered (I may have missed it, but I did not see St. Pauli Girl) and very brief descriptions of different beers. But if you're interested in a look at the world of beer, this is a fine jumping off point.

I have to confess I really enjoy the Eyewitness Companion books -- they are handy, fact filled, and beautifully illustrated -- in this case, a picture can be worth more than a thousand words.

Pictures for beer -- what do they add?

With book in hand, you'll see they add a great deal -- the colors of the different types are especially helpful. We are lucky enough to have a retailer nearby in North Haledon that stocks over 250 different beers. This book was a great guide to the beers on offer.

The substance of the book is excellent, with very good descriptions of various types and styles. And the authors obviously love beer -- there's a warmth here that I find in the best travel books in the series.

I have to confess I really enjoy the Eyewitness Companion books -- they are handy, fact filled, and beautifully illustrated -- in this case, a picture can be worth more than a thousand words.

Pictures for beer -- what do they add?

With book in hand, you'll see they add a great deal -- the colors of the different types are especially helpful. We are lucky enough to have a retailer nearby in North Haledon that stocks over 250 different beers. This book was a great guide to the beers on offer.

The substance of the book is excellent, with very good descriptions of various types and styles. And the authors obviously love beer -- there's a warmth here that I find in the best travel books in the series.

Highly recommended.

here is a book that attempts to give you a crash course in beer brewing technique and history as well as give prime examples of beers produced all over the world. in a book the size of a large Mr Goodbar. but just as the good bar, this book left me fully satisfied. concise and sweet without spending too much time in a single world area or aspect of brewing. the sections on how to fully enjoy a new beer and the various brews of the world are most impressive and has blasted other books i bought on those subjects out of the water. jackson is the man, everyone knows it, this is the chance to buy a slice of his wisdom to tantilize your taste for more of his writings. i know it did for me.

Beer by Michael Jackson is another entry into the aesthitically pleasing DK publishing series. They are traditionally know for their travel books but lately have been publishing more general subject reference books of varying quality. These puppies are starting to fill my bookshelf and I love not having to go to the internet to look things up and being able to take these with me or just reference something quick.

Beer is written with a little more personality then some of the other books and quick read of the intro chapter will reveal the authors life long love affair with the drink.

The book is divided up into an informational section and a geographic section. The information section contains the history, process, types and directions for serving beer. This makes up a little under a third of the book and goes into just enough detail to inform but not bore.

The geographic section is divided up by country and goes into the types history of beer and companies that produce locally. In the non-USA countries, Jackson goes into most of the larger name beers as well as many of more mid-size and smaller microbrews. Germany is divided up into numerous sections and each company he includes will tell you about their seasonals as well as the alcohol content. The USA section is divided up into regions and sticks to the higher quality beers so Coors, Budweiser (USA), etc are omitted. I think Jackson understandably dislikes lagers as Tecate and Corona (actually a pilsner I believe) were omitted from the Mexico section.

This book would be useful for a beer aficionados going traveling abroad or within the US. People who like seasonal beers (by Sam Adams) of high quality beers but can't keep their products straight could also use this book.

Bottom Line: Sure to become a college frat boy staple across America!