Beer Information

[legionnaire]

Due to my recent switch from macro to microbrews, I've developed a newfound interest in learning about the different types of brewing styles. I've hunted around on the internet and found conflicting information many times, so I was wondering if you guys could enlighten me on the different brews, such as pilsner, lager, stout, porter, pale ale, wheat beer, etc.... and feel free to talk about the types I felt out. Thanks guys, any information is much appreciated.

- Shane

[BrewDog]

Welcome!

Here's a link to a great description of
Beer Styles (http://www.homebrewfair.com/text/styles.html)

[brewmonkey]

www.bjcp.org

[wortchillergoal]

I will add a starting block for those two web sites.
First, there are two types of beer. One is lager and the other ale. The difference is the temp the yeast at which the yeast ferment.

It breaks down even more. Within each family, lager and ale, you have differnt styles. A pilsner is a lager and so is a bock. Porter and Pale Ale are in the ale family. There are more but you get the idea.

I hope this helps you as you use the two wonderful sites given to you.

[legionnaire]

Thanks a lot guys, reading now...

[HogieWan]

Can anyone suggest a book for reading? To me, learning the history of beer and how styles developed from necessity. I know some have been talked about here, maybe a quick search will turn something up

[Stodbrew]

Originally posted by HogieWan
Can anyone suggest a book for reading? To me, learning the history of beer and how styles developed from necessity. I know some have been talked about here, maybe a quick search will turn something up


Here you go... These are great books, too.

http://www.store.beertown.org/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=17&cat=Classic+Beer+Styles

[HogieWan]

Originally posted by Stodbrew
Here you go... These are great books, too.

http://www.store.beertown.org/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=17&cat=Classic+Beer+Styles

but that's gonna get pricey - any good book that has all the styles or at least 10?

[legionnaire]

Originally posted by Stodbrew
Here you go... These are great books, too.

http://www.store.beertown.org/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=17&cat=Classic+Beer+Styles

which book on that page would you recommend for a variety of styles?

[steveh]

Originally posted by HogieWan
but that's gonna get pricey - any good book that has all the styles or at least 10?

You can't go wrong with The New World Guide to Beer or Ultimate Beer by Michael Jackson (no, he's not on trial) - they're great tomes on beer styles, history, and brewing.

S.

[chazwicke]

http://beerbooks.com/

[noby]

Originally posted by steveh
You can't go wrong with The New World Guide to Beer

I'll second that. It covers all styles, and is laid out with chapters dealing with each country/region.

[brewcrew76]

I was thinking of picking up the New World Guide. My one question is do any of you feel it is outdated having been written so many years ago? I don't want it to be packed with info about breweries that aren't in existence anymore.

[newportstorm]

Originally posted by brewcrew76
I was thinking of picking up the New World Guide. My one question is do any of you feel it is outdated having been written so many years ago? I don't want it to be packed with info about breweries that aren't in existence anymore.

Here are stats from The Breer's Association re: American craft brewers in 2004:

2004 U.S. Openings:
46 Brewpubs
26 Microbreweries

2004 U.S. Closings YTD:
77 Brewpubs
12 Microbreweries

If these numbers are consistent with previous years' stats, any book written more than 5 years ago, might be a bit outdated.

Cheers!

[HogieWan]

But the HISTORY of styles will still be the same (or do they change that too?):)

[fretlessman71]

Originally posted by steveh
You can't go wrong with The New World Guide to Beer or Ultimate Beer by Michael Jackson (no, he's not on trial)....... If you'll forgive a brief hijacked thread, who saw Triumph the insult comic dog on Conan Thursday night? :D

[HogieWan]

no - missed it, but I love triumph

[fretlessman71]

Triumph went to LA to visit the MJ supporters outside the courthouse. Hilarious! My favorite line was when he was interviewing one of the local news anchors:

"Okay, you've read the reports, you've heard the testimony; in your honest opinion, on a scale of one to ten...

... how old is Michael Jackson's boyfriend?" :D

[TOBP_Steve]

I apologize for getting back on track, but...


but that's gonna get pricey - any good book that has all the styles or at least 10?

I started out with Beer for Dummies, and I still refer to that book. It has a basic overview, breakdown between ales and lagers, descriptions of some hybrids, the history of some types, and commercial examples of all styles. It has basic scientific info on the brewing process and the different temps for ale/lager brewing, etc etc etc. It even has basic homebrewing info, but it's more of a tease to get you to buy Homebrewing for Dummies. Since I have yet to start brewing my own, I haven't bought it yet.

It's my own personal opinion, but it reads a little better, at a lower literary level, then the Michael Jackson books I've read. I enjoy MJ's stuff now, but for those getting started it might not be the best.

