4 stars
Jacqui Small, £25
Ben McFarland’s talents for both award-winning beer writing and for comedy shines in ‘Boutique Beer’. Do not be fooled by the light-hearted narrative, however, as this book is a comprehensive guide to the world’s craft beers and the stories behind them.
The book kicks off with basics such as ingredients, flavours and glassware, before categorising beers as diverse as Worthington’s White Shield to Cantillon Kriek Lambic under headings such as Quench, Classic and Sipper. Brewery profiles also feature, as do recipes. If you find the recipe for duck in Scotch ale a tad daunting, there are some more everyday beer and food pairing suggestions.
As well as descriptions of the beers, chapters contain interesting nuggets of beer trivia and history. Did you know for example the word bride has its origins in ‘to brew’?
For those not deterred by the section on beard yeast (brewed with actual hair) and keen to sample the beers for themselves, the book concludes with a directory of beer festivals.
Whether a beer geek like me, a food-lover or simply beer curious, ‘Boutique Beer’ is an informative and entertaining read written with all the warmth you’d expect from a vintage ale.
Lisa Wadlow, Time Out London Issue 2246 September 24-30, 2013
Buy this book
