Beginner’s Beer Library

The following is a list of resources for those beginning in the world of craft beer. These are resources that I personally found/find of value. I will add to it over time and some may be replaced by others as it evolves.

Books

Tasting beerRandy Mosher; Storey Pub. 2009WorldCat•LibraryThing•Google Books•BookFinder 

My review of Mosher, which I consider the core book in the Beginner’s Beer Library.

“Synopsis: This is an excellent introduction to beer, beer culture and history, and the tasting (not simply drinking) of beer. Highly recommended!”

Beer: tap into the art and science of brewingCharles W. Bamforth; Oxford University Press 2009WorldCat•LibraryThing•Google Books•BookFinder 

My review.

“Short take: This is an excellent introduction to the art and basic science of brewing. It serves as a great introduction to the entire brewing process and does provide a few references for further, more in-depth, study. Highly recommended.”

Vintage beer: a taster’s guide to brews that improve over timePatrick Dawson; Storey Publishing 2014WorldCat•LibraryThing•Google Books•BookFinder

My review of Dawson’s Vintage Beer.

“Vintage Beer by Dawson is an excellent introduction to cellaring beer. It is a quick read that will also bear close studying and better note-taking. Production values are high and it is well-edited.”

Bend beer: a history of brewing in Central OregonJon Abernathy; The History Press 2014WorldCat•LibraryThing•Google Books•BookFinder 

Our friend Jon Abernathy’s Bend Beer was recently released. This is what I have had to say about it here so far.

“It is currently “the definitive” book on brewing in Central Oregon, but I know even Jon wants more answers to some things. There is more he could not fit due to space constraints. Such is book authorship.”

Cheese & BeerJanet Kessel Fletcher; Andrews McMeel 2013WorldCat•LibraryThing•Google Books•BookFinder 

Any fan of good cheese and beer should own, and make use of, this book. We picked up our copy from the author at a signing and tasting at the Deschutes Brewery Bend Public House.

Websites/Blogs

The Brew Site. Jon Abernathy has been blogging about beer for over 10 years now. Only a small handful worldwide can make that claim. Jon is the author of the 2014 released Bend Beer [see above]. If you want to know which breweries are/were present in Central Oregon and which are in planning and the order they came in then see the sidebar on Jon’s blog. No one else gives you as complete or as accurate info yet. No one.

Good Beer Hunting. Michael Kiser is the real deal. Check out his site, his photographs, his writing, his events, his podcast (if so inclined), the items in his store.

Boak & Bailey’s Beer Blog. Jessica Boak & Ray Bailey write the eponymous Boak & Bailey’s Beer Blog and are the author’s of the 2014 released Brew Britannia: The Strange Rebirth of British Beer. This is a great blog to follow with lots of useful comments along with linking in/out to many other great resources/people. This is my “view” into the world of British beer and actually much wider. Boak & Bailey also host the quarterly #beerylongreads.

Articles

“The Tasting Act” by Randy Mosher in All About Beer 35(4), 24 November 2014. An excellent overview of the tasting act.