Crafty Bastards: Beer in New England from the Mayflower to Modern Day

by Lauren Clark

The region that defined Yankee ingenuity has a beer heritage in keeping with its character. Brewing in New England goes back four centuries, beginning with the Pilgrims who dropped anchor in Plymouth because their supply of beer was running low. (They survived the winter, planted a crop of barley, and promptly brewed their first ale.)Making beer in New England hasnt always been easy. Puritan housewives, industrial era beer moguls, and contemporary craft brewers alike have concocted humankinds oldest beverage in the face of scarce ingredients, legal hurdles, and public indifference. But despite these challenges, beer continues to be a staple of New England life. With Crafty Bastards: Brewing in New England from the Mayflower to Modern Day, Lauren Clark deepens our appreciation for the perfect pint. Giving voice to the inimitable Yankee spirit that allows New Englanders to faithfully produce some of best beers in the nation, Clark invites readers to take a giant swig of brewing past and present.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Beer

200 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2014

Reviews

[Chuck Kollars · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book's very clever organization makes it be any one of several things, according to your wishes. The chapter titles ("Water", "Malt & Hops", "Barrels", "Ice & Steam", etc. etc.) suggest it's organized by the different components important in making beer - and it is. But if you're looking for an overview of beer in New England from colonial times to now, it's that too. And if you're looking for a blow-by-blow description of craft beer, it's that too. And I've even heard recommendations to use it as a travel guide to which pubs and breweries to visit.

I found particularly interesting descriptions of the temperance movement and prohibition, and of the twisty-turny development of the craft beer industry. Also descriptions of the very wide variety of what's available have led to what I think will be an irretrievable disillusionment with my local package stores, which seem to carry a wide variety of beers but in fact seemingly concentrate on the "safe" stuff.

Of most interest to me was the discussion of "cider" beers. I've always pushed them aside as breweries so desperate to do something "different" that they're crazily trying to branch out even into cider. Not so. The frugal yankees, finding that barley malt didn't grow all that well in New England but there were apples all over the place, learned how to make beer out of apples, and did so for a long time. The recent craft brewery emphasis on "cider" beers is in fact taking a page from history. (Also, there's no clear dividing line between cider "beer" and apple jack "liquor", as there are an infinite number of steps of concentrating the alcohol just a little bit more.)

[E. C. Koch · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a totally enjoyable, absolutely readable brief history of brewing in New England from the seventeenth century to the present. Here, Clark moves chronologically from Pilgrims and Puritans, to Colonial Yanks, to European Immigrant brewers and brewsters, to today’s artisans. And in covering the different phases of brewing in the northeast, Clark also relates the course that beer has run, from a necessary alternative to disease-ridden water, to a salvific alternative to diabolical rum, to a medium of civic engagement, to a manifestation of the locovore ethos. In that I’m already deeply invested in the craft beer movement (I’m drinking a Bell’s Double Two Hearted IIPA as I write this) and love all thing’s beer history, this little book was a winner for me. This is not an exhaustive study of beer’s origins or a sociological treatise on the drink’s historical influence or a disquisition about how the craft beer industry reflects a cultural anxiety over its own waning sense of authenticity, though it could have been about any of that stuff. So long as you know going in that this is lite reading you’ll come out satisfied.

[Tim Lacy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is an easy read. It expands out occasionally from New England. The author interjects personal experiences and interactions with recent players. This history is breezy, and the chapter titles don't correlate easily with the historical contents of chapters. In sum, I neither loved nor hated the book. But I'm glad I read it. - TL

[Les · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great history of craft breweries in the New England region. The history of brewing in the U.S. is quite informative. The genealogy of craft brewing specifically in New England is excellent. If you like craft beer and live in the New England area, this is a must have book.

[James Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

And now I want to brew a new batch.

[Erinp · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very well researched but a bit academic to read. Just didn't flow real well and was very name droppy which was hard to follow. Learned a bit.

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

When my wife brought in the mail she said, "Ooooh it looks like you got something fun!", as she handed me an envelope sent by my niece Erin. Inside was signed copy of this book as well as a matching beer koozi. She was right, I did get something fun. Albiet a short and easy read, I learned a lot in a most enjoyable way.
The author does a nice job explaining 4 centuries of beer making in New England. It was not entirely riveting. There were some sections of the book that invloved reminiscences of people or places in New England that this reader from the Midwest could not relate to. Towards the end of the book, I found myself taking mental notes on "must visit" places that any craft beer lover would appreciate.
I would recommend this book. I would also recommend having a bottle of Smuttynose Smoked Porter as an accompaniment. Enjoy.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes the the Pilgrims landed in Plymouth because they were low on beer. I don't remember hearing that in history class. You'll get the full story and more here. It was in 1620 that New England's relationship with beer and ale started. You'll learn about the growth of brewing and New Englander's thirst for for the stuff has rarely ebbed. Although Cider, rum and prohibition gave beer some competition it still survived. Even learn of it's revival in recent decades. Crack open a local brew and enjoy this easy to read and enjoyable trip along the region's brewing history.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Occasionally repetitive, but thorough, informative, and well written. Highly recommended for anyone interested in beer and brewing. Rekindled my interest in home brewing.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

now I want to open a public house

[William Graney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read a lot of books on craft beer and brewing and this one is my favorite. Very well done and interesting with a unique look at a regional evolution in beer.

[KV · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super interesting read that covers what your elementary school teacher left out in your history class on early USA life.

[Darlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting.