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Beers of the World: Over 350 Classic Beers, Lagers, Ales and Porters
In this guide, each beer is accompanied by an illustration, historical information, and detailed tasting notes that describe the beer's appearance, style, and unique flavors.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
March 26, 2015
When I was seventeen,
I drank some very good beer,
I drank some very good beer
I purchased with a fake ID.
My name was Brian McGee,
I stayed up listenin' to Queen
When I was seventeen.
Great song, but honestly I was in my 30s and it was about 2005 when I went to England that I tasted my first truly good beer.
(That's not me pictured, thank god.)
Then round about '06 I got into American craft beer and the following year I took the plunge into brewing. Ah, those were delicious days **le sigh**...As a consequence my wife made that Christmas's theme very beery. Beers of the World was as pretty a present as any picture, for it is essentially a picture book.
There is some text - helpful stats, specifications, notes on taste - but the pics of bottles and frothy glasses of the golden nectar dominate the page. Page after page of eye-popping pics.
Another thing it does to the eyes is open them. For instance, were you aware that Canada makes other kinds of beer besides Molson? You wouldn't know it by the ads coming down from up north...
There are regional differences too. Just by flipping through the big ol' pages you can see that the "Latin America and Caribbean" region mostly sticks with light beer, probably mostly made from corn (gross!). You've got to assume it's because of the heat. Who wants to drink a double chocolate oatmeal stout when the thermometer is topping 100F?
Yet, there are surprises too. The slim "Scandinavian" section also would indicate that they too prefer the light beers one associates with warm, summery days. What the hell? You'd expect them to be chowing down on knife-n-forkers like Ireland's plethora of thick-as-mud stouts and reds like Guinness, Killians, Beamish, Murphys, etc etc etc. Man, the Irish really took to beer.
Other notable take-aways:
- France should just quit with their brewing farce and stick to wine. Why? Because...
- Belgium's got you covered.
- The Czech Republic should sue Budweiser into the ground for stealing Budvar.
- Okay England we get it, every one of your bajillion villages makes its own beer.
- Africa apparently doesn't make beer? According to this book it would appear they don't.
- That's BULLSHIT! I've had a tasty Ethiopian stout at an Ethiopian restaurant!
- Microbreweries have helped America catch up with the rest of the world beer-wise.
If you are of the mind that all beer is the same, you are incorrect. Seek out Beers of the World and get yourself educated!
I drank some very good beer,
I drank some very good beer
I purchased with a fake ID.
My name was Brian McGee,
I stayed up listenin' to Queen
When I was seventeen.
Great song, but honestly I was in my 30s and it was about 2005 when I went to England that I tasted my first truly good beer.
(That's not me pictured, thank god.)
Then round about '06 I got into American craft beer and the following year I took the plunge into brewing. Ah, those were delicious days **le sigh**...As a consequence my wife made that Christmas's theme very beery. Beers of the World was as pretty a present as any picture, for it is essentially a picture book.
There is some text - helpful stats, specifications, notes on taste - but the pics of bottles and frothy glasses of the golden nectar dominate the page. Page after page of eye-popping pics.
Another thing it does to the eyes is open them. For instance, were you aware that Canada makes other kinds of beer besides Molson? You wouldn't know it by the ads coming down from up north...
There are regional differences too. Just by flipping through the big ol' pages you can see that the "Latin America and Caribbean" region mostly sticks with light beer, probably mostly made from corn (gross!). You've got to assume it's because of the heat. Who wants to drink a double chocolate oatmeal stout when the thermometer is topping 100F?
Yet, there are surprises too. The slim "Scandinavian" section also would indicate that they too prefer the light beers one associates with warm, summery days. What the hell? You'd expect them to be chowing down on knife-n-forkers like Ireland's plethora of thick-as-mud stouts and reds like Guinness, Killians, Beamish, Murphys, etc etc etc. Man, the Irish really took to beer.
Other notable take-aways:
- France should just quit with their brewing farce and stick to wine. Why? Because...
- Belgium's got you covered.
- The Czech Republic should sue Budweiser into the ground for stealing Budvar.
- Okay England we get it, every one of your bajillion villages makes its own beer.
- Africa apparently doesn't make beer? According to this book it would appear they don't.
- That's BULLSHIT! I've had a tasty Ethiopian stout at an Ethiopian restaurant!
- Microbreweries have helped America catch up with the rest of the world beer-wise.
If you are of the mind that all beer is the same, you are incorrect. Seek out Beers of the World and get yourself educated!
September 28, 2024
The main selling point is the book’s variety, which is now outdated fifteen years after publishing. There are a few cool anecdotes, but the book is repetitive in many stories and some of the suggested pairings are just downright zany. Did increase my awareness of foreign beers, though.
October 4, 2018
It's a beautiful book.
The hardcovers, the large format, the glossy papers, the large photos and the almost-trying-to-be-elegant feel is what definitely gives the book a few additional points of appraisal.
