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A Brief History of Lager: 500 Years of the World’s Favourite Beer
Shortlisted for the André Simon Drinks Book of the Year 2019
In this fascinating book, beer expert Mark Dredge dives into the history of lager, from how it was first brewed to what role was played by German monks and kings in the creation of the drink we know so well today. From the importance of 500-year-old purity laws to a scrupulously researched exploration of modern beer gardens (it's a hard life), Mark has delved deep into the story of the world's favourite beer.
From 16th Century Bavaria to the recent popularity of specialist craft lagers, A Brief History of Lager is an engaging and informative exploration of a classic drink.
Pint, anyone?
226 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 19, 2019
31 people are currently reading
105 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
May 3, 2021
The history of lager is pretty much the history of beer.
Dredge tells a compelling tale, from the early developments of lager in Bavaria and Bohemia, through the industrialization and consolidation of the 20th century to the current landscape of mega-conglomerations and the renewed interest in lager by microbreweries.
The story is well told with lots of historical info, good stories and a decent amount of business.
If you have an interest in beer, this book is certainly recommended.
Dredge tells a compelling tale, from the early developments of lager in Bavaria and Bohemia, through the industrialization and consolidation of the 20th century to the current landscape of mega-conglomerations and the renewed interest in lager by microbreweries.
The story is well told with lots of historical info, good stories and a decent amount of business.
If you have an interest in beer, this book is certainly recommended.
March 22, 2025
Very fascinating
March 24, 2021
A great story of beer and beer brands around the world. The author is at his best when he is drinking the beer at it's source, whether this is Bamburg, Pilsen, St Louis or Hanoi. It rattles through the development of what we now know as pale lager at great pace, and for me this book could only be improved by going deeper into detail. But I guess that's the reason why it's not called A Long And Detailed History of Lager.
January 2, 2025
Something about the font and the spacing of the hardback made me continually lose my place. Once I switched to audiobook I blew through this thing in about a week. Even though the narrator should be tried and hung for the way he pronounces Lagunitas. In general, I found it to be an incietful and prescient dive into the history of this beer style and overview of the contemporary culture that surrounds it. Probably one of the only audiobooks I will listen to twice.
May 25, 2020
A brief history of lager mixes historical / annecdotal information with the author visiting countries and locations to add some personal flavour. This mix works well and makes for an interesting read if you are remotely interested in the topic.
Let's start with some critisism;
I've noticed that some American authors tend to romanticise European (beer) history - and this book also falls victim to this practise. Especially his description of German beer history raises some questions about how historical accurate it was and how much is based on personal accounts and brewery marketing.
Another criticism is that his opinion of the beer is highly biased by his love for the locations he is drinking it. He loves drinking Bia hoi in Vietnam because of good memories, and he loves that some Mexican lagers are a bit bland or simple so they go well with the local spicy cuisine. Then he mentions Brazilian lager which he does not care for much because it's not as good as the Mexican lager. It would have been nice if he got a bit more into why the beers are not as good, maybe take out some of the subjectivity or take us into a discussion on quality.
And lastly some lagers are kind of ignored. Where are the bocks and the baltic porters? It would have been nice to expand a bit on what lagers can also be beyond what is described in the book.
But the good outweigh these critisisms overall. The book is an interesting read with loads of nice little facts and anecdotes. It made me want to sit on my balcony, read this book, and drink German traditional lagers. I guess that is the best compliment I can give this book - it's an infectious love letter to lagers. Is it completely objective or does it aim to be exhaustive? Not really.. But like a good lager this book keeps you coming back for another taste until you have turned the last page and wish there was more.
Let's start with some critisism;
I've noticed that some American authors tend to romanticise European (beer) history - and this book also falls victim to this practise. Especially his description of German beer history raises some questions about how historical accurate it was and how much is based on personal accounts and brewery marketing.
Another criticism is that his opinion of the beer is highly biased by his love for the locations he is drinking it. He loves drinking Bia hoi in Vietnam because of good memories, and he loves that some Mexican lagers are a bit bland or simple so they go well with the local spicy cuisine. Then he mentions Brazilian lager which he does not care for much because it's not as good as the Mexican lager. It would have been nice if he got a bit more into why the beers are not as good, maybe take out some of the subjectivity or take us into a discussion on quality.
And lastly some lagers are kind of ignored. Where are the bocks and the baltic porters? It would have been nice to expand a bit on what lagers can also be beyond what is described in the book.
But the good outweigh these critisisms overall. The book is an interesting read with loads of nice little facts and anecdotes. It made me want to sit on my balcony, read this book, and drink German traditional lagers. I guess that is the best compliment I can give this book - it's an infectious love letter to lagers. Is it completely objective or does it aim to be exhaustive? Not really.. But like a good lager this book keeps you coming back for another taste until you have turned the last page and wish there was more.
October 15, 2020
I want one of of three things out of most beer books, and this one provided two of them. First, I enjoy reading about the history of beer and brewing, and this book delivers. I knew a lot of the material presented here, but it was so well-written and well-organized that it was fresh and informative.
Second, I like a good appreciation of beer and beer experiences. Dredge writes convincingly and compellingly about the experience of enjoying lager in a host of great settings. I have been to the cellar in Pilsen where he enjoyed fresh Pilsner Urquell, and his description was spot on and wonderful. He drinks under a bridge in Japan, and it feels like you are there, and his closing description of a St. Louis lager fest transports you to the experience of drinking beer surrounded by people having fun. So good.
Finally, I read a beer book for brewing hints and recipes. This book doesn't do that. But it will inspire you to research some recipes and fire up the brewing equipment, if you have it!
Second, I like a good appreciation of beer and beer experiences. Dredge writes convincingly and compellingly about the experience of enjoying lager in a host of great settings. I have been to the cellar in Pilsen where he enjoyed fresh Pilsner Urquell, and his description was spot on and wonderful. He drinks under a bridge in Japan, and it feels like you are there, and his closing description of a St. Louis lager fest transports you to the experience of drinking beer surrounded by people having fun. So good.
Finally, I read a beer book for brewing hints and recipes. This book doesn't do that. But it will inspire you to research some recipes and fire up the brewing equipment, if you have it!
September 4, 2023
De unos años para acá me he vuelto un apasionado de la cerveza artesanal y eso me ha llevado a buscar libros e información sobre la historia y los diferentes estilos de cerveza qué hay. Me topé con este libro a muy buen precio y que prometía un resumen breve de 500 años de historia de la familia de cervezas más bebida a lo largo del mundo: las lagers.
El libro no decepciona en ese aspecto; te proporciona historia desde el origen, las distintas familias cerveceras, qué innovaciones hubo, como empezó a moverse de país en país, que crisis enfrentaron, etc. incluso trae un capítulo sobre lagers al rededor del mundo y menciona las variaciones que ha habido, ese capítulo me gusta mucho porque el autor viajó a Mexico y describe muy bien nuestras cervezas comerciales.
También cierra el libro con un capítulo dedicado al futuro de las lagers y las innovaciones en torno a las levaduras que está liderando Carlsberg.
Le puse tres estrellas porque a veces la estructura da saltos y puede confundir al lector con la temporalidad. También creo que me hubiera venido bien a este libro una serie de diagramas o líneas temporales para entender de manera visual mejor todo, ya qué hay mucha información qué hay que memorizar o podría ser confuso.
El libro no decepciona en ese aspecto; te proporciona historia desde el origen, las distintas familias cerveceras, qué innovaciones hubo, como empezó a moverse de país en país, que crisis enfrentaron, etc. incluso trae un capítulo sobre lagers al rededor del mundo y menciona las variaciones que ha habido, ese capítulo me gusta mucho porque el autor viajó a Mexico y describe muy bien nuestras cervezas comerciales.
También cierra el libro con un capítulo dedicado al futuro de las lagers y las innovaciones en torno a las levaduras que está liderando Carlsberg.
Le puse tres estrellas porque a veces la estructura da saltos y puede confundir al lector con la temporalidad. También creo que me hubiera venido bien a este libro una serie de diagramas o líneas temporales para entender de manera visual mejor todo, ya qué hay mucha información qué hay que memorizar o podría ser confuso.
April 28, 2023
An incredibly easy read. Loved the knowledge and history that is recorded here. Some I already knew, some was new. But having so much in such a compact book is delightful.
My hot take? Wl I wonder, was this book financed by big beer? Because this novel did make me appreciate America’s Light Lagers. The light lager is not only such a unique original thing for America but it’s also the beginning of this huge movement for beer. As a craft beer brewer for so long, hearing about breweries like Budweiser, Corona, and etc and what they did for beer is truly fascinating. Especially funny now that the brewery I work for now just released a THC Seltzer. Craft Beer, Mega Beer, Weed. Everything is connected. I don’t know, maybe it’s the weed talking but after reading this book I sure am craving a bud light.