[steveh]

Originally posted by TOBP_Steve
It's my own personal opinion, but it reads a little better, at a lower literary level, then the Michael Jackson books I've read. I enjoy MJ's stuff now, but for those getting started it might not be the best.

I say jump right in - the beer's fine! :D

I'd actually like to check out BFD sometime, but back when I was getting into good beer, Jackson was about all there was - and it was pretty enthralling to pick up The New World Guide and start learning history and style comparison.

If NWG seems a bit daunting to anyone, I highly suggest Ultimate Beer - also by MJ. It's more condensed in its info on each style and a great companion while sampling new styles.

Does BFD give any pointers on tasting and flavor identification?

S.

[TOBP_Steve]

Does BFD give any pointers on tasting and flavor identification?

S. [/B]

Crap, I can't remember. I think, but I'm not 100% sure. When I get home I'll check it out and respond.

And when I say it's written at a lower literary level.....if you already have the vocabulary of beer, MJ's books are wonderful, what BFD does is GIVE you the vocabulary. It teaches you about hops, malts, adjuncts, the different styles, etc. I know it gives info on color so that you can ID one if it's in front of you, and I'm sure it'd have flavor info. Actually, I'm sure it does, but I'll summarize it when I can actually see it in front of me. Anyway, if you are to beer what Cole Trickle was to NASCAR, where you know what you like but you don't have the vocabulary to discuss it or ask for it, BFD will help you out, and enable you to graduate to the MJ stuff.

OK, now for my Beavis/Butthead moment...huh huh huh, he said BFD. Huh huh.

[HogieWan]

<rehijackerize>

Originally posted by fretlessman71
Triumph went to LA to visit the MJ supporters outside the courthouse. Hilarious!

here's a link (http://ryoni.com/media/jackson.wmv) - I haven't watched it yet - I'm at work.

BTW - the video is almost 40MB

</rehijackerize>

<!-- resume thread -->

[BrewDog]

To get back off track-


What's Michael Jackson's idea of a "perfect 10"?











2 five year olds...... <ducking and covering>
:D

[Fast_Eddy]

To continue....

Did you know they just found out that Michael Jackson likes 29 year olds? Know the only problem?

There's 20 of 'em.

[TOBP_Steve]

Sigh....

You know why Michael Jackson likes Wal-Mart?

They have all boy's pants half-off.

/ducks lightning bolt, sneaks past entrance to Hell

[Lamprey]

My first book on beer was MJs New World Guide to Beer - at the time, I found it a bit overwhelming. I certainly enjoy it now, but I would have liked to have started with something for, say, dummies.

Regarding the other MJ, I hear he's releasing a version of an old Elton John tune. It's called "Don't Let Your Son Go Down on Me".

[TOBP_Steve]

I checked Beer for Dummies, and there is info on tasting for the various styles. As for examples, on every style it gives not only the native example, but a US micro example. For example, on Belgian Golden Ale it gives you a commercial Belgian brand of this type, plus a US micro version.

[Seymour]

I need to find my copy of Beer for Dummies, as well as to thumb through my copy of Papazian's book. Recently, I bought a couple beer books, which, I'm sad to say, I promptly forgot I had until I saw them again on the bookshelf last night. I'll have to thumb through them and see if they're worth posting here as a resource.

So do I get to pile on, too now?

What has 18 testicles and three pubic hairs?

A sleep over at Michael Jackson's.

[Seymour]

Egad. I'm so ashamed that was my 200th post...

[fretlessman71]

And now you're interred it for all eternity by identifying it as such in the subsequent post. Way to own up to your own shame, Seymour! ;)

[Seymour]

:p

[chazwicke]

But you still deserve congrats on that 200th.

[HogieWan]

Originally posted by Seymour
A sleep over at Michael Jackson's.

In case you don't get invited to the sleepover - here's an aerial view (http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=34.745615,-120.088066&spn=0.003744,0.005332&t=k&hl=en).

[TOBP_Steve]

Anybody here have Garrett Oliver's book, "The Brewmasters Table"? Is it any good? I've seen it at B&N but never stopped to flip through it. I'm so bad about figuring which beer goes with what food that I could probably use something like that, but I'm also afraid it might be wasted on me. I tend to like to drink after dinner, with no food.

Q: Did you hear that Michael Jackson and Tonya Harding have decided to begin training racehorses together?

A: Yeah, she's gonna do all the handicapping and he's gonna ride all the three-year-olds!

[chazwicke]

I have an autographed copy. I think it is a good book. I have also been to a real ale and cheese pairing hosted by Oliver. And several beer tastings as well. He knows his stuff. I think Student has also used this book.( But I confess that I have only perused mine and not studied it.)