However, albeit the solid craftsmanship, the physical aspects of the edition come with a caveat: a catalogue listing 350 odd distinct beers would be much, much more practical in a lot smaller format. After all - as per one of the points made by the writer - the beer industry is rapidly expanding nowadays, microbreweries are popping up like ant nests everywhere, and the choice of beer types, brands and labels is increasing immeasurably by the day.
So 350 beers for a catalogue is... humorous in 2018 (to be frank the book was written 10 years ago, but still - it's not an overnight process).
For its intents and purposes, mostly acting as a sort of short introduction to the world of beer and some of the 350 most notable brews out there - which is something that the book definitely does well - the large almost-elegant format actually doesn't do much good.
But enough about that.
Please don't get me wrong - the book and the information that it contains bearing in mind its main goal is sufficient and informative enough, and on the flip side beer aficionados will find it more enjoyable than I did.
The only reason I even bothered with the book - which is not aligned with my main areas of interest - is because I had it in my possession. OCD kicked in and I couldn't leave it hanging there.
And what probably makes my critique harsher is that I've actually come across beer introductory books including catalogues (and better structured information about different styles to be honest) presented in a more succinct and compact way.
Still learned a thing or two though.
The hardcovers, the large format, the glossy papers, the large photos and the almost-trying-to-be-elegant feel is what definitely gives the book a few additional points of appraisal.
However, albeit the solid craftsmanship, the physical aspects of the edition come with a caveat: a catalogue listing 350 odd distinct beers would be much, much more practical in a lot smaller format. After all - as per one of the points made by the writer - the beer industry is rapidly expanding nowadays, microbreweries are popping up like ant nests everywhere, and the choice of beer types, brands and labels is increasing immeasurably by the day.
So 350 beers for a catalogue is... humorous in 2018 (to be frank the book was written 10 years ago, but still - it's not an overnight process).
For its intents and purposes, mostly acting as a sort of short introduction to the world of beer and some of the 350 most notable brews out there - which is something that the book definitely does well - the large almost-elegant format actually doesn't do much good.
But enough about that.
Please don't get me wrong - the book and the information that it contains bearing in mind its main goal is sufficient and informative enough, and on the flip side beer aficionados will find it more enjoyable than I did.
The only reason I even bothered with the book - which is not aligned with my main areas of interest - is because I had it in my possession. OCD kicked in and I couldn't leave it hanging there.
And what probably makes my critique harsher is that I've actually come across beer introductory books including catalogues (and better structured information about different styles to be honest) presented in a more succinct and compact way.
Still learned a thing or two though.
January 7, 2016
Fantastic reference book. Great selection of beers and a good write up on each. Working on drinking my way through the list. Very recommended
May 14, 2011
I expected some more information about the different kind of beers, more like a complete explanation, how the beers are made, and related stories about the people who made beer for living, a bit of an artistic touch, with info-graphic old material.
December 31, 2021
Mucho más útil como guía de referencia que como libro al uso. En 2021 se nota muy anticuado. Muy buen material de consulta en cuanto a cerveceras europeas históricas.
February 5, 2022
Outdated. This book is missing some of the best beers being brewed today and is more focused on old and historical beers from around the world.
November 17, 2024
El libro muestra cervezas famosas y otras menos conocidas.
Cada cerveza tiene su foto y datos interesantes. Te cuenta cómo se ve, a qué sabe y cómo se hace. También dice con qué comida va bien cada cerveza.
El libro está ordenado por regiones, como Europa y América. Así puedes ver cervezas de diferentes países. Hay cervezas de monjes en Bélgica y cervezas artesanales de Estados Unidos.
Es un libro grande y bonito, con tapa dura. Tiene muchas fotos a color que te dan ganas de probar las cervezas. Es perfecto para aprender sobre cervezas nuevas o para regalar a alguien que le guste la cerveza.
Cada cerveza tiene su foto y datos interesantes. Te cuenta cómo se ve, a qué sabe y cómo se hace. También dice con qué comida va bien cada cerveza.
El libro está ordenado por regiones, como Europa y América. Así puedes ver cervezas de diferentes países. Hay cervezas de monjes en Bélgica y cervezas artesanales de Estados Unidos.
Es un libro grande y bonito, con tapa dura. Tiene muchas fotos a color que te dan ganas de probar las cervezas. Es perfecto para aprender sobre cervezas nuevas o para regalar a alguien que le guste la cerveza.
February 12, 2021
I have read Öl från hela världen (Beers of the world) by David Kenning. If you feel the need, the need for beer this is a selection of what different countries brew. Since the release there are so many more breweries but it would be impossible to keep up with a printed book today. Still a great book.
August 1, 2020
Great full page color photos of the beers. Descriptions are instructive and varied. I thought this was a great book. I would argue for a few different beers to be added but we all have our preferences
January 4, 2008
For Christmas Santa (aka my girlfriends parents) dropped this heavy book in my lap. Zang! Beer at my fingertips, 24/7.
This is a book that should, could and in most cases would grace the top of the toilet for most single men, proprietors of Frat houses, part time drinkers, raging acloholics and (in my case) beer conisures coast to coast.
