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The Complete Beer Course Lib/E: Boot Camp for Beer Geeks: From Novice to Expert in Twelve Tasting Classes
It's a great time to be a beer drinker, but also the most confusing, thanks to the dizzying array of available draft beers. Expert Joshua Bernstein comes to the rescue with The Complete Beer Course, demystifying the sudsy stuff and breaking down the elements that make beer's flavor spin into distinctively different and delicious directions. Structured around a series of easy-to-follow classes, his course hops from lagers and pilsners to hazy wheat beers, Belgian-style abbey and Trappist ales, aromatic pale ales and bitter IPAs, roasty stouts, barrel-aged brews, belly-warming barley wines, and mouth-puckering sour ales. There is even a class on international beer styles and another on pairing beer with food and starting your own beer cellar. Through suggested, targeted tastings, you'll learn when to drink down-and when to dump those suds down a drain.
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First published September 3, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
July 17, 2015
Probably the best way to explain why I found this book is so successful is to describe what it isn't.
Most other books about beer that I've seen follow this formula: there's a quick glossary of the major styles of beer, with just a sentence or two on each, and then the majority of the book is a detailed listing and tasting notes on the author's favourite beers, the majority of which aren't sold in my area. My problem with this format is that in one-or-two-sentence descriptions, many different styles sound the same. Altbier, bock and kölsch all get described as just "medieval styles of German beer", for example. The highlighted beers, although interesting, are only of limited value since they're often not available.
This book, however, does the opposite: it focuses in-depth of the different styles of beer, devoting several pages to each. This provides exactly the right amount of information: enough to understand the history of each style and what makes it unique, but not so much as to lose my interest. After each beer's description, there's a quick table of recommended examples of the style. 2 are highlighted with tasting notes, and then several other examples are listed. There's enough examples of each style that I've usually been able to spot one that's familiar.
Bernstein then covers several other interesting topics: in-depth looks at several interesting craft breweries, barrel-aging, food pairing, ageing beers yourself, and finally a global overview of beers and breweries in several countries. I'm proud to say Montreal's Mondial de la Bière gets specifically highlighted in that last section!
I've giving this book 5 stars because I literally can't imagine how it could be improved. Bernstein provided exactly the information I was looking for, in an accessible and engaging writing style.
Most other books about beer that I've seen follow this formula: there's a quick glossary of the major styles of beer, with just a sentence or two on each, and then the majority of the book is a detailed listing and tasting notes on the author's favourite beers, the majority of which aren't sold in my area. My problem with this format is that in one-or-two-sentence descriptions, many different styles sound the same. Altbier, bock and kölsch all get described as just "medieval styles of German beer", for example. The highlighted beers, although interesting, are only of limited value since they're often not available.
This book, however, does the opposite: it focuses in-depth of the different styles of beer, devoting several pages to each. This provides exactly the right amount of information: enough to understand the history of each style and what makes it unique, but not so much as to lose my interest. After each beer's description, there's a quick table of recommended examples of the style. 2 are highlighted with tasting notes, and then several other examples are listed. There's enough examples of each style that I've usually been able to spot one that's familiar.
Bernstein then covers several other interesting topics: in-depth looks at several interesting craft breweries, barrel-aging, food pairing, ageing beers yourself, and finally a global overview of beers and breweries in several countries. I'm proud to say Montreal's Mondial de la Bière gets specifically highlighted in that last section!
I've giving this book 5 stars because I literally can't imagine how it could be improved. Bernstein provided exactly the information I was looking for, in an accessible and engaging writing style.
February 10, 2014
We live in the Yakima Valley in hop growing, beer producing country; my husband was head chemist for years at a hop processing plant so of course the "know your hops" section was very fascinating to us. And we just plain like a good beer. Strangely enough, Bernstein's wife is allergic to alcohol and my husband, after years of intense contact with hops, developed a severe allergy of them in that form. But drinking beer is okay.
To get the most from this book, you need to buy and drink the beers Joshua Bernstein features. So for example, Bernstein will give you two beers to sample simultaneiously like Fat Tire Amber Ale and Hopback Amber Ale. If they are not both available and you'd like to do a straight up comparison, he offers you a handful of alternatives. Or as another example: Sockeye Red IPA with Hop Head Red.
Most brewers follow a similar path- an interest in home brewing which leads to professional brewing.
Don't let the color fool you- some dark beers are lighter in flavor than a light colored beer. And unlike wine, beer does NOT improve with age; beers are best drunk fresh having been stored in a fridge.
The book is sensibly arranged by types of beers- lagers, pilsners, hefeweizens, pale ales, IPAs trapist and abbey style, stouts, porters, barley... And the layout is so interesting- little factoid boxes- for example: "Generally speaking, Belgia ales are among the most food-friendly styles. At dinner it's hard to go off track with a Belgian saison, dubbbel, or tripel." The boo is also full of great photos, interviews with brewers, and history.
And just odd little facts like: Michigan based Right Brain Brewery's Mangalista Pig Porter includes four cold-smoked Mangalista pig heads- brains removed- and there are several bags of bones in each batch. The result is a smoky curiosity."
Seriously, if you are a lover of beer, you will find this book fascinating and visually appealing. It is more than a once through read-through, it is a book to reference when you wonder what type beer to serve with duck (A dark rich Belgian style dubbel) or perhaps you're perplexed about a beer pairing with carrot cake (a straightforward IPA).
To get the most from this book, you need to buy and drink the beers Joshua Bernstein features. So for example, Bernstein will give you two beers to sample simultaneiously like Fat Tire Amber Ale and Hopback Amber Ale. If they are not both available and you'd like to do a straight up comparison, he offers you a handful of alternatives. Or as another example: Sockeye Red IPA with Hop Head Red.
Most brewers follow a similar path- an interest in home brewing which leads to professional brewing.
Don't let the color fool you- some dark beers are lighter in flavor than a light colored beer. And unlike wine, beer does NOT improve with age; beers are best drunk fresh having been stored in a fridge.
The book is sensibly arranged by types of beers- lagers, pilsners, hefeweizens, pale ales, IPAs trapist and abbey style, stouts, porters, barley... And the layout is so interesting- little factoid boxes- for example: "Generally speaking, Belgia ales are among the most food-friendly styles. At dinner it's hard to go off track with a Belgian saison, dubbbel, or tripel." The boo is also full of great photos, interviews with brewers, and history.
And just odd little facts like: Michigan based Right Brain Brewery's Mangalista Pig Porter includes four cold-smoked Mangalista pig heads- brains removed- and there are several bags of bones in each batch. The result is a smoky curiosity."
Seriously, if you are a lover of beer, you will find this book fascinating and visually appealing. It is more than a once through read-through, it is a book to reference when you wonder what type beer to serve with duck (A dark rich Belgian style dubbel) or perhaps you're perplexed about a beer pairing with carrot cake (a straightforward IPA).
June 5, 2019
Lo empecé hace cuatro años, cuando era otra persona. Desde entonces, he traducido un libro sobre cervezas, he asistido a muchas catas e incluso he impartido varias yo mismo. Recuerdo que, en mi primer intento de lectura, me sorprendieron muchos datos de los que no tenía ni idea. Ahora, cuando he vuelto a empezarlo y me lo he acabado, todavía he descubierto aspectos interesantes de este o aquel estilo.
El volumen está dividido en una introducción al mundo cervecero y a su cultura, un paseo por los diversos estilos, de los más básicos a los más complejos y delicados (esta sección cubre dos tercios del libro o más), un viaje por estilos y culturas específicos de este o aquel país y un cierre con consejos para envejecer birra y saber qué beber con cada comida. Además, se cuenta la historia de muchas cerveceras (de EE. UU. casi todas) y se presentan notas de cata de caldos ejemplos de cada estilo (la mitad, de EE. UU.).
La verdad es que es un libro muy completo, aunque demasiado centrado en los EE. UU.: me he saltado tranquilamente un 20% porque no me interesa que en tal pueblo de Kentucky celebran una fiesta de la strong ale americana en mayo o que en no sé dónde en Massachussets hay un señor que fusiona las mejores levaduras belgas con su producción de calabazas. Se habla de «brauerías» (como las llama un amigo) italianas o finlandesas, por ejemplo, pero se ve que por aquel entonces el autor no sabía que existiera España: una lástima.
El volumen está dividido en una introducción al mundo cervecero y a su cultura, un paseo por los diversos estilos, de los más básicos a los más complejos y delicados (esta sección cubre dos tercios del libro o más), un viaje por estilos y culturas específicos de este o aquel país y un cierre con consejos para envejecer birra y saber qué beber con cada comida. Además, se cuenta la historia de muchas cerveceras (de EE. UU. casi todas) y se presentan notas de cata de caldos ejemplos de cada estilo (la mitad, de EE. UU.).
