‘ A glass in one hand and a pen in the other, Ben’ s writing deftly captures the passion, humour and insight from the front line of the global craft brewing revolution.’ Mikkel Borg Bjergsø , Mikkeller
Boutique Beers captures the people, the places and the passion that have inspired a worldwide craft brewing revolution.
More than just another compendium of the globe’ s greatest brews, this book ventures off the well-trodden drinking path and takes the adventurous beer connoisseur deeper into the world of today’ s most compelling craft brewers.
Celebrating both the characters at the cutting edge of the contemporary craft beer scene and the pioneers of the past that inspired them, Ben McFarland’ s imbibing adventure stretches from Amsterdam’ s Red Light District to the far reaches of the Faroe Islands via ale-making iconoclasts of Oregon, Danish gypsy brewers, some monks (obviously) and law-bending, lederhosen wearing Bavarians. There’ s even a guy who makes beer from his beard.
The award-winning writer talks of the tales and the tastes of more than five hundred beers ranging from legendary lambics and heinously hopped India Pale Ales to sublime session brews, sexy stouts, cellar-dwelling Barley wines, funky farmhouse beers, collaboration ales, cult classics, sours and saisons, beers made with wild yeast, barrel-aged beers and more.
Amusing, enlightening and absorbing, Boutique Beers belongs on the bookshelf of discerning drinkers everywhere and ensures that you'll never look at your beer in the same way again.
Boutique Beer : 500 of the World's Finest Craft Brews
Description
Author Description
Ben McFarland, 35, is the current British Beer Writer of the Year and has won the award twice previously - the first as the youngest ever recipient. He is the author of two award-winning books on beer - Good Beer Guide West Coast USA (co-written with Tom Sandham) and World's Best Beers: 1000 Unmissable Brews from Portland to Prague. A further book Boutique Beers is due to be published in 2013. World's Best Beers has been translated into five different languages. As the pubs and bars reviewer for Time Out London, Ben has also written about beer and spirits for numerous magazines and national newspapers including the Guardian, the Independent, the Spectator, The Telegraph, Jamie Oliver Magazine, Conde Nast Traveller and a host of specialist drinks magazines both in the UK and the USA. Alongside Tom Sandham, with whom he launched www.dwink.com, Ben hosts tutored beer and spirit tastings at food festivals and corporate events up and down the country including Taste of London and Foodies. In his capacity as a drinks expert, he has also made regular appearances on TV and radio such as Market Kitchen, LBC, BBC Radio 4, Radio Five Live and Radio 2. Ben & Tom also wrote, researched and performed The Thinking Drinker's Guide to Alcohol, a comedy show, at the Edinburgh Festival in 2011. It is transferring to the West End (Soho Theatre) in the Spring and will be returning to Edinburgh in August 2012 AWARDS 2004, 2006 & 2011: British Beer Writer of the Year 2008: 'Budweiser Budvar' Travel Book of the Year for "Good Beer Guide West Coast USA" (jointly awarded with Tom Sandham) 2008 & 2009: Winner Shepherd Neame Award for Beer and Food Writing