Beer For Dummies

The fun and friendly guide to all things beer Beer has always been one of the world's most popular beverages; but recently, people have embraced the rich complexities of beer's many varieties.

New coverage on the various styles of beer found around the world including: real ale, barrel aged/wood aged beer, organic brews, and extreme beer
* Updated profiles on the flavor and body of each beer, explaining why beers taste the way they do, as well as their strengths and ideal serving temperatures
* How to spot the best beers by looking at the bottle, label, and a properly poured beer in its ideal glass
* The essentials on beer-and-food pairings and the best ways to introduce beer into your cooking repertoire From information on ingredients like hops, malt, and barley to the differences between lagers and ales, this friendly guide gives you all the information you need to select and appreciate your next brew.

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