Microbrewed Adventures: A Lupulin Filled Journey to the Heart and Flavor of the World's Great Craft Beers – An Insider's Guide to American Breweries, Global Beer Culture, and Homebrewing

by Charlie Papazian, Kate Nichols (Designer)

From trading recipes with the bad boys of American beer to drinking Czech-Mex cerveza in Tijuana and hanging out in the beer gardens of Africa, Charlie Papazian has seen, and tasted, it all. Microbrewed Adventures is your shotgun seat to unique, eccentric and pioneering craft-brews and the fascinating people who create them. Travel with Charlie as he crisscrosses America and circles the globe in search of the most flavor-packed beers. Along with discovering the master brews of Bavaria, secret recipes for mead and the traditional beers of Zimbabwe, you will find lessons on proper beer tasting and read interviews with American master brewers including those of Dogfish Head, Magic Hat, Rogue Ales, Stone Brewing and Brooklyn Brewery. Charlie also includes special homebrew recipes inspired by the innovative brewers who are making some the best beer in the world.

Genres: Brewing, Beer, Nonfiction, Travel, Cooking, Booze

416 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2005

Reviews

[Emma Sea · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disappointing. I'm sure Papazian is both knowledgable about, and skilled at, making beer, but he is not a writer. This was not engaging in the least.

[Henry Skey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Charles Papazian seems like the coolest guy in the world. If you watch his Youtube videos, all you want to do is sit, and talk, and listen, and drink beer. I'm probably being harsh with 2 stars, it's not a bad book by any means; on the contrary, it's quite useful. There are dozens of homebrew recipes, Papazian goes into great detail about his excursions and makes me want a beer so badly, I want to STOP READING and DRINK BEER.

Hence the 2 stars.

It's not much more than "I'm awesome, I travel everywhere and drink a ton of awesome beer and meet a lot of awesome people!" All I could be was envious, and thirsty.

[Gunnar · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the recipes useful/interesting. The rest of the book is a loop of "I went to this place, met some nice people, had a good time, drank this and that beer with these characteristics."

[Michael J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The hands that help built the craft beer revolution. And not just in the states: "We have created an American Beer Ark that is not filled with things American. How odd is this? Wouldn't the rest of the world assume that if Americans were to create an ark to protect treasures from impending doom, we would of course protest our own American treasures? For with our newfound sens of tradition, we have created something unique in the world of things important, lasting and of immeasurable value for generations to come." (pp. 231)

[Ramon van Dam · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've really enjoyed Charlie's other books on homebrewing, but unfortunately this one was a bit of a slug to read. It's mostly a list of his beer related travels and they have quite some overlap. The recipes at the end also are not that interesting.

[John Hubbard · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very fun read. More likely to inspire travel than brewing from my reading.

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like many beginning homebrewers, Papazian's "The Complete Joy of Homebrewing" helped introduce me to making my own beer. So when I saw his latest book at my local bookstore, I felt it deserved a look. In this volume, he brings his readers on a tour of the microbreweries and early beer festivals that helped create the commercial craft-brewing landscape that a youngster like me (27) can take for granted at times. The added bonus is that for each one of his anecdotes or reminiscences he includes a homebrew recipe (in both all-grain and malt extract versions). Often these recipes are recreations of early versions of classics like Sierra Nevada Pale Ale or Redhook Ale (I can't wait to brew the recipe for the original, more flavorful Killian's). Other recipes push the envelope like a "Belgian" stout or Pumpernickel Rye Stout.

Much like Garrett Oliver's "Brewmaster's Table" or Michael Jackson's "Beer Companion", this book offers a spirited look into the delicious world of craft beer. Not a comprehensive history, but a fun romp through American craftbrewing past and present (as well as some recent international beer adventures). I highly enjoyed this book.

[M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short quips and tales of visiting different breweries and beer gardens all over the world. Charlie writes about his many adventures over his career as a home brew guru. The best part of the book is the second half which has recipes for the beers he samples. It's really nice to see that each recipe in the book has both an all grain and extract version.

[Frosty Roe · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK for a novice brewer thinking about what it would be like to travel the world and meet successful homebrewers that moved upwards a level or two. The blending of two or more beers at the tap was right up my alley. My personal favorite in a local bar lacking anything quality on tap is a Luna Gorda-- equal portions of Blue Moon and Fat Tire.

[Sara · Rating 1 out of 5]

Two of my very favorite things are travel and beer, and I really enjoyed the tone and writing style of The Joy of Homebrewing, so this book was a hands-down buy for me.

It was really bad. Maybe even the worst. Jumpy, nearly unedited, and just... the BORINGEST. There, I had to make up a new word for how boring it was.

[Jon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this book really isn't too much about the beer. Is it one I'd recommend buying? Maybe if you really like beer or reading about traveling and eating. I'd say though if you like reading about travel and beer it's not a bad read.

[Janelle Drake · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful voyage through the world's various beer styles and the start of the American craft beer movement, through the eyes of a man who is truly passionate about what he does. Plus, a large collection of beer recipes at the back, of which I'll have to choose a few to try to brew myself.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book about beer, homebrewing and microbrewing. I recommend Charlie P's books for all who enjoy reading nonfiction, they are full of history and anthropology. Give this one a look if you need some new reading material.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good stories and good recipes from the man who started it all.

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yay beer. just needs a st arnold's review and it would be book of the year.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, Papazian - you're so cool. Can't wait to make the Pumpernickel Rye Stout recipe.