The Little Book of Beer Tips.
This small yellow book provides handy advice and tips on ways in which to make the best out of beer. With essential beer tips ranging from how to pour and store the perfect beer, all the way to more obscure uses such as beer shampoo, the ‘Little Book of Beer Tips’ by Andrew Langely aims to provide original and useful ideas that no beer drinker should be without.
The little book has a total of 50 beer tips, as I have said, ranging from the practical to the adventurous. Suitable not only for regular beer drinkers, but for new-comers too, the little book is for both of whom want to make the best out beer and its varying properties and uses. Split into perhaps three main areas (general tips, eating/ drinking tips, alternative uses), the actual material and ideas offered by Langley are fairly interesting; apparently beer is best stored in cool, dark places, is a great addition to many red meats and fish (recipes of which are offered throughout the pocket sized book), and is great for pest control. Langley draws attention to serious and sensible solutions when drinking and choosing beers, and whilst encouraging us to try everything from new and exotic beers to local brews, also reminds us to keep an eye on the alcohol content, which can vary dramatically from 4-5%, up to over 10% (‘the world record is somewhere in the mid-20s’).
Although he clearly advocates the consumption of beer, he does not encourage excessive drinking, but instead focuses on how to enjoy beer in all its glory. As I have already mentioned, the little book offers food and drink recipes, telling us which types of beer go best with particular meats and fishes, and how to mix beer based drinks, including mulled beer and a ‘dog’s nose’ (a cocktail consisting of stout, sugar, nutmeg and gin). Each tip has its own page adjacent to its relative number, and is only up to about 60 words in length, making some of the recipes very basic. However, you are able to get the general idea of taste, and certainly a couple of the recipes sound quite delicious.
The one and only negative about the little book is that there is no definition to it. Obviously being a small, pocket sized tips book it cannot be split into lots of semi-categories. However, it would benefit from a couple of chapters differentiating between general tips (storage, choosing, tasting etc) and recipes, making it easier and smoother to search through.
Summary
With the book’s tips ranging from common knowledge to completely unique suggestions, it is possible for most readers to find something new to try. However, I would not say, as some critics have suggested, that this little book is a must for all beer drinkers. With good basic tips concerning the dealing with and uses of beer, this little book is more of an introduction offering the reader basic tips and potential ideas.
|
