Fascinating book, very well designed and informative. In addition to guiding a would-be beer taster on the complexities of various tastes and aromas, it provides a nice survey of the history of beer throughout the world, as well as the mechanics and economics of brewing. Who knew there was so much to know about beer!? ( )

This book made me really thirsty. Seriously -- it took me over a month to read it, because I couldn't sit down with it without a glass of beer to keep me company. It's impossible to read the lush descriptions of malt and hops without sipping along on something with those flavors.

I learned a lot from this book. I now know why I hate IPAs and why I love nut brown ales. I want to make myself a Black Velvet (a cocktail that's half stout and half champagne). I want to try practically every style mentioned in the book at least once.

I was a beer fan already. I may have just turned into a full-on beer geek because of Mosher's writing.

One small complaint, though: in the section on fruity witbiers, Mosher says 'Chick beers' are what beer geeks call these." This implies that a) beer geeks are all male; b) women can't appreciate good beer; and c) male beer geeks are misogynists. Not cool, Mr. Mosher. Not cool at all. ( )

I actually do like this book quite a lot. It is well written, with lots of information. I do love the quotes he brings into the book, and this liven it up quite a lot.

While I am not a beer expert, I wonder if the USA is a beer heaven, as he claims. Possibly, yes. The march of tasteless beers due to steady commercialisation is inevitable.

Some of the technical aspects went over my head, and this is the only reason I give it four stars instead of five.

All in all, a really enjoyable book ( )

A good companion to the Beer Bible. ( )

An authoritative accounting of the history and present status of beer. ( )