Once upon a time, beer was just beer. You picked it up from the supermarket or liquor store, brought it to a barbecue, and guzzled it down. No discussion necessary.
But today, you might find yourself overwhelmed by the dizzying number of beers that you have to choose from, and once you finally select a six pack and arrive at the party, you find that people want to talk about the beer. Someone points out that it's similar to a nanobrew from Vermont. Another person says that they saw this brew at a beer festival. And someone else says the beer is hoppy—and does he detect undertones of cinnamon? You nod along, hung up on the fact that you still don't quite know what "hoppy" is meant to describe.
Over the past few decades craft brewing has unleashed a tsunami of new beers into the world, the result of which is a distinct subculture in which beer isn't just something to drink; it's something to appreciate, discuss, and analyze. For connoissuers, beer making is a fine art which should be given the weight it deserves. For others, the new culture of beer can feel a bit like showing up to a YMCA and being denied entry because you're not wearing a suit and tie. After all, you just wanted to drink some beer; who knew you were being judged by which six pack you chose?
This Snippet will give you a foundational understanding of beer, including where it came from, what's in it, how it's made, and how to distinguish one from another. Maybe you've just had your first microbrew and now you're hooked—this Snippet will provide the vocabulary you need to begin talking about beer with more experienced beer lovers. Perhaps you just want to figure out what all the fuss is about. The brief history of beer that you'll find here will help you to understand how beer grew to the behemoth industry it is today.
We'll start with some time travel back to the creation of beer in its earliest, most rudimentary form, zipping through history to get a grasp on how beer has grown into a multi-billion dollar global industry. Chapter 3 dives into the differentiations between the types of breweries. (Warning: you may find yourself cringing about people interchanging "craft brew" and "microbrew" from now on.) In Chapter 5, you'll learn about the different types of beer, so that you can more easily navigate the beer aisles the next time you're picking up a six pack. But what actually goes into beer making? We'll talk about the process and the ingredients in Chapters 7 and 8, and if that gets you really excited about brewing, Chapter 9 will give you a glimpse into what it takes to become a brewmaster.
Each chapter includes a brief introduction to just the most important aspects of beer and beer making, supplemented with audio clips and videos that will introduce you to some of the key players in the industry. You're welcome to join the conversation at any time by using the social components. Add your voice to the topics in the chapter you're reading or share your opinion about anything beer-related, from pictures at your favorite brewery to thoughts on the best process for homebrewing.
One last thing before we jump in: the best way to understand beer and its complexities is by tasting it! We can't wait to hear about what you're tasting. Because remember, at the end of the day, what matters most is what you like best.