Beer & Books is a semi-regular series featuring thoughts and opinions on books about beer. Imagine that. Oftentimes books mentioned here won’t be new releases. Rather, they’re simply what we’re reading at the time, usually with a cold brew in hand. We rate them on a five-star scale. We’re always looking to add to our library. Please feel free to drop a line if there are Beer Books you recommend we read.
The United States of Beer
An irreverent brews-fueled trip through the history of America’s favorite beverage, The United States of Beer is a fun read for any beer lover.
It’s a tight overview of beer’s origins in the United States, region by region. It also explains the influence the drink’s had throughout history. I learned quite a bit as I listened to the Audible version on my daily walks with my dog.
Dane Huckelbridge’s writing style is pleasant, though some of the first-person “scene setting” (i.e. let me get up from this Yankees game to peruse my options at the stadium beer stand) descriptions came across a bit corny and forced. But that may be because the author didn’t narrate the audiobook. Either way, I appreciated the personal narrative, which helped to bring some of the history to life for me.
Huckelbridge casts a wide net in chronicling beer’s wild ride in America. He deftly recounts many of the ups (craft beer revolution) and downs (Prohibition).
From Native Americans to pilgrims to waves of immigrants, each group contributed to beer’s place in our culture. The United States of Beer describes hundreds of years of brewing. That said, I’d liked to have read a little more about nearer-term history. Most interesting to me, as a beer drinker in the West, is the rise of craft beer in California and the Pacific Northwest.
That’s a small quibble, however. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed exploring the history of beer in America and gained a greater respect for the pint of yeast, hops, barley, and water that sits next to me as I type.
Beer Books: The United States of Beer
Book Title: The United States of Beer
Book Description: An irreverent brews-fueled trip through the history of America's favorite beverage, The United States of Beer is a fun read for any beer lover.
Book Author: Dane Huckelbridge
ISBN: 0062389777
Number Of Pages: 304
- Utah Beer News Rating
Summary
An irreverent brews-fueled trip through the history of America’s favorite beverage, The United States of Beer is a fun read for any beer lover.
