Description
Beer Is Proof God Loves Us is a funny, engaging, deeply personal, 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 has in store. Bamforth draws on 32 years in all areas of the beer industry - from ingredients and processing to health impacts and culture. In this far-reaching book, he reveals the extraordinary complexity and artistry that can be found in great brewing... shares the centuries-old cultural values embedded in good beer... explains what the radical consolidation of major brewing companies and the rise of new craft breweries means to beer drinkers... discusses the latest global trends in beer consumption... introduces the industry's governmental, religious, and anti-alcohol adversaries... and explains why (in reasonable moderation) beer is truly good for you!
Table of Contents
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
