Showing posts with label Book Review. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Book Review. Show all posts

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Book Review: Great Food Great Beer

Yes, it is a cookbook from the fine people who make you Budweiser.  What do I like about Great Food Great Beer? Almost everything.  Many beer cookbooks focus on beer as an ingredient.  This book is not like that.  Although some recipes include beer as an ingredient, many of the 185 recipes are plain old recipes.  Personally I have enjoyed cooking with AB products.  They are cheap and the flavor seems to concentrate as it boils down.  I would say if you want the beer to be a bold standout flavor then you will likely need to find a bolder beer.  I don't want to cry when I dump a bottle of AB in a pot like I would with some other beers.  Right now, my cabinet is typically stocked with either pricier beer or something so hard to find I cannot stand to sacrifice it for a meal.

Every recipe has a suggested beer pairing.  However, most cookbooks have a suggested pairing with a specific beer named.  This book states the style then the matching company product, allowing me to adapt to my preference.  Also, the suggestions go beyond just Budweiser and Bud Light.  The Michelob line of "craft" beer is also referenced in this book.

The recipes are for the most part not pretentious and easy to make.  It is a solid cookbook for novice to intermediate kitchen dwellers.  The beginning of the book contains a short history of Anheuser-Busch, and the basics on pairing, pouring and glassware to assist you in entertaining.  If you are just starting to cook with beer I suggest you purchase this book.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Book Review: The Little Black Book Of Beer

The Little Black Book Of Beer provides a concise, easy to read, review of all the beer basics.  At approximately four by six inches this truly is a little black book.  Additionally, this was my first beer book.  I found it so useful getting started that I bought one for Bro as her first beer book.  A quick review of the history of beer both internationally and the unique history of the U.S. give readers an appreciation of where beer has come from and where it is going.  The author also takes the reader through the basics of tasting, storage, and even ordering beer.

One to two page reviews of different beer styles makes up the bulk of this book.  In each style review you learn the region of origin, common variations, alcohol by volume, characteristics, beers of each style to try, and food pairings.  The characteristics section has a basic history of the style as well as color, aroma and flavor profile you should expect.  There is a pretty solid glossary in the back.

I would say this book is a must for those getting started in beer.  The style guide provides an excellent background but is not serious enough for a brewer or beer judge.  Beer connoisseurs may find this book a bit beneath them, but I still use it from time to time for a quick fact check.  The compact size has allowed me to take it with me on many of my adventures like Denver for reference on the go.