He Said Beer She Said Wine

by Marnie Old, Sam Calagione

He Said Beer, She Said Wine is the first fully illustrated book on the market to give in-depth instruction on how to successfully pair both beer and wine with a wide variety of foods. Co-authored by Marnie Old, an esteemed sommelier, and Sam Calagione, owner of the renowned craft brewery DogFishHead He Said Beer, She Said Wine teaches you everything you need to know to get the best out of your beverages, with food or without. Each author divulges the secrets of their respective trades, using clear, easy-to-understand language-and, of course, a little good-natured banter to keep things lively. The book is full of fantastic tips and tricks, specific beer and wine recommendations, and interactive elements to help you identify your preferences along the way. So, from cheese to dessert, you'll always know what drinks to serve for sublime flavor combinations.

Never ones to skimp on a bit of fun, Marnie and Sam also show you how to host your own at-home version of their sold-out He Said Beer, She Said Wine tasting events, where diners taste one beer and one wine selection with each dish, and then vote on their preferred pairing. He Said Beer, She Said Wine gives you easy-to-prepare dishes, complete with step-by-step recipes and sumptuous beverage selections.

Genres: Beer, Nonfiction, Wine, Food, Cooking

256 pages, Hardcover

First published March 17, 2008

About the author

Marnie Old is one of the countrys leading wine personalities, known for her common-sense approach, energetic performance style and incisive insights into a complex field. An articulate and passionate speaker, she is Director of Wine Studies at Manhattans renowned French Culinary Institute and an expert on drinks of all kinds. Formerly sommelier of Philadelphias high-profile Striped Bass and education chair of the American Sommelier Association, Marnie also writes a drinks column for Philadelphia magazine. Further information is available at www.marnieold.com. "

Reviews

[Freda Mans-Labianca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a new favorite book in the food department!
This is a great book to know what pairings accompany the meal you eat. Or at least you get a great idea of the flavors you would match best, and can choose your own kind based on those tastes.
We decided to do the Pepperoni Pizza and Booze night.
It called for a different Merlot, and a different beer, but we found the closest match based on body, flavor, etc.... only because the store didn't have the exact ones.
It was a hit too!
They say you need a fruitier wine and sweeter brown ale to pair up with Pepperoni pizza. They are correct! It was a perfect compliment of each other. I drank the wine, though I did taste the beer which was good, and I felt the wine brought out the flavor of the pizza, between the tomato sauce and mild spice of the pepperoni, it was a perfect combination.
I aim to try more pairings in this book too. Just need to pace myself... don't want to become a drunk! (^_^)

[Jenn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the concept and the food pairings, but not the gender bias. Very stereotypical.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many people don't think much about which beer they are going to drink with their meal. That's because most people drink the ubiquitous light lager, rather than one of the multitude of styles which could be more appropriate as a pairing. The good news is that brewers like Sam Calagione are out to change that. After running beer vs. wine dinners with Marnie Old over the years, the pair got around to writing a book summarizing the finer points of their arguments for pairing their fine beverages with food.
The book is a fun read, with the playful banter coming through quite well for printed text (it isn't always like that, as anyone who's used the internet can testify). They each begin with an introduction to the different styles of wine and beer, and then get right into the thick of it: picking foods and the beverage to go with it. This part of the book is quite comprehensive, with each section devoted to a specific main course (poultry, pork, pasta and pizza, etc), and then pairing 6 individual dishes with the appropriate beer or wine. They encourage readers to take an active role in the argument, and even give recipes and planning pointers for running your own beer vs. wine contest.
I definitely enjoyed reading this one, as I'm always trying to learn more about beer. Maybe someday I'll even host my own beer vs. wine dinner. It seems like a lot of fun, and I'm sure Marnie and Sam would agree on that point.

[Karen Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The debate between wine and beer aficianados over which quaff is paired best with food is never-ending, as each side fiercely defends their choice with all the passion of a political debate. Throwing their hats into the ring are Sam Calgione (arguing for beer) and Marnie Old (arguing for wine), both distinguished representatives of their drink of choice. (Sam is the creator of Dogfish Head, a microbrewery known for creative and fine beers; Marnie is a sommelier extraordinaire who worked for fine restaurants and holds educational seminars on wine.)[return][return]The book tackles the beer vs. wine debate very light-heartedly, with good-natured ribbing, glossy photos, and scorecards for the reader to make the ultimate decision. The book is divided up into food categories, with each side suggesting what is best prepared with common dishes. At the end are recipes in which you can incorporate beer or wine.[return][return]This book is probalby best for beer and wine geeks who want to see what it's like on the other side. Gourmet foodies will also appreciate the helpfulness of being given choices of what to serve with a meal. I can't speak for the wine suggestions, but as a beer geek, I noticed all the beer suggestions were not only spot-on, but were choices one can easily obtain, at least in my neck of the woods. With so many different kinds of wine out there, it's nice to be given some direction in which to select the right wine.

