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Fermenting Revolution: How to Drink Beer and Save the World
Fermenting Revolution delivers an empowering message about how individuals can change the world through the simple act of having a beer. Chris O’Brien presents the case for beer as both the cause of and solution to all of the world’s problems. Beer has contributed to the best qualities of civilization, but it is also helping to destroy them. The global beer industry relies heavily on fossil-fuels and chemical agriculture, rapidly destroying nature and contributing to climate change. Corporate beer is centralized and hierarchical, which is good for a few elites, but displaces local brewing traditions and exacerbates the growing wealth gap. But the craft brewing renaissance relies on cooperation, emphasizes local production, protects and celebrates nature, and nurtures the growth of strong and equitable communities. Fermenting Revolution traces the path of brewing from a women-led, home-based craft to corporate industry, and describes how modern craft breweries and home-brewers are forging stronger communities. O’Brien explains how corporate mega-breweries are also taking steps to pioneer industrial ecology, and profiles the most inspiring and radical breweries, brewers, and beer drinkers that are making the world a better place to live. In the last two decades, Americans have returned to to beer as a way of life rather than as a commodity. Casting off its industrial chains, beer is again communal, convivial, democratic, healthful, and natural. The contemporary American brewing scene champions ecologically sustainable production and is helping to create thriving community places. After reading Fermenting Revolution , mere beer drinkers will become "beer activists," ready to fight corporate rule by simply meeting their neighbors for a pint at the local brewpub-saving the world one beer at a time.
288 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2006
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137 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
November 7, 2011
If not the complete Bible for hipsters, at least a chapter of the sacred text. When I was growing up, you drank Bud. And that was that. Fermenting Revolution, however, demonstrates that the path to self-actualization is best achieved by drinking as many craft beers as humanly possible from every slacker clown in Oregon, Colorado, and northern California who decides to use his or her trust fund to start a micro-brewery.
Actually the book is not about that at all. Instead O'Brien gives a detailed history of beer, and discusses numerous significant cultural issues relating to beer including sustainablity, industrialization, feminism and even alienation from community in the modern world and possible remedies for such lack of social cohesion. But I just wanted to mock slacker clowns for no valid reason.
Actually the book is not about that at all. Instead O'Brien gives a detailed history of beer, and discusses numerous significant cultural issues relating to beer including sustainablity, industrialization, feminism and even alienation from community in the modern world and possible remedies for such lack of social cohesion. But I just wanted to mock slacker clowns for no valid reason.
April 8, 2020
An interesting overview of a bunch of different topics relating to beer! Some of the language (particularly used to talk about women) sounds a little dated 10+ years on, although I believe the intentions were good.
Still, lots of interesting stories covering history, culture, and environment. It would be really cool to have a sort of sequel to this, to see what's changed in the last decade or so.
Still, lots of interesting stories covering history, culture, and environment. It would be really cool to have a sort of sequel to this, to see what's changed in the last decade or so.
April 1, 2019
I liked this one. It wasn't just focused on the history of beer or technical styles like a lot of beer books I've read, it focused on the societal, political, environmental, and health impacts beer and the beer industry have on the world.
March 16, 2018
The concepts of the book are interesting but the writing leaves a bit to be desired.
September 14, 2011
What have I learned from this book? Well let me tell you. First, I had no idea that Lost Coast had two women brewers in charge! So AWESOME! Their names are Barbara Groom and Wendy Pound and they are my heroes. I’ve only had the snark-ily labeled Indica, which is what comes to mind for me (and I know for sure others) when they have a really funky IPA. I will be sampling more of their catalog later! I learned from this book that in the early days of brewing, women comprised the bulk of brewers, and it did not become a boy’s club until the industrial revolution. If that information is tipped and is just pandering to me because I am a woman with a taste for ales and lagers, I’ll TAKE it!!
