Yankee Brew News Archive

The On Tap Companion By Steve Johnson

Originally Published: Spr/93

By: Brett Peruzzi

Fast on the heels of On Tap, his guide to U.S. brewpubs, Steve Johnson, publisher of the beer lover's newsletter World Beer Review, has come out with The On Tap Companion. Johnson's latest book picks up where the last one left off; the book is subtitled New Brewpubs and Microbreweries Since the Spring of 1991. It covers all known openings up to May of 1992, and projected openings through August (including 10 within The Yankee Brew News readership area). As Johnson notes in his introduction, the brewpub business, despite the recession, is booming.

The brewpubs (and microbreweries that offer tours) are listed alphabetically by state. A map (complete with mileage scale) precedes the section for each state, showing the location of each brewpub and microbrewery.

A total of 69 brewpubs and microbreweries are included in The On Tap Companion, in the same graphically-oriented, easy-to-read format introduced in On Tap. Symbols running down the left side of each brewpub's description highlight the essential information, such as a clock beside the hours of operation, a frothing mug next to the beer list, and a knife and fork next to the text describing the food offerings. At a glance you can get the lowdown on each establishment, right down to the type of music played there and whether it has a fireplace! Johnson has clearly done his homework.

Aside from the brewpub and microbrewery listings, a couple of other nice features have been included in The On Tap Companion .There is a list and description of the major U.S. beer festivals, including when they are held and who to call for more information. A good list to peruse before you plan a vacation (although the spring Boston Brewers Festival unfortunately was not included). As a service to readers, Johnson also includes a section on drinking and driving, urging both caution and education, which he supplements with blood-alcohol charts that show, for different weight groups, the number of beers that can be safely consumed within a certain number of hours.

With the American beer renaissance spreading so quickly, The On Tap Companion is a welcome addition to the library of U.S. beer travelers. It can be ordered for $8, plus $2 postage and handling, from WBR Publications, P.O. Box 71, Clemson, SC, 29633.