Michael Jackson's Beer Companion: The World's Great Beer Styles, Gastronomy, and Traditions

by Michael Jackson

Now revised and updated, this award-winning classic features nearly 25% more photos and new words of wisdom. Includes updated versions of the author's "seminars" on American ales, Lambics and fruit beers, wheat beers, international ales, porters and stouts, lagers, and specialty beers, and continues its section on beer and food (with recipes), and more. 218 full-color illus.

Genres: Beer, Nonfiction, Reference, Brewing, Food and Drink, History, Travel

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Michael James Jackson (27 March 1942 – 30 August 2007) was an English writer and journalist. He was the author of many influential books about beer and whisky.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael...

Reviews

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very comprehensive look at the world of beer, possibly better now for historical reference as this was written in 1993, lots and lots of information, pictures and beer labels. If you are serious about beer then you should really read this.

[Rob]

I read several (mostly early) parts of it, and skimmed much of the rest. There's a lot of very good material in here, particularly about the broad styles of beer, the history of beer-making in different regions (especially in Europe), and profiles of different breweries. The edition I'd read (borrowed from the library) was older (1993) and I suspect that I'll seek out a newer edition at some point and give it another go.

[Michael Travis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A large amount of the information is outdated but the historical content and the style reference will be helpful. And of course if you are a beer geek you have to read Michael Jackson.

[Jim Razinha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this in an antique shop and the cool thing was it was signed by the author (“To Eden and Kevin, Cheers!, 10 Nov, ,99”… so I haven’t decided if I’m going to change my name to Eden or Kevin). Jackson was quite the researcher. I’d heard of him but not read any of his books. This is the second edition, 1997, full of beers of the times. Jackson died in 2007 and might well have been surprised at the explosion of crafts in America. Details on styles - the history of the style, origins, regions historically produced and and section for selected noted producers of the style, some quite detailed. Cool book.

Sticky notes:

In his introductory section - Never ask for a "beer" - Jackson said

"Do you ever drink wine?" people ask me, as though beer were a prison rather than a playground [...] Whatever is argued about other pleasures, it is not necessary to be monogamous in the choice of drink. Beer is by far the more extensively consumed, but less adequately honored. In a small way, I want to help put right that injustice.

"as though beer were a prison"! I really like a good red wine, but beer is so much more varied in flavor and experience, so ... I choose the experience!

And on barleywine, or, rather barley wine, Jackson recalls

When the style became popular among revivalist brewers in the United States in the 1980s, the various authorities governing labeling were uncomfortable about a beer being described as a wine. This led to the cumbersome description "barley wine-style ale" on some labels

Some Puritans are still in charge of the label approvals and the cumbersome practice continues.

One funny truism, on "The uses of beer": "Some people drink beer to get drunk, though it is an inefficient means of doing so." Quite inefficient, though there are some higher gravity beers out there now that rival the wine levels.

The rest of the sticky notes are for my use (producers to look up, regions to investigate someday) and of little value in a "review" so cheers and here's to beer!

[John Hubbard · Rating 4 out of 5]

The most informative of the Jackson beer books I have. Not as beautiful as the New World Guide to Beer but another great book to keep around on a sidetable and read from time to time.

[Lana Svitankova · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ніхто не пише так про пиво, як Майкл, і не писатиме. Немає цієї новизни відкриття, немає цього суперпозитивного ставлення, британського гумору, багатющого словникового запасу. Безцінно.

[Josh Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bit dated but an excellent book describing, in detail, styles and their history. I will refer back to this many times going forward.

[Don]

This classic guide encourages people to elevate their beer drinking to the same degree usually reserved for fine wine. Writing about of the history and ingredients of beer Jackson shows us that “Beer deserves to be treated as a civilized drink; it may even have been the cause of civilization.'' Following are descriptive sections on Great Beer Styles of the World (Beer produced by Belgian Trappist Monks? What’s the true origin of Budweiser?) and Beer and Food (Beer with dessert?), which includes some beery recipes. Michael Jackson (died August 30, 2007), is widely considered to be the best and most influential beer writer and journalist.

[Tom Menner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, while dated at this point, is endlessly fascinating. The late drinks journalist Michael Jackson takes you on a world tour of beer - of styles, flavors, breweries, and even the brewers themselves. I actually met him at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver back in ~1992, as I purchased his "Beer Hunter" software (for Windows 3.1, so long since defunct) and had him autograph it. Years later, I stopped in a Belgian beer bar in Tokyo (Shibuya) with my friend Miles; and there on a copper-plated wall was an autographed message from the same Michael Jackson, who had been there years before us (and that the bar had preserved).

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Michael Jackson was one of the foremost authorities on beer until his death from Parkinson's in 2007. His beer companion takes you on a tour of beer styles around the world, giving you the history and characteristics of the style, along with notable producers. Early on in my beer education I studied this tome so that I could recognize some of the best beers when perusing a store or a good bar's beer list. This book has been slightly superseded informationally by The Brewmaster's Table, but still has plenty more pictures and maps. I'm glad to have both books.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not the Michael Jackson you are thinking of. This one is a world renowned expert on beer, and this is his ultimate guide to the ultimate beverage. It took me a while to get through it, just because there is a lot of information to absorb. He delves into a little bit of history on the various styles, as well as the intricacies on how beers can vary widely within a particular style. This one is a must for a beer lover like me.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative and entertaining catalog of the classic beer styles. Jackson includes some info about American Craft Brewers when appropriate. An all around great book for beer lovers, I doubt Jackson ever wrote a bad one.

[Simon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rest in peace, MJ.

[Mottel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though somewhat dated by explosion of craft-beers on the market since its publication - Jackson still presents an informative and engaging tour through the history and world of good beer.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review hopefully forthcoming.

[Nate · Rating 5 out of 5]

This dude is the quintessential beer geek. Like 20 years before it was "mainstream", he blazed the way for the rest of us. Sad he died so early.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somewhat dated, but nice overview of many of the styles of beer. Michael Jackson gives a colorful description of styles and flavors of each.