300 Beers to Try Before You Die - Roger Protz > Reviews (1)

I like beer - rather a lot in fact . Whilst I started off in my earlier years as a Lager drinker, I'm now much keener on my bottled beers, particularly unusual beers from smaller breweries. My interest has grown a lot in recent years, especially since I've started to travel around the UK more, and have had much more oppurtunity to sample beers that might not yet have made it to my neck of the woods .

When I saw this book, I saw the title as a challenge , and popping the book into my basket, determined that I would make it my mission to actually try all of these beers before I cark it (presumably as a result of Cirrhosis of the liver.)

The title pretty much explains what the book is all about , and the book starts off with some interesting snippets of knowledge that would be invaluable to all beer drinkers - there is interesting information for example on how to correctly serve and store the beers, as well as information on how to taste beers properly. Apparently swigging it back in great gulps is not the way to go about it . There is also information about the general brewing process, and the importance of ingredients, such as hops, malt, and barley, in the final formulation .

Then, we go into the challenge. The beers are divided into categories according to style - for example, IPA, Pilsners, Trappist, and Wheat Beers all have their own section. In fact, 29 different beer styles are listed, some of which I wasn't even aware of - I'd never heard of smoked or steamed beers before.

Then, each beer within a category has it's own write up - telling you a little about the brewery, the ingredients, anything unusual about the brewing process, and even in some cases the best place to go to sample it . Other essential information is also included - strength, brewery address and website, and the country of origin (indicated by a coloured flag at the top of the page). There is also a section for you to mark off the beer as you try it, and add your own thoughts on the beers appearance, aroma, and taste.

The beers themselves are a real mixed bag. Some, such as Leffe Triple, Adnams Bitter, and Black Sheep Best, are commonly available in the Uk in either pubs and supermarkets. Others, such as Harveys, are available generally only in the region in which they are made (Sussex, in this case). Still more, are actually pretty hard to find, and require some internet jiggery pokery in order to get hold of a way of ordering them.

The tone throughout is friendly yet informative . It doesn't try and bombard you with knowledge you'll never need, but does give you all the basic information plus the odd snippet of trivia .

I've really enjoyed this book so far - it has led me to try new beers, and to revisit old favourites. It's led to a great increase in my knowledge about different styles of beers, and the ways in whichthe brewing process differs for each style. It's also given me a good reason to visit ther pub whenever I feel like it!

With a cover price of 14.99 (although I got my copy for around £7) this is a great gift for any beer lover, and I highly recommend it !