Marc Bona, cleveland.com

10 beer books out in 2017

CLEVELAND, Ohio – A handful of books on beer published in 2017 cover everything from pairing beer with tasty sandwiches to the mystique of Trappist ales. For those interested in traveling to those who stay home and brew, there’s a book for you. Here’s a look at the 2017 titles.

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Marc Bona, cleveland.com

Atlas of Beer

By Nancy Hoalst-Pullen and Mark W. Patterson, National Geographic, 303 pages, $40.

This book is as much an interesting travel guide as it is one on beer. “Speakeasy” sections offer ordering tips in various countries, while “On Tap with Garrett Oliver” discusses local beer styles. The Brooklyn Brewery icon’s thoughts are welcomed in any book on beer. This regional breakdown would be a nice guide for any beer-quaffing travelers.

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Marc Bona, cleveland.com

Beeronomics

By Johan Swinnen and Devin Briski, Oxford University Press, 187 pages, $24.95.

The authors embrace their subtitle “How beer explains the world,” based on beer’s production and consumption role in economics and politics. It’s a deep dive to be sure, meant for those who are interested in the importance of farmers’ long-term barley contracts. (A section on how brewer Pierre Celis was squeezed out of Belgium, immigrated to Austin, Texas, and partnered with Miller Brewing is especially interesting.)

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Marc Bona, cleveland.com

Brew Your Business

By Karen McGrath, Regina Luttrell, Todd Luttrell and Sean McGrath, Rowman & Littlefield, 200 pages, $32.

There are a few thousands commercial breweries but even more brewers. For some it’s a hobby. For others, though, the eye on is the prize, and the prize is going commercial. This book aims to arm the brewer in a variety of business areas (laws, marketing) and includes “Talking from the Tap!” Q and As with industry folks. It also acts as a home-brewing primer.

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Marc Bona, cleveland.com

50 Must-Try Craft Beers of Ohio

By Rick Armon, Ohio University Press, 238 pages, $19.95.

In this, the second beer book from the Akron Beacon Journal’s beer writer, you’ll get capsules that include beer info, availability, suggestions on what else to try, and brief chapters on the breweries. In addition Armon includes various lists - 10 Ohio foods paired with craft beer, 10 most influential people in the Ohio craft-beer community, and the like. Armon’s love for traversing his home state for beer shows in this book.

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Marc Bona, cleveland.com

Lonely Planet's Global Beer Tour

By Lonely Planet’s beer experts, Lonely Planet, 267 pages, $19.99.

The summaries here are geared for those who like to visit breweries on their travels. Notes include what’s offered at breweries as well as what non-beer attractions are nearby. Breweries in 32 countries across five continents are included, but none are in Ohio.

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Marc Bona, cleveland.com

Grilled Cheese & Beer

By Kevin VanBlarcum and James Edward Davis, Hatherleigh Press, 150 pages, $16.95.

Designer grilled-cheese recipes and specific craft beers are paired in the pages of this recipe book. And why not? Brief beer and cheese guides are included as a primer before you get to the clearly written 50-plus recipes. Bon appetit and cheers.

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Marc Bona, cleveland.com

Lager

By Dave Carpenter, Voyageur Press, 240 pages, $25.

It’s time lager got its due. So many variations of ale are on the market today, but over the years lager has stepped up its game. It’s no longer the yellow fizzy brew sold in breweries big and small. This book does a nice job with its definitions (time, temperature and yeast differences from ales), drops in fun facts, and results in a comprehensive, interesting read.

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Marc Bona, cleveland.com

Tasting Beer

By Randy Mosher, Storey, 367 pages, $19.95.

The longtime beer writer-author’s second edition of this book is a very readable, comprehensive look at all things beer. It’s a very good explainer and doesn’t stray into technical mumbo-jumbo. It covers general topics ranging from history to the differences between styles, to specifics like which bottles are better to smart food pairings and a lot more. Don’t expect a home brewer’s recipe book here; this is an interesting, overall reference for drinkers and brewers alike.

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Marc Bona, cleveland.com

The Secrets of Master Brewers

By Jeff Alworth, Storey, 293 pages, $24.95.

The Beervana blogger in Oregon details more than two dozen styles, but instead of just listing home-brew recipes he focuses on breweries that do them right - Brewery Ommegang for Witbiers and Urban Chestnut for Bavarian Lager, for example. European and American styles and the breweries that craft them are covered.

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Marc Bona, cleveland.com

Trappist Beer Travels

By Caroline Wallace, Sarah Wood and Jessica Deahl, 207 pages, $24.99.

The trio of authors visited all the Trappist breweries on the planet (there are 11 in five countries, with most in Belgium), covering each one with its own chapter. The result is this look at these special breweries making complex ales in monasteries under strict regulation. Who makes these ales? “The truth lies somewhere between the happy monk and the austere brewer,” the authors write.