My hot take? Wl I wonder, was this book financed by big beer? Because this novel did make me appreciate America’s Light Lagers. The light lager is not only such a unique original thing for America but it’s also the beginning of this huge movement for beer. As a craft beer brewer for so long, hearing about breweries like Budweiser, Corona, and etc and what they did for beer is truly fascinating. Especially funny now that the brewery I work for now just released a THC Seltzer. Craft Beer, Mega Beer, Weed. Everything is connected. I don’t know, maybe it’s the weed talking but after reading this book I sure am craving a bud light.
November 30, 2022
Love the initial chapters addressing the European history of lager and then Pilsner, as well as the following chapter on the American industrialization of the product. The high-speed world tour that follows was less successful to me (but sounded like a sweet research trip!).
Then comes modern lagers and beer science…and if you spend a couple of pages at Bierstadt Lagerhaus, with a Slow Pull Pils, you’ve won me over for sure! And then he goes to Prost! When folks head to Denver, it is not to the many IPA spots that I send them…it is to those, and with the Craft Renaissance that is taking place, with pretty great beer all over the place, they are two of the few spots that I am jealous of Denver for having.
Then comes modern lagers and beer science…and if you spend a couple of pages at Bierstadt Lagerhaus, with a Slow Pull Pils, you’ve won me over for sure! And then he goes to Prost! When folks head to Denver, it is not to the many IPA spots that I send them…it is to those, and with the Craft Renaissance that is taking place, with pretty great beer all over the place, they are two of the few spots that I am jealous of Denver for having.
May 26, 2025
For anyone truly interested in beer, and not just the way it tastes, this is a fantastic book. It covers history, geography, and a bit of science, all being told in a story like setting. The author is funny, relatable, and there are times where you can physically feel the the gemutlichkeit he describes.
September 1, 2021
Entertaining, incredibly informative book all about the history of lager. This book was recommended by two owners/brewmasters to me; the purchase was so worth it. I look forward to exploring more of Marks' work in the future.
October 5, 2021
Not analytical, lacking examination of context for development of lager in place and time. Enjoyable to read, more like travel diary for the most part. Shallow topical examinations left me unsatisfied. But ok for bringing some parts of the story together in a somewhat relatable way.
March 30, 2020
This was great fun, but by the end I definitely got the vibe that this beer, no wait, THIS beer, was the best beer he'd ever tasted. Sure got me excited to homebrew though.
April 17, 2020
Great and engaging read. The Vietnam and Japan sections were great (as well as the German section). It is missing anything about bocks! I would love to know more.
April 21, 2020
I felt like in a world beer tour while reading it. Nicely explained how today's beers got into our refrigerators. I recommend this book to all beer lovers!
July 13, 2020
An awesome book if you are interested in history and beer.
February 13, 2021
Не всяка книжка починається зі знайомства з принцем. Баварським. Який варить пиво . Дуже непоганий і ненудний тревелог-історичний проект про те, що лагер - це зовсім ��е те що ми собі уявляємо.
May 12, 2021
Good read.
February 1, 2022
Really awesome book, something I'll read again and refer back to.
December 17, 2023
Better than a pint of lager tbh
July 8, 2025
Absolutely fantastic. Reminds me why I love beer.
December 1, 2025
Goes into a little TOO much detail at times but fascinating nonetheless. Makes me appreciate beer even more.
March 21, 2020
A whirlwind tour of the history of lager. Makes you want to join him on his next lager-seeking adventure. You’ll definitely appreciate later more after reading this. However the writing was disappointing.
At times I couldn’t follow the organization as it leaps across geographies and timelines and back. Maybe a few charts or maps as a reference in an appendix would have helped.
Also, the writing could have used some copy editing. I think there are far too many awkward sentences and choppy transitions. This almost reads like a draft manuscript.
Three stars seems too harsh but four seems too generous. If I could give it 3.5 I would have.
At times I couldn’t follow the organization as it leaps across geographies and timelines and back. Maybe a few charts or maps as a reference in an appendix would have helped.
Also, the writing could have used some copy editing. I think there are far too many awkward sentences and choppy transitions. This almost reads like a draft manuscript.
Three stars seems too harsh but four seems too generous. If I could give it 3.5 I would have.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews