Review: The Beer Bible, Second Edition by Jeff Alworth
Published September 28, 2021 by Workman
The Beer Bible Second Edition looks daunting. It’s a thick volume given its 644 pages, and for gosh sakes, it’s called The Beer Bible, a name that demands respect given its namesake. But do not fret on its heft, for what is inside is a treasure.
Unlike the original Bible (at least the Old Testament portion and maybe the books of Revelations), author Jeff Alworth’s Bible is inviting, its introduction is friendly and welcomes you in with a kind heart and respect. This isn’t the kind of book that will shame you for drinking a beer out of a plastic cup. Beer isn’t about shaming people- it’s a New Testament “love thy neighbor” approach that shows you Alworth is a kind soul that just wants you to love beer as much as he does.
I met Alworth in 2017 judging the World Beer Awards in Washington, DC. I was reading the first edition of The Beer Bible at the time I met him and I consider him a good and dear friend now. I found the first edition to be a great primer of all things beer, albeit quite dense. The second edition is just as dense, even more so as beer is an evolution and therefore constantly changing. This time it feels like there’s more of a lighter touch. Alworth is holding your hand even more so in the second edition as if to say, “it’s okay, read it again, I’m here for you.”
This book can be read two ways, enjoy it by choosing to read it cover to cover or use it as a reference, jumping from one section to another. The book focuses on beer in 2021 and doesn’t shy away from issues in the beer industry (lack of diversity, etc). Since many beers have been shaped by Colonialism/Imperialism, Alworth showcases the many sides of beer outside Europe/America. This is a refreshing take and very much appreciated. He also dives into styles not known to many people (this writer included). His section on sake is the first time I’ve seen a beer book not gloss over sake and write about it in depth. Other countries’ beer styles also get great write-ups- Lithuanian beer anyone?
The style sections go way beyond the simple vitals and history. Alworth fills his encyclopedia of beer with tidbits, thoughts, cultural uses, pouring techniques, interviews with top producers and more. The Beer Bible is a love letter to beer and everything that revolves around it; not just the liquid itself. He also gives brands as “beers to know,” - most of them are easy to procure, which helps the reader steer to their local store to pick up but some are harder to find (Hill Farmstead Edward for example is not in any grocery store I’ve ever seen) so it gives the readers something to explore. See what’s available in your local, trustworthy shop, ask questions of the clerk, or go on a trip and get the beer from the source. There are so many ways to enjoy beer. Alworth lives in Portland, Oregon so I find a lot of his beer suggestions skew to that region of the country.
The only con I can find is that this book may overwhelm new drinkers. There’s A LOT here. Open the book and you are instantly bombarded with so much information, it can be difficult to digest. If you are a new drinker or new to beer, my advice is to read the sections that excite you: learn about the process or that beer style that made you buy this book in the first place. Breaking this book into little bite size portions is the perfect way to digest everything it has to offer.
I loved the first edition of The Beer Bible and did not think it could be improved upon and boy, was I proved wrong. Alworth has taken his much treasured resource and improved upon it in a myriad of ways. There’s so much care, thought and love that went into making this book and it shows. So dive right in or bite off a few pages at a time; preferably with a pint in hand. Cheers!