Book Reviews

Review

Brand new guide to beer and travel

Phil Mellows and Kate Simon have compiled a brilliant book that celebrates some fine British pubs along with places to stay and visit throughout the country, This is a great contribution to supporting and saving community pubs at a time when so many are closing

Added: Thursday, March 20th 2025

Review

Digging deep for brewing history in Herts

Hertfordshire grows fine grain for brewing and the county once had a multitude of malting companies. Now there's only one and McMullen is the last remaining major commercial brewer. But in his new book, Martyn Cornell reports there are now a number of new craft breweries using grain from the eastern counties

Added: Monday, March 10th 2025

Review

A love affair with the British pub

Adrian Tierney-Jones has written a remarkable book that's more than a pub guide. It charts the way in which pubs change to reflect the changing seasons, busy with visitors in summer but relying on locals in the colder months.

Added: Monday, January 20th 2025

Review

How to make brilliant beers at home

A new book on home brewing by Andy Parker and Jamil Zainasheef will help beer lovers to create great beers at home. The book is packed with vital information about malt, hops, yeast and water and advises on the best equipment to use to get the finest results

Added: Thursday, January 2nd 2025

Review

Major study of role of women in brewing

In a major study of the history of women brewers, Dr Christina Wade shows how the Black Death of the 14th century diminished their role and men came to dominate commercial beer making. But today many more women are running breweries and they ae supported by women writers and lecturers.

Added: Friday, September 6th 2024

Comment

Beer: please don't frighten the ponies

Last month Bateman's Brewery in Lincolnshire celebrated its 150th anniversary with a special lunch attended by several hundred fellow brewers, retailers and beer writers. The media was noticeable by its absence. It could have interviewed Stuart and Jaclyn Bateman (pictured), the fourth generation of the family but chose to stay away. Britain is as great brewing nation but is badly served by the media

Added: Monday, May 6th 2024

Review

Superb guide to Manchester beer & pubs

Matthew Curtis has written and photographed a fine new guide to the bars, pubs and breweries of Manchester and has linked them to the city's long history of brewing. Several old family breweries have survived and they have been joined by a host of new small producers in recent years. The enjoyment of beer in the city is heightened by the many superb pubs, both ancient and modern

Added: Saturday, November 18th 2023

Comment

In depth history of Britain's beer culture

Des de Moor's new book is a well-researched history of brewing in Britain, the development of cask-conditioned ale and its struggle to revive after Covid. The design of the book is odd -- with long sections on lager as well as ale -- before readers get to the promise of the title but in general this is a thoughtful, stimulating and provocative analysis

Added: Monday, October 30th 2023

Review

Desi pubs: good for beer, food & society

David Jesudason has written a remarkable guide to desi pubs that offer not only good beer and exceptional food but are also at the vanguard of combatting racism in society. He has found pubs that once operated all-white colour bars but now welcome people from all ethnic backgrounds and offer food with its roots in Asian culture and history.

Added: Sunday, June 11th 2023

News

Protz chooses some of world's top beers

Roger Protz is one of eight leading beer writers who have combined to choose their favourite brews for the new book The World's Greatest Beers, published by CAMRA Books. It will be launched on 2 August, the opening day of the Great British Beer Festival. Protz says he has chosen 33 beers that reflect both great standard bearers along with beers from the vast number of new breweries to be found throughout the world

Added: Wednesday, July 20th 2022