[Allan]

He Said Beer, She Said Wine is a nice single volume introduction to just about everything the common man needs to know about the history and varieties of beer and wine.[return][return]Knowledgeable and informative, Sam Calagione, a brewer and founder of Dogfish Head brewery, introduces us to the many styles of beer from old world traditional to new craft brew renaissance. Marnie Old, sommelier and teacher, does the honors for the venerable art of wine.[return][return]After an initial review of the history, chemistry and styles of both wine and beer, the bulk of the book is given over to exploring food and drink pairings, including cheese, fish, poultry, meat and deserts. [return][return]The book also includes a nice selection of recipes to go along with your imbibing.[return][return]I m not sure where someone not in an urban area is going to find all the suggested beers but the selection is excellent (I live around the corner from a brewstore and have been able to try most of these beers). [return][return]If a second edition of this book is planned, I would hope they eliminate the Which Drink Wins spreads sophomoric humor with nothing to offer. Plus you eliminate 22 photos of the authors one of each would ve been plenty.[return][return]The design is elegant and functional and the photography beautiful. Resource guide and glossary are also useful.

[Allan · Rating 3 out of 5]

He Said Beer, She Said Wine is a nice single volume introduction to just about everything the common man needs to know about the history and varieties of beer and wine.[return][return]Knowledgeable and informative, Sam Calagione, a brewer and founder of Dogfish Head brewery, introduces us to the many styles of beer — from old world traditional to new craft brew renaissance. Marnie Old, sommelier and teacher, does the honors for the venerable art of wine.[return][return]After an initial review of the history, chemistry and styles of both wine and beer, the bulk of the book is given over to exploring food and drink pairings, including cheese, fish, poultry, meat and deserts. [return][return]The book also includes a nice selection of recipes to go along with your imbibing.[return][return]I’m not sure where someone not in an urban area is going to find all the suggested beers but the selection is excellent (I live around the corner from a brewstore and have been able to try most of these beers). [return][return]If a second edition of this book is planned, I would hope they eliminate the “Which Drink Wins” spreads — sophomoric humor with nothing to offer. Plus you eliminate 22 photos of the authors — one of each would’ve been plenty.[return][return]The design is elegant and functional and the photography beautiful. Resource guide and glossary are also useful.

[Amy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was really looking forward to this one, as I happen to enjoy beer and wine and food. ;) However, I felt as if the execution left a lot to be desired. The recommendations were overly specific - I would have rather seen more general guidelines, and less "try Old Bay crabs with Trimbach Reserve Pinot Gris". The cheesy "Which Drink Wins" sections were a complete waste of space - how many people are actually going to sit down and try all of those specific combinations? And the fact that so many Dogfish Head beers were recommended, when one of the authors is the founder of that brewery is a little suspicious (don't get me wrong, they are good beers, but - still).

[Carole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was the most incredible gift from my dear friend, Arlene! LOVED it!!! It's the perfect book for my boyfriend and me because he is a dedicated craft beer aficionado and I am a huge wine lover. My boyfriend and I love to cook for each other and I've always been a fan of wine/food pairings. Finally, we are now able to pair both wine and beer with special dinners because of this book. We can't wait to try some of these pairings and to be able to finally find and try different pairings with BOTH wine and beer!

[Todd · Rating 2 out of 5]

A rather random thrift store find. For $0.50, I can easily take the plunge to further add to my already bloated beergeek library.

I'm not really keen on the gender-based "debating" angle that is the crux of this book (certain parts border on #cringe), but the underlying info is solid. My wine knowledge is rudimentary at best, so if this helps me step away from the shallow end of the pool and into the deeper depths of wine-dom, that's cool.

Not a must have for beergeeks and/or wine fans, but if you spot it used for cheap, it's worth at least thumbing through.

[c wylie misselhorn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some general recommendations for pairing beers OR wines with food. Two authors; fun, debate-like format. Although I'm primarily a beer guy, the wine pairings grabbed my attention because I haven't tried many of the wine varietals mentioned.

[Aaron]

FINALLY just bought it. Can't wait to read!!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

beer is more awesome than i ever gave it credit for!

[Erik · Rating 2 out of 5]

A quick read, comparing the "best" wines and beers to match with specific meals

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

The pairings in this book are excellent, as are the debates over the various qualities of beer and wine in general (and in particular).

[Rebecca Tolley · Rating 2 out of 5]

read my review on my food blog: http://www.potlikkery.com/2008/04/foo...