There isn't much to it; a few pages glossing over the history of beer, how it actually is brewed and a list of contents that make up the sudsy beverage. Then comes the meat of the book which is a by country breakdown of beers brewed the world over. Each section has a page or so blurb about the country and then we bring on the beer. There are one or two brands/styles per page with a paragraph or two detailing the actual beverage and a handy table that breaksdown things like aclohol content and what food it goes with.
Not exactly the most mentally stimulating book I have ever picked up but perfect for a few moments each day when I do my best Rodin impression whilst I sit upon my own (porcelain) thrown.
This is a book that should, could and in most cases would grace the top of the toilet for most single men, proprietors of Frat houses, part time drinkers, raging acloholics and (in my case) beer conisures coast to coast.
There isn't much to it; a few pages glossing over the history of beer, how it actually is brewed and a list of contents that make up the sudsy beverage. Then comes the meat of the book which is a by country breakdown of beers brewed the world over. Each section has a page or so blurb about the country and then we bring on the beer. There are one or two brands/styles per page with a paragraph or two detailing the actual beverage and a handy table that breaksdown things like aclohol content and what food it goes with.
Not exactly the most mentally stimulating book I have ever picked up but perfect for a few moments each day when I do my best Rodin impression whilst I sit upon my own (porcelain) thrown.
July 8, 2014
A fun little book about beers of the world. I was very happy to see my all time favorite pumpkin beer featured (Post Road Pumpkin. You will not regret it.*) and learned about a few more beers that I have added to my "to-be-tried" list- sour beers, beers with gruit, any beer from Italy, because seriously? They make beer? The pictures were great, the tidbits of history had me grinning ear to ear, even about the likes of Budweiser, I was kind of drooling throughout. Wish he had discussed a bit more how he had decided which beers to feature in the book, but I did enjoy the history of beer section greatly.
January 10, 2010
This is a great book for someone looking into domestic and imported beer and the subtle taste differences are described in detail in the book. Each page has a beer with it's history of production and a picture of the bottle. Not all beers are covered here. The back of the book says "A comprehensive guide to more than 350 of the finest beers from around the globe,......each beer is accompanied by color photography, historical information, and detailed tasting notes describing the beer's appearance, style, and unique flavors." It surely is.
December 8, 2014
I read this book because I have two children that have forgotten more about beer than I'll ever know. So, in self defense I picked this sale book up in order to at least become conversant about breweries, hops, malt, pilseners, brewing, alcohol content, serving temperatures and food servings. The book left out many smaller countries and I missed writeups on beers like Belize's Beliken, Kenya's Tusker or that the beers in Ecuador are owned by Miller. But little else is missed if you wish to study the subject.
August 15, 2014
Well after more than a year and a half, I finally finished this book. It was alright, very dry, but did have some interesting tidbits here and there.
My biggest complaint was that many times the description of the color of the beer would not match the photo at all, which was a little odd. I also noticed that for the Kwak beer, the unique glass was mentioned, but not shown.
Not a terrible book, but not very fun reading. Cool to get a general better idea about beers around the world, but there's a lot more information in there than is likely to stick. Looks great on the coffee table.
My biggest complaint was that many times the description of the color of the beer would not match the photo at all, which was a little odd. I also noticed that for the Kwak beer, the unique glass was mentioned, but not shown.
Not a terrible book, but not very fun reading. Cool to get a general better idea about beers around the world, but there's a lot more information in there than is likely to stick. Looks great on the coffee table.
September 13, 2016
2/5 stars ~ This large, full-color coffee table book doesn't list anywhere near as many beers as there actually are in the world, so it's only worth a short browse for someone just getting into beer. Beers are listed by country, two to four listings per page, with one picture of the beer's container (even though many have more than one style of can or bottle) and the beer in a glass so the reader can see the color. Descriptions are paragraph-length and list the type of beer, color, alcohol content, food it pairs well with, etc.
Read
July 23, 2011A useful book for any beer geek to become familiar with the different styles, tastes and histories of 350+ of the worlds vast selection of beer. Also included are useful hints for food pairings and preferred serving temperatures. Will almost certainly lead most readers to a search for some of the beers listed.
September 6, 2013
A picture book of major breweries, skipping a lot of smaller ones. Also was made before a lot of the new, popular and/or upstart breweries were relevant or established. Still fun coffee-table read, especially for more casual beer drinkers.
June 5, 2008
A must have if you plan to venture away from Bud Light. this book lists what foods go best with all of the beers of the world.
September 2, 2008
I learned how awesome beer is. That's all.
June 29, 2010
Hubby loved this more than me : )
November 24, 2011
A little dated, but lots of brewing trivia and good label design photos.
May 30, 2016
All I want to do now is find the largest liquor store and/or buy a plane ticket. Gotta try 'em all.
February 21, 2016
Beautiful full color photography. Well broken out into regions and countries of the world. There is a ton of history of brewing here, I learned a lot! It also made me thirsty :)
August 6, 2012
a bit dated but really good compendium of beers
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews