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Gose: Brewing a Classic German Beer for the Modern Era
Explore the sensation of tart, fruity and refreshing Gose-style beers, popular in Germany centuries ago and experiencing a renaissance today. Follow the development of this lightly sour wheat beer as it grew, then bordered on extinction, before surging into popularity due to the enthusiasm and experimentation of American craft brewers. Gose explores the history of this lightly sour wheat beer style, its traditional ingredients and special brewing techniques. Discover brewing methods from the Middle Ages and learn how to translate them to modern day beer. Learn about salinity, spices, and lactic acid as you experiment with Gose recipes from some of the best-known craft brewers of our time. This refreshing journey captures the innovation and experimentation that is occurring within the style and help you brew your own Gose-style beers.
- GenresBeerNonfiction
259 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 7, 2018
15 people are currently reading
23 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 13, 2019
I received a digital ARC copy from netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
I found the book to be interesting, but got bored at times by the author's writing, did like all the different beer terminology, along with how they are made, the historical information on Gose beer and easily could have been a shorter read.
From the publisher; 'Explore the sensation of tart, fruity and refreshing Gose-style beers, popular in Germany centuries ago and experiencing a renaissance today. Follow the development of this lightly sour wheat beer as it grew, then bordered on extinction, before surging into popularity due to the enthusiasm and experimentation of American craft brewers'.
Allen tells you everything you need too know how to brew your own Gose beer, recipes, suggestions, even tells you how to pour one and what glass to use.
Definitely a decent book for anyone who aspires to brew their own version of this tart, fruity popular Germany Gose style beer.
I found the book to be interesting, but got bored at times by the author's writing, did like all the different beer terminology, along with how they are made, the historical information on Gose beer and easily could have been a shorter read.
From the publisher; 'Explore the sensation of tart, fruity and refreshing Gose-style beers, popular in Germany centuries ago and experiencing a renaissance today. Follow the development of this lightly sour wheat beer as it grew, then bordered on extinction, before surging into popularity due to the enthusiasm and experimentation of American craft brewers'.
Allen tells you everything you need too know how to brew your own Gose beer, recipes, suggestions, even tells you how to pour one and what glass to use.
Definitely a decent book for anyone who aspires to brew their own version of this tart, fruity popular Germany Gose style beer.
January 9, 2026
Great overview of the style and all that it encompasses. There might big a bit too much generic explanation about the brewing process in general - let's just focus on gose in a book about gose - but everything about the fascinating salty beer itself it well-researched and inspiring.
August 17, 2018
In what has to be the high watermark from here on out regarding books about Gose beer (I don't know what's all out there, so I can't be too certain), Fal Allen constructs what's best described as a textbook, but for the Gose style. It's rife with explanatory figures and pictures that serve to clarify points and/or instruct would-be brewers; the history (what Allen could accumulate, from what I gather) is lovingly presented on the front end of the book and points out the unique and peculiar path that the Gose has taken to its current iteration.
There's a ton of (presumably invaluable aggregated) information on how to go about creating a Gose (along with numerous recipes), and you're littered with suggestions if you wish to take slight divergences on getting your final product (e.g. how/when to sour the beer), which may be backed up by Allen with scientific data, stories regarding trial and error, or a bit of both.
It'll even tell you how to pour one, and what kind of glass to use.
Food history is an awesome subgenre, and this book is a deserving addition to the collection. I was already a fan of the Gose, so this makes me a lot of things---appreciative, wowed, and, most importantly, thirsty.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Brewers Publications for the advance copy.
There's a ton of (presumably invaluable aggregated) information on how to go about creating a Gose (along with numerous recipes), and you're littered with suggestions if you wish to take slight divergences on getting your final product (e.g. how/when to sour the beer), which may be backed up by Allen with scientific data, stories regarding trial and error, or a bit of both.
It'll even tell you how to pour one, and what kind of glass to use.
Food history is an awesome subgenre, and this book is a deserving addition to the collection. I was already a fan of the Gose, so this makes me a lot of things---appreciative, wowed, and, most importantly, thirsty.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Brewers Publications for the advance copy.
September 7, 2023
Excellent summery of GOSE lots of different approaches and history. Lots of recipes.
I have previously enjoyed his book on barley wine as well published about twenty years before this one.
Rare also for there to be humour in books of this type, I think in fact the only book I have read of this type to have anything funny in it, so there was that too, in his descriptions of possible salts that could be used.
I feel like I understand GOSE well enough to make a few different ones now.
All that you could ask for.
I have previously enjoyed his book on barley wine as well published about twenty years before this one.
Rare also for there to be humour in books of this type, I think in fact the only book I have read of this type to have anything funny in it, so there was that too, in his descriptions of possible salts that could be used.
I feel like I understand GOSE well enough to make a few different ones now.
All that you could ask for.
October 2, 2019
Very informative and detailed history of this beer, as well as some good thoughts on how to make it.
December 30, 2019
Один з улюблених стилів, не могла оминути. Непоганий історичний екскурс, зрозуміла і хороша технічна частина
April 5, 2020
A wonderful look into a unique and nuanced beer style
November 30, 2018
Disclaimer: I received a free ecopy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
An exhaustive text on a style of beer that you didn't know that you wanted to drink or brew. I haven't seen Gose in any of the brewers near me (yet), but it certainly sounds like an interesting variation if you are into sour beers. Allen clearly did his homework when it came to writing this book. There is quite a bit of history and information on the beer style in general. He breaks these into three general categories to account for the way he beer has changed over time.
With so much information, and later on brewing recipes, it can be a bit dry and hard to get through. I read the book in fairly small chunks though, so it didn't drag for me as much as it might have otherwise. Allen also tries to include anecdotes to break up some of the more academic aspects of the book. Casual beer drinkers or brewers might not get a lot out of the book. Someone hooked on Gose or looking to try something new should definitely check it out. The images, especially of the distinctive bottles that were used in the past, are a nice addition.
An exhaustive text on a style of beer that you didn't know that you wanted to drink or brew. I haven't seen Gose in any of the brewers near me (yet), but it certainly sounds like an interesting variation if you are into sour beers. Allen clearly did his homework when it came to writing this book. There is quite a bit of history and information on the beer style in general. He breaks these into three general categories to account for the way he beer has changed over time.
With so much information, and later on brewing recipes, it can be a bit dry and hard to get through. I read the book in fairly small chunks though, so it didn't drag for me as much as it might have otherwise. Allen also tries to include anecdotes to break up some of the more academic aspects of the book. Casual beer drinkers or brewers might not get a lot out of the book. Someone hooked on Gose or looking to try something new should definitely check it out. The images, especially of the distinctive bottles that were used in the past, are a nice addition.
November 9, 2018
I got a copy of this book from NetGalley. I decided to read this book because I'm trying to learn a lot about beer and alcohol because I find it interesting. Sadly I did not enjoy this book.
The one thing I did find interesting about this book is all the different beer terminology and the basics of how they are made. I didn't really know more about them before reading the book.
But that's about all that I found interesting. The writing style was super dry and boring, I couldn't keep my mind on the story and found myself skimming a lot. Gose had a lot of historical information, and if the book had been shorter I think it could have been more interesting.
In the end I gave the book 1 star on Goodreads.
The one thing I did find interesting about this book is all the different beer terminology and the basics of how they are made. I didn't really know more about them before reading the book.
But that's about all that I found interesting. The writing style was super dry and boring, I couldn't keep my mind on the story and found myself skimming a lot. Gose had a lot of historical information, and if the book had been shorter I think it could have been more interesting.
In the end I gave the book 1 star on Goodreads.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews