Reviews

Brown to the defence of British boozers

In The Pub, Pete Brown has written a lyrical love song to a great British institution, in all its manifestations, from ancient ale house to Victorian gin palace and modern micro-pub. He traces the history of the pub and pub names and lists hostelries of all shapes and sizes united by good beer.
Added: Thursday, August 18th 2016
Restoring name of great Burton brewers

Burton-based Ian Webster has written a fascinating history of Allsopp's and Ind Coope, two breweries that played a pivotal role in the IPA revolution. Both breweries disappeared during the merger mania of the late 20th century but Ian Webster has turned the spotlight on their critical part in Burton's brewing history.
Added: Sunday, January 3rd 2016
Morse and beer: solving an old 'cold case'

E Morse was not only the name of the celebrated fictional detective but was also one member of a brewing family in East Anglia that ran breweries in Norwich, Lowestoft and Swaffham. Author Eric Dore has investigated the Morse story with the dedication of the great detective and brought the brewing story to life
Added: Saturday, November 28th 2015
How to explore the brilliant world of beer

In his new book, So You Want To Be a Beer Expert?, Jeff Evans takes beer lovers old and new through the history of brewing, how beer is made and the proliferating range of styles now available. It's a book that will inform new drinkers but experienced tipplers will gain much from its pages
Added: Monday, October 26th 2015
Book that puts beer back on the table

Canadian beer writer Stephen Beaumont has toured the world in search of both good beer and good food. In a sumptuous delight of a book, he traces the history of beer, its raw materials, the rise and fall of matching beer with food and the 21st century renaissance that sees top chefs organising beer and food pairing and using beer in their dishes
Added: Thursday, October 15th 2015
Raising a glass to London's beer boom

London was once dubbed a 'beer desert' but it has recovered from the days of manic takeovers to offer drinkers a vast choice of good beers and modern bars alongside traditional boozers. In a new edition of his CAMRA guide, Des de Moor relishes the revival of brewing in the capital city
Added: Wednesday, July 15th 2015
Raise a glass to Midlands pubs heritage

CAMRA's Pubs Heritage Group has produced a superb, full-colour guide to the astonishing collection of pubs in the Midlands -- from the Welsh border to the Wash -- that recall the hey-day of pub design and building in the 19th and 20th centuries, leaving us a legacy of great drinking places. As well as Art Nouveau emporia there are simple ale houses such as the Coopers Tavern (left) in Burton-on-Trent
Added: Sunday, April 26th 2015
'Gypsy' Mikkeller's voyage of discovery

Mikkel Borg Bjergso (pictured), founder of the Danish "gypsy" brewery Mikkeller, has written an entertaining book that details his shift from maths teacher to brewer in Copenhagen. Starting with traditional beers, he has broadened his scope with new styles that use herbs, spices, fruit and coffee, and he has toured the world to make collaborative brews. He also shares many of his recipes for home-brewers to reproduce
Added: Wednesday, March 11th 2015
The craft beer revolution is going Dutch

Tim Skelton's new Beer in the Netherlands guide book shows that craft brewing is booming there and the country no longer hides in the giant shadow cast by Belgian beer. The book lists all the breweries and the best bars, and is a boon companion for beer lovers visiting the country
Added: Saturday, July 5th 2014