La verdad es que es un libro muy completo, aunque demasiado centrado en los EE. UU.: me he saltado tranquilamente un 20% porque no me interesa que en tal pueblo de Kentucky celebran una fiesta de la strong ale americana en mayo o que en no sé dónde en Massachussets hay un señor que fusiona las mejores levaduras belgas con su producción de calabazas. Se habla de «brauerías» (como las llama un amigo) italianas o finlandesas, por ejemplo, pero se ve que por aquel entonces el autor no sabía que existiera España: una lástima.
February 15, 2019
I decided to lump both Randy Mosher's Tasting Beer and Joshua Bernstein's The Complete Beer Course into one communal review and post it twice, because both books turn out to cover almost exactly the same ground and are of almost exactly the same quality. That quality is great, though, don't get me wrong, in both cases exhausting looks at the process by which beer is actually made, followed up by a detailed examination of roughly 100 different types of beer around the world, and what makes each one different from the other 99. If you were unaware that there even is a hundred different types of beer in the world, these books will probably be way more information than you ever wanted; but if you're already a casual beer fan, and find yourself at the liquor store pondering what the difference is between British pale ale and India pale ale, you'll want to not only read these gorgeous coffeetable books but own a personal copy of them, so that you can refer to them again and again as you commence your beer adventures.
July 10, 2021
This book fulfills the promise of its title--it goes through the brewing process in the first chapter (or class) and then goes through a myriad of beer styles (with a lot of sub-categories) from all over the world. Each sub-category has two recommended beers to try with a list of seven to ten other beers that are good examples. The final chapter discusses pairing beer with food, foods made with beer, and various beer festivals, mostly in the United States. Sprinkled throughout are biographies of craft brewers and breweries. Side bars about beer history, anecdotes, and trivia add a healthy dose of extra content.
The book looks gorgeous. Beyond pictures of bottles and glasses, the book has photos of breweries, brewers, restaurants, and beer festivals. The format is easy to read, except for occasional pages where the watermarks are too dark for the text on top. It doesn't happen too often but it is especially noticeable in low-light situations. Don't take this book to your local pub!
The writing style is casual. Lots of jokes, puns, and pop references are used throughout. It's not really scholarly or academic, more like a coffee table book that's fun to flip through rather than intended to be read in depth. I read it in depth and found some nice tips and leads on things I want to try.
Recommended for the beer-curious.
The book looks gorgeous. Beyond pictures of bottles and glasses, the book has photos of breweries, brewers, restaurants, and beer festivals. The format is easy to read, except for occasional pages where the watermarks are too dark for the text on top. It doesn't happen too often but it is especially noticeable in low-light situations. Don't take this book to your local pub!
The writing style is casual. Lots of jokes, puns, and pop references are used throughout. It's not really scholarly or academic, more like a coffee table book that's fun to flip through rather than intended to be read in depth. I read it in depth and found some nice tips and leads on things I want to try.
Recommended for the beer-curious.
October 26, 2024
Followed an almost exact outline as other beer books. Basic brewing concepts and history lesson > summary of each style of beer > unique mashups > food pairings. I just finished Tasting Beer: An Insider's Journey, but I love the topic and decided to give it a try as my Audible subscription was ending this week. So glad I did!! The anecdotes and interesting facts for each section were different enough that it was almost like reading on this topic for the first time. Also learned a ton thanks to the easier to understand explanations on some things, for example why are Belgian ales called Dubbel, Tripel, and Quad? Loved the brewery spotlight side bar stories infused throughout the book. Several of my favorite breweries were included and I learned about some interesting new ones. The ONE thing I would say that's confusing about the title is it really isn't broken into real classes with activities you would perform to learn. It's more just a way to divide up the book according to topics.
October 2, 2018
Very good introduction to beer with a thorough cataloguing of various beer types. If you want an intermediate knowledge of beer and beer-related topics (geography, foodpairing etc) this book will get you there. My one complaint is the book spent too much time profiling breweries, to the point it felt a bit like an advertisement. This book makes me wish there were more American beer in Ontario (to my knowledge, there's no barley wine available up here, for example), or even the featured beer brewed a couple of hours down the road in Quebec. I suppose that's a testament to the book's quality, if not Ontario's liquor distribution system.
February 24, 2020
I highly recommend this book to anybody who wants to learn more about beer. I liked it because it had different sections focused on different beer styles... But also a few little fun facts and information about other breweries, etc mixed in in a way that made sense and that you didn't necessarily have to read if you didn't want to. It reads a little like a textbook in that sense. It was very informational, but not too pretentious... The author describes beers in fun easy to understand ways and makes really funny and entertaining comparisons.
June 14, 2020
I have a hard time restraining my beer book collection. If it looks comprehensive, well-designed possibly full of new insights, I let it in to join the shelf, next to Jackson and Papazian.
I read and re-read some of these also to re-inforce what I already know, but if Bernstein's work stays on the shelf, I probably won't go back for the prose. This is a tome full of knowledge, from a certified beer freak, but his writing and tone are not to my taste. There is something to be said for an entertaining wordsmith, but this author takes it too far. Too many puns, too many weary jokes and pop-culture references. I look for a balance between wit and dryness. Bernstein's writing is flooded with groaners.
For a well-informed book on beer, though, look no further.
I read and re-read some of these also to re-inforce what I already know, but if Bernstein's work stays on the shelf, I probably won't go back for the prose. This is a tome full of knowledge, from a certified beer freak, but his writing and tone are not to my taste. There is something to be said for an entertaining wordsmith, but this author takes it too far. Too many puns, too many weary jokes and pop-culture references. I look for a balance between wit and dryness. Bernstein's writing is flooded with groaners.
For a well-informed book on beer, though, look no further.
December 26, 2020
I learned so much from this book, and especially loved the author’s selection of two beers to try per style. My one complaint is the heavy-handed use of middle-school creative writing-type similes and metaphors- “best served in a glass as curvaceous as a Victoria’s Secret model”. Seriously? 🙄 The book is overflowing with attempts at cute figurative language that ended up distancing and frankly, annoying me. That aside, this is well-researched, digestible, and fun.
July 29, 2017
Very expansive book about all the various aspects of beer, without being too technical, geeky or snobbish. I work in a beer bar, have home brewed and love visits tasting rooms and breweries and this book taught me a lot and used very accessible language. This is also a very good publisher, Sterling Epicure, have found three solid books all about beers and bourbon.
December 12, 2024
A great book, I used it as source material to take a group of friends through beer tastings. Any book that encourages you to try 12-20 beers every chapter is a winner. I learned a lot of history and technical details and had a great experience chasing down unique beers I may have never tried. Well written and structured well.
April 9, 2025
While the book's scope is somewhat narrower than I expected - focusing primarily on the many styles of beer - it approaches the subject with such enthusiasm and detail that my initial disappointment quickly gave way to genuine enjoyment. The author's passion and the richness of the descriptions make it an engaging read, even if you're looking for something a bit broader.
October 17, 2019
Some interesting information on beer styles, but it tends to drily drag on for the most part. Also, the author’s use of sexualized language and his comparison of beers to attractive women is off putting and wrongheaded.
March 14, 2021
Author Joshua Bernstein is fun and knowledgeable as he introduces beers from across the flavor spectrum and around the world. It's high-level introductory material, approachable but informed, and it will leave you knowing a little more about the beers you enjoy...and looking to try a bunch more!
January 8, 2018
Perfect intro course.
April 19, 2020
The best book for those wanting to learn about beer! Very comprehensive and fun to read. ..And it is as beautiful as it’s educational!
July 24, 2020
Taught me everything I know about beer
November 27, 2020
It’s an encyclopedia for beer- a beerclopedia; If you enjoy a wide variety of beers buy it. Keep it on hand to read as you imbibe.
July 24, 2021
Two issues:
1. I'm not the target audience. There was very little in here that I wasn't already aware of.
2. It's very dated, which is unavoidable but this approach is not a timeless fashion.
1. I'm not the target audience. There was very little in here that I wasn't already aware of.
2. It's very dated, which is unavoidable but this approach is not a timeless fashion.
June 25, 2022
This book is guaranteed to want to make you drink more beer - and that is far from a bad thing.
February 2, 2023
A great introduction to the many wonderful beers that comprise a rich spectrum of flavors across a surprising variety of options.
April 8, 2023
Comprehensive tome
So many beers to sample
Where does one begin
So many beers to sample
Where does one begin
August 14, 2023
Learned a lot about beer....
January 18, 2022
It's ok as a intro to how beer is made, tasted, and the difference between types of beer, but the examples and recommendations are not that useful to those outside the US and A
March 28, 2014
This wasn't my top choice when it came to beer-related books, however, this was the only one available at my local library, so I figured why not.
When I first opened it up, it looked (the layout) like a text book. I am aware that it is called The Complete Beer COURSE. I guess after soooo many years of schooling, when I see a book thats laid out like a text book, I immediately pull away and cringe.
I'm more so going to be flipping through this book rather than read it from cover to cover.
I guess I should mention why I wanted to read a book about beer. Well, the easiest answer is that I like beer. Beer is great. And frankly I do drink Craft Beer for the most part (98% of the time). I just wanted to know more about beer is the second easiest answer.
I'm not at all interested in the authors story, I just want to learn about beer. That is all.
When I first opened it up, it looked (the layout) like a text book. I am aware that it is called The Complete Beer COURSE. I guess after soooo many years of schooling, when I see a book thats laid out like a text book, I immediately pull away and cringe.
I'm more so going to be flipping through this book rather than read it from cover to cover.
I guess I should mention why I wanted to read a book about beer. Well, the easiest answer is that I like beer. Beer is great. And frankly I do drink Craft Beer for the most part (98% of the time). I just wanted to know more about beer is the second easiest answer.
I'm not at all interested in the authors story, I just want to learn about beer. That is all.
April 12, 2014
The book doesn't quite live up to its title of guiding readers from "novice to expert in twelve tasting classes" because after the first chapter (a great introductory opening on the wonderful world of suds) the remainder of the book is geared toward the devout and seasoned with a very granular and detailed survey on essential beer categories. For example -- Class #6 = "Trappist and Abbey-Style Ales," Class #8 - "Barley Wines." A more gentle ramp-up would have been appreciated to make this a proper staged learning experience.
Ultimately though this is worth a complete read through based on the strength of the book's visual design. Every page is beautifully laid out with great color and typeface utilization and really keeps your eye engaged across the pages.
Ultimately though this is worth a complete read through based on the strength of the book's visual design. Every page is beautifully laid out with great color and typeface utilization and really keeps your eye engaged across the pages.
January 20, 2016
I love beer. Still, I never realized so many types existed. Bernstien, in a light entertaining way, provides a wealth of information on this most popular beverage--brewing, types, descriptions, geography, history, and suggestions for tasting. The glossary in the back of the book is a big plus. The book is beautifully illustrated and a must for those interested in more than cold alcohol in the back of the throat. In short, you learn.
I would have liked it more if some of the information were put in tabular form for rapid comparisons (I am a data type of person.) Also, a little more about the processes that make beers different would have suited my palate a little more. Still, great.
I would have liked it more if some of the information were put in tabular form for rapid comparisons (I am a data type of person.) Also, a little more about the processes that make beers different would have suited my palate a little more. Still, great.
March 13, 2015
A good overview of the different kinds of beer and how they are made. I learned a lot from reading it.
At first, I tried to follow along with the central conceit of trying a couple types of each style of beer as it came up in the book, but after being able to find about two out of the first couple dozen specific beers listed, I gave up on that plan and just read the book through normally.
Note: this is a survey of beer. If you want more in depth analysis of either the science or the history of beer, then look elsewhere. If you want a primer that gives you a little of both, then this is a good start.
At first, I tried to follow along with the central conceit of trying a couple types of each style of beer as it came up in the book, but after being able to find about two out of the first couple dozen specific beers listed, I gave up on that plan and just read the book through normally.
Note: this is a survey of beer. If you want more in depth analysis of either the science or the history of beer, then look elsewhere. If you want a primer that gives you a little of both, then this is a good start.
August 10, 2015
This book is beautiful to look at and it will have a place on my coffee table for quite a while. (I admit it was sitting there looking pretty for over a year before I got around to reading it.) I love the design and the photographs. The content of the book is adequate. I think Bernstein does a good job of explaining different styles of beer, and that kind of 101 information is valuable. However at times I felt that the book was more of an advertisement for his favorite breweries than a book about beer. It felt like reading a really good magazine more than an informational book. I also at times disagreed with his beer recommendations - but that is purely subjective!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews