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Philosophie vom Fass: Politische Philosophie und die Geschichte des Bieres
Der Prototyp des Zu politischen Parolen wird viel Bier getrunken. Weshalb nicht an beiden Parametern etwas schrauben und dabei, statt auf Quantität, auf Qualität setzen? Das Massenbier weicht dem Qualitätsbier, die politische Parole der Politischen Philosophie.
Als Philosoph und Biersommelier entdeckt Jan Mirko Wälti Parallelen zwischen Bierstilen und politischen Positionen. Die Verbindungen sind vielfä historisch, abstrakt oder konkret, dann und wann humoristisch gefärbt. Belanglos aber ist die Gegenüberstellung von politischer Philosophie und Bierstil nie. Ihr Der Blick auf einen Bierstil kann dazu beitragen, die Konturen einer bestimmten politischen Theorie auszuarbeiten. Umgekehrt kann eine politische Theorie das Verständnis eines Bierstils in seiner historisch-kulturellen, sensorischen Dimension und Herstellungsweise fördern.
Ein Buch für philosophisch interessierte Bierliebhaber, die Humor nicht schreckt.
Als Philosoph und Biersommelier entdeckt Jan Mirko Wälti Parallelen zwischen Bierstilen und politischen Positionen. Die Verbindungen sind vielfä historisch, abstrakt oder konkret, dann und wann humoristisch gefärbt. Belanglos aber ist die Gegenüberstellung von politischer Philosophie und Bierstil nie. Ihr Der Blick auf einen Bierstil kann dazu beitragen, die Konturen einer bestimmten politischen Theorie auszuarbeiten. Umgekehrt kann eine politische Theorie das Verständnis eines Bierstils in seiner historisch-kulturellen, sensorischen Dimension und Herstellungsweise fördern.
Ein Buch für philosophisch interessierte Bierliebhaber, die Humor nicht schreckt.
275 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 8, 2025
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January 19, 2026
Disclaimer at the start: I am a personal and longstanding friend of the author, since we went to high school together and even took the same courses at university from time to time. It is my privilege to have been thanked personally in introduction, and it has been my privilege to have helped Jan Wälti along with discussion and inspirational ideas. Of course, I own a signed copy.
Jan Wälti’s debut – “Philosophie vom Fass”, literally “philosophy from the keg” – is an incredibly smooth and enjoyable read that will give the interested reader an overview on the history both of different currents in political philosophy as well as beer styles. The combination of those two seemingly unrelated topics is refreshing and even most of the time enlightening. It is highly recommended to try the suggested beer styles while reading about them as well as the political philosophy to which an analogy is made.
While the author must be praised for attempting such a bold combination of topics and often succeeds in making the appropriate analogies, not every chapter shares the same level of quality. But there are indeed some excellent chapters, among them the ones about Anarchism and Gueuze, Liberalism and Pilsner as well as Marxism and Porter (those also happen to be some of my favorite beer styles - coincidence?). In those chapters the analogy fully succeeds, whereas some of the other attempts seem a bit forced. But even the less successful attempts at analogy retain a light mood that always comes with a certain sense of humor, thus being still an enjoyable reading experience, where more than enough can be learned about the history of both types of beer and currents in political philosophy.
All in all, this is a good introduction both to the history of beer styles as well as political philosophy, while also trying to use the beer styles and their history to give insights into the properties of various currents in political philosophy. Hopefully, people will thusly be encouraged to further engage with the two topics. There is more than enough secondary literature cited to help interested minds along. Do not forget to enjoy a glass of an appropriate style of beer while engaging with these thoughts about the nature of the political.
Jan Wälti’s debut – “Philosophie vom Fass”, literally “philosophy from the keg” – is an incredibly smooth and enjoyable read that will give the interested reader an overview on the history both of different currents in political philosophy as well as beer styles. The combination of those two seemingly unrelated topics is refreshing and even most of the time enlightening. It is highly recommended to try the suggested beer styles while reading about them as well as the political philosophy to which an analogy is made.
While the author must be praised for attempting such a bold combination of topics and often succeeds in making the appropriate analogies, not every chapter shares the same level of quality. But there are indeed some excellent chapters, among them the ones about Anarchism and Gueuze, Liberalism and Pilsner as well as Marxism and Porter (those also happen to be some of my favorite beer styles - coincidence?). In those chapters the analogy fully succeeds, whereas some of the other attempts seem a bit forced. But even the less successful attempts at analogy retain a light mood that always comes with a certain sense of humor, thus being still an enjoyable reading experience, where more than enough can be learned about the history of both types of beer and currents in political philosophy.
All in all, this is a good introduction both to the history of beer styles as well as political philosophy, while also trying to use the beer styles and their history to give insights into the properties of various currents in political philosophy. Hopefully, people will thusly be encouraged to further engage with the two topics. There is more than enough secondary literature cited to help interested minds along. Do not forget to enjoy a glass of an appropriate style of beer while engaging with these thoughts about the nature of the political.
Displaying 1 of 1 review