I also learned some fun trivia such as a legend recorded by Robert Louis Stevenson about the Pict’s fierce guardianship of the recipe for Heather Ale. Now that’s a thing I’d like to taste! I also learned a lot about pesticides and a lot about the ways that brewers–particularly craft brewers–are creating environmentally sustainable businesses. It even comes with a handy guide at the back of the book on being a “Beer Activist–what he calls a Twenty-four Point Action Plan that includes simple tasks like taking cloth bags along to the store, buying kegs rather than bottles, composting your six-pack packaging and lowering the temperature in your refrigerator. It seems to be things that are only applicable to those who drink beer habitually (I do, and he assumes the reader does), however with a little creativity, they can be applied to different aspects of one’s life.
Tonally this book is slightly forced, but I don’t necessarily think that’s a bad thing. What I interpret O’Brien as attempting here is to look at overwhelming themes such as corporate monopolies and injustice, loss of craftsmanship and locality, environmental blunders and health through the lens of something intensely pleasurable: beer. And not only craft beer! Coors and Anheuser Busch get their say as well! Everyone is invited!
I also learned some fun trivia such as a legend recorded by Robert Louis Stevenson about the Pict’s fierce guardianship of the recipe for Heather Ale. Now that’s a thing I’d like to taste! I also learned a lot about pesticides and a lot about the ways that brewers–particularly craft brewers–are creating environmentally sustainable businesses. It even comes with a handy guide at the back of the book on being a “Beer Activist–what he calls a Twenty-four Point Action Plan that includes simple tasks like taking cloth bags along to the store, buying kegs rather than bottles, composting your six-pack packaging and lowering the temperature in your refrigerator. It seems to be things that are only applicable to those who drink beer habitually (I do, and he assumes the reader does), however with a little creativity, they can be applied to different aspects of one’s life.
Tonally this book is slightly forced, but I don’t necessarily think that’s a bad thing. What I interpret O’Brien as attempting here is to look at overwhelming themes such as corporate monopolies and injustice, loss of craftsmanship and locality, environmental blunders and health through the lens of something intensely pleasurable: beer. And not only craft beer! Coors and Anheuser Busch get their say as well! Everyone is invited!
August 14, 2014
If you read only one book about beer in the next 12 months, you could do a lot worse than ‘Fermenting Revolution’ by Christopher O’Brien.
This is not your standard beer book. It isn’t 1000 beers to drink before you die, 500 of the world’s best beers, 100 best beers from the last year, 73 beers to drink whilst wearing a hat, or one of the thousands of other beer list books. The giveaway to this might be the subtitle ‘How to Drink Beer and Save the World’
It’s a big claim, and I’m not sure that it ever really convinces me that Beer is the ultimate environmental product, but this was written in the mid 2000’ so ecological fervor was at its zenith, and the sure fire way to sell books was to placate people’s environmental concerns. I also note that the Chris O’Brien does look like a weedy Steve Irwin (I also think he might have played the landlord in Aussie the movie ‘48 Shades of Brown’) so I feel it might have more than a passing interest in the environment and beer.
What the book does do though is make you feel really fricken good about drinking craft beer, and if you save a the green bellied tree frog along the way then well and good.
This is all done in a fascinating way. For instance did you know that every great ancient civilisation was built on beer? That beer is an excellent way to provide both water and nutrition to the starving. That beer is one of the few products where a majority is distributed in bulk (kegs) meaning there are no empty bottles filling up landfills?
So if you want to feel better about your place in the world as a craft beer drinker, and you want to learn some cool new stuff about beer to tell your friends about down the pub – then pick up this book
This is not your standard beer book. It isn’t 1000 beers to drink before you die, 500 of the world’s best beers, 100 best beers from the last year, 73 beers to drink whilst wearing a hat, or one of the thousands of other beer list books. The giveaway to this might be the subtitle ‘How to Drink Beer and Save the World’
It’s a big claim, and I’m not sure that it ever really convinces me that Beer is the ultimate environmental product, but this was written in the mid 2000’ so ecological fervor was at its zenith, and the sure fire way to sell books was to placate people’s environmental concerns. I also note that the Chris O’Brien does look like a weedy Steve Irwin (I also think he might have played the landlord in Aussie the movie ‘48 Shades of Brown’) so I feel it might have more than a passing interest in the environment and beer.
What the book does do though is make you feel really fricken good about drinking craft beer, and if you save a the green bellied tree frog along the way then well and good.
This is all done in a fascinating way. For instance did you know that every great ancient civilisation was built on beer? That beer is an excellent way to provide both water and nutrition to the starving. That beer is one of the few products where a majority is distributed in bulk (kegs) meaning there are no empty bottles filling up landfills?
So if you want to feel better about your place in the world as a craft beer drinker, and you want to learn some cool new stuff about beer to tell your friends about down the pub – then pick up this book
August 12, 2009
I was expecting to be whipped into a self-righteous fury by this book, but instead found myself put off by the very propaganda I expected to be enraptured by. I expect bias from any book, and since I'm a human I'm more willing to overlook and forgive it when it's biased toward my beliefs, but Christopher Mark O'Brien finds a way to make everything about beer, and even I -- about as big an advocate for beer as there is -- know that's crap. George Washington had ice brought to his house for cooling of beer? Sure. That's the only thing a person could possibly need cooled in the 18th century.
His main points are these (in my words):
1. Beer is awesome.
2. Local is better for the environment.
3. Big corporations care more about money than the environment or the quality of their product.
I agree with all three, but don't really know why I had to read a book about it when I knew that going in. If you don't agree with those three at the start he does nothing to convince you, and if you do then it's a little like preaching to the choir, except preaching in an over the top and unconvincing way.
There's a section toward the end devoted to the health benefits of beer that was fairly interesting, so this book isn't a total loss, but I think I'll be much better served in the 'rally thr troops' category by Man Walks Into A Pub by Pete Brown.
His main points are these (in my words):
1. Beer is awesome.
2. Local is better for the environment.
3. Big corporations care more about money than the environment or the quality of their product.
I agree with all three, but don't really know why I had to read a book about it when I knew that going in. If you don't agree with those three at the start he does nothing to convince you, and if you do then it's a little like preaching to the choir, except preaching in an over the top and unconvincing way.
There's a section toward the end devoted to the health benefits of beer that was fairly interesting, so this book isn't a total loss, but I think I'll be much better served in the 'rally thr troops' category by Man Walks Into A Pub by Pete Brown.
June 25, 2007
Cassidy sent me this book for my birthday in February of 2007, and ten months later, in December, I finished reading it. I kept picking it up, reading a bit, putting it down for a while, picking it up again, etc.
This book about how drinking homebrewed and microbrewed beer can save the world is much longer than it needs to be. I felt like the author was saying the same things over and over again, until I got to the point where I just kept thinking, OK I GET IT! I like the way he ties globalization and evironmentalism and feminism into the production and drinking of beer, but he didn't really have to go on and on and on about the same issues. I also got pretty tired of his cutesy spellings that incorporated "ale" and "beer" and words like that into larger words. Cutesy spellings are only hafway funny the first time they are done.
It was also kind of annoying how the author kept trying to convince the reader that everyone should drink beer, that beer is so great and wonderful. Drink beer if you want or don't, but don't try to convince me one way or the other.
This book would be a good way to introduce people who are already way into beer to some of the larger issues involved with "saving the world."
This book about how drinking homebrewed and microbrewed beer can save the world is much longer than it needs to be. I felt like the author was saying the same things over and over again, until I got to the point where I just kept thinking, OK I GET IT! I like the way he ties globalization and evironmentalism and feminism into the production and drinking of beer, but he didn't really have to go on and on and on about the same issues. I also got pretty tired of his cutesy spellings that incorporated "ale" and "beer" and words like that into larger words. Cutesy spellings are only hafway funny the first time they are done.
It was also kind of annoying how the author kept trying to convince the reader that everyone should drink beer, that beer is so great and wonderful. Drink beer if you want or don't, but don't try to convince me one way or the other.
This book would be a good way to introduce people who are already way into beer to some of the larger issues involved with "saving the world."
July 6, 2008
How can you go wrong with a title like this?! This is an interesting read - lots of beer history and even feminist beer history. There's much talk of sustainability as well. And I guess I never really thought about how breweries are a good model for sustainable business - in addition to the superstar of sustainable breweries, New Belgium, Coors and AB are highlighted for their solid environmental practices. And it's clear that the author has thought a lot about brewing and sustainability. This book makes me want to open my own brew pub, but in the meantime, I think I'll start a batch of IPA this afternoon.
August 16, 2009
This is not a book I would normally have thought to read, but since Chuck had a copy lying around and I was in need of reading material one day, I thought I would give it a start. I was therefor quite surprised to find myself somewhat absorbed into the history of beer, particularly the anaylis regarding religion and gender roles. By the end of the book, not only was I completely keen to make my own beer, but I actually thought there was some real merit to saving the world one tasty beer at a time!
March 11, 2013
This book gets a 5-stars for effort, but a 3 stars for execution, so that averages out to 4. I sympathize with all the ideas and issues that this book is about, but the author is just not a very good or exciting writer. The book reads kind of like a long marketing pamphlet or non-profit charity ask letter. That's a real slow slog when you're talking 275 pages of it.
That said, there's some interesting historical and scientific facts and figures in here, here and there but in between those there's also a lot of painfully plodding pleading and cajoling.
That said, there's some interesting historical and scientific facts and figures in here, here and there but in between those there's also a lot of painfully plodding pleading and cajoling.
August 19, 2014
One of the best beer books out there, period. It's a very unique and distinct book, covers the history of beer and brewing, but also delves deeply into the social ethics, the politics, the philosophy of beer and dare I say it, the spirituality of beer, hence known as beerituality. This is a very deep and serious book, talks of the power of beer, breweries and pubs to forge and maintain community in the face of globalized pressures to conform and bow down to the lowest common denominator. The subtitle is "How To Drink Beer and Save The World." I tend to agree, cheers!
Read
May 7, 2008Beer, like so many other products, is largely in the hands of giant corporations. Fermenting Revolution: How To Drink Beer and Save the World by Christopher O'Brien is a book about how the people can take back the brew and join together in saying, "If I can't drink good beer, it's not my revolution."
read more ...
http://thetyee.ca/Books/2008/04/15/Dr...
read more ...
http://thetyee.ca/Books/2008/04/15/Dr...
May 21, 2008
a quick read. he throws some interesting thoughts out - meant as a "bar room debate" on paper. have you heard of Stone Mill Pale Ale? USDA Certified Organic, made in N.H. actually made by A.B. but they thought if people saw A.B & organic, they'd blow it off, so they spun-off a "separate" brewery. it's pretty good stuff - I tried it b4 I read the A.B. connection...
January 4, 2008
High faluting rhetoric for such an earthy subject. If you want to read the Cliff Notes for this one, check out the Logan Square Draught Beer Preservation Society's manifesto at http://bringbackthedraught.com/cms/lo...
December 31, 2013
The book started out OK, but then went into a repeating rant about how beer is the future and savior of humans. If the author turned down the amplification from 10 to 7, it would be greatly improved.
December 11, 2016
Chose this book to read for a projet I was doing on craft brewing and sustainability - it was absolutely perfect. An interesting read with a lot of history and surprising amount of social history and dynamic exploring the role of gender in brewing.
January 10, 2008
Reportedly about brewing and sustainability, but I would say that at least half of the book is pretty worthless. Still, I'm not done yet, so I'll keep you updated.
February 21, 2008
It's good but it should be a few chapters shorter
March 27, 2008
Gotta tell you - I love beer!
Read
October 5, 2014It appears that jesus turned water into beer and not wine. Also, civilization itself was formed around beer.
Want to read
January 27, 2009Got this for christmas, looking forward to reading it.
December 22, 2009
A must read for any brewer.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews