Beer Is Proof God Loves Us: Reaching for the Soul of Beer and Brewing, CourseSmart eTextbook

Beer Is Proof God Loves Us is a funny, engaging, and downright joyous examination of the whole world of beer and brewing. Your guide, Charlie Bamforth, may be the world's #1 expert on every aspect of beer: After a worldwide search, he was selected as the first Anheuser-Busch Professor of Brewing Science at the University of California, Davis. Now, he presents the most compelling social history of beer ever written: where it's come from, where the brewing business stands now, and what the future holds. In this far-reaching book, he reveals

• The extraordinary complexity and artistry that can be found in great brewing.
• The factors that impact beer quality and wholesomeness.
• Centuries-old cultural values embedded in good beer.

Bamforth also explains what the rise of new craft breweries means to beer drinkers and what the latest global trends will have on beer consumption. The book concludes with a look to the future, illustrating how environmental issues will change the brewing industry and addressing radical new approaches to brewing, such as Happoshu and malternatives.

Preface     xiii

Introduction     xv

Chapter 1: Global Concerns     1

Chapter 2: The Not-So-Slow Death of a Beer Culture     23

Chapter 3: Barbican, Balls, and Beyond     39

Chapter 4: On The Other Hand: The Re-Birth of a Beer Ethos     49

Chapter 5: So What Is Quality?     65

Chapter 6: Despite the Odds: Anti-Alcohol Forces     79

Chapter 7: Societal Issues     93

Chapter 8: Looks Good, Tastes Good, and…     101

Chapter 9: Whither Brewing?     115

Chapter 10: God in a Glass     123

Conclusion     129

Endnotes     133

Appendix A: The Basics of Malting and Brewing     213

Appendix B: Types of Beer     219

About the Author     223

Index     225