If you love craft beer, you probably spend most of your time drinking it. but, if you’re really in love with bold and delicious beers, you might find yourself reading about them, in which case knowing the best beer books would help.
Fortunately, there are plenty of options when it comes to taking your hobby beyond just drinking. If you want to learn more about your favorite vice, pick up one of these beer books and dive right in.
You are reading: Best books about beer
And while you’re at it, grab some of our favorite beer tools and take your beer education to the next level.
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the best beer books
the beer cloud: a storybook
for fiction lovers: our very own hop culture founder, kenny gould, published his first book! He may not be used to beer fiction, but that’s because Gould is a pioneer in the genre.
Atop the brewing cloud, a fictional floating city where everyone is involved in some aspect of the brewing industry, stories are brewing. a jaded beer drinker searches for a hidden brewery. a farmer finds a buried beer bottle that grants good luck. a barley plant and hops speak of the nature of love.
These are just some of the stories from one of beer’s creative voices. welcome to the brewing cloud!
buy now: $10
brooklyn brewery brewing book: 52 small batch seasonal recipes
for the homebrewer: the brooklyn brewery has long been the best at making homebrewing as simple as possible. Your Daily Ipa Kit is one of our favorite craft beer making kits for beginners. that’s a loaded statement because, frankly, homebrewing can be pretty tough.
but, if you’re up for a challenge and in the mood for some seasonal beers, this book is for you. It’s a recipe guide for those who like to drink seasonally and a perfect companion to John Palmer’s Brewing.
buy now: $12 buy ipa daily kit: $48
the craft beer cookbook: from ipas and bocks to pilsners and porters
for the chef: beer always pairs well with food; just check out our guide to pairing ipa with food or this specialized guide to pairing ipa with steak. but sometimes, it goes better in food.
learn how to incorporate beer into all your favorite dishes with 100 recipes from jackie dodd and even your best ipa can find its way into your dinner. keep up with jackie on her beautiful instagram beer, thebeeroness.
buy now: $13
the complete beer course: boot camp for beer geeks
for the future cicerone: if there’s one modern beer journalist you need to know, it’s josh bernstein. he has been a pioneer in shifting niche beer writing to a broader audience, and his book, The Complete Beer Course, is just that. is a detailed breakdown of the beer market, beer styles, how to taste, and what to look for when testing a beer.
It’s as good as it gets, and this book shows you how, with a lot of work, you can get there, too.
buy now: $17
beer school: a crash course in craft beer
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For Beginners: School of Beer, written by Jonny Garrett, is a digestible explanation of how beer is made and how beer styles are distinguished.
garrett, one of the uk’s most recognizable voices in the world of beer, enlisted creative veteran brad evans for the book’s illustrations. together they make the scientific arguments for beer engaging and entertaining.
buy now: $13
brewing revolution: pioneers in the craft beer movement
For the Historian: Frank Appleton is an English-trained brewmaster who is considered by many to be the absolute father of the Canadian craft beer movement. His memoir, Brewing Revolution, archives his fifty years in the industry, the struggles of his passion, and looks ahead to what he believes is the most competitive market yet.
buy now: $16
new world beer guide
for finalist: all beer lovers should be familiar with the work of michael jackson (don’t insert that michael jackson joke). He is perhaps the most revered and talented beer writer in the world and his new World Beer Guide is a must buy to round out his beer book collection.
If you want to supplement this book, which was published 20 years ago, look to another talented and respected writer and brewer, Garrett Oliver. Oliver’s Gigantic The Oxford Beer Companion is a great addition to his stack of books.
buy now: $2
the history of beer cartoon: the world’s favorite drink since 7000 BC. c. until the current craft revolution
for comic book lovers: most beer books are full of details and dense paragraphs of historical anecdotes. But, Jonathan Hennessey and Mike Smith’s Beer Comic Book Story is just that: a comic book. Inside are 180 pages of full-color comics, packed with detail, highlighting the rise of beers from a primary beverage to a container of premier glassware.
buy now: $12
Untapped: Exploring the Cultural Dimensions of Craft Beer
for the culturally aware friend: Untapped is a collection of twelve essays on the meteoric rise of craft beer. untapped asks questions like, “how does the growth of craft beer connect to trends like the farm-to-table movement, gentrification, the rise of the ‘creative class,’ and changing attitudes toward cities and farms?” ?” and seeks answers through interview, research and interjection. is valuable reading for beer lovers with an idea of how beer exists in our communities.
buy now: $30
the beer bible
for the godly drinker: jeff alworth’s beer bible celebrates beer. Whether you’re a novice or a seasoned beer drinker, there’s something for you in this book. If nothing else, the beer bible can serve as a reference and asks some great questions: “how do I enjoy beer?” and “what really is a beer?”
buy now: $13
the little book of craft beer: a guide to over 100 of the best beers in the world
for the traveler: while the craft beer booklet isn’t out yet, it’s one to add to your pre-order list. Melissa Cole, acclaimed beer and food writer, details the search for the world’s best beers and how to subsequently pair them with what you eat. it’s a detailed explanation, mostly from personal experience, of all the good things about beer.
buy now: $15
beyond limits: the history of sierra nevada brewing co.
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For the Entrepreneur: America is home to some iconic breweries and brewery founders. Reading their stories gives insight into how the craft beer movement in America began and where it might be going.
In this book, Ken Grossman of Sierra Nevada offers his own story. Read about Grossman’s beginnings as a homebrewer and how the Sierra Nevada Pale Ale became one of America’s most popular beers.
In the same vein as beyond the pale, check out dogfish head’s story of starting a business and the brooklyn brewery at brewing school.
buy now: $15
the beer geek handbook: living a life ruled by beer
for beer addicts: do you already know the ins and outs of beer and brewing? Have you dedicated your life to consuming as many different beers as possible?
If so, the Beer Geek Handbook is the perfect companion for a beer nerd. You’ll be encouraged by the things you already know and challenged by the things that are new to you – it’s a comprehensive guide to continuing to dedicate your life to beer (if that’s even possible).
buy now: $12
brewing record book: homemade recipe and tasting notes diary
for the note taker: if you have a notebook at the bar, you’re probably taking things too seriously. but, if you really and absolutely need something to write down while drinking or brewing: get the brewing log book.
Vintage green and adorned with a simple pair of illustrated hops, the logbook is simple and tasteful, just like your favorite beer!
buy now: $10
cocktails on tap: the art of mixing spirits and beer
for the bartender: You may not think of it often, but there are plenty of people who are itching to pair beer and spirits. With these recipes, the seemingly prehistoric adage of “beer before liquor” quickly disappears. is not a guide to avoiding a hangover, but rather a detailed cookbook on how to cultivate it.
buy now: $19
good night beer: a parody for brewers
for everyone: just because, like seeing your favorite beer on the draft list, it’s too good to pass up.
buy now: $13
Unless otherwise noted, all products featured in Hop Culture are independently chosen by our editorial team. however, Hop Culture may earn a commission on purchases made through affiliate links on the site.
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