Like many beginning homebrewers, Papazian's "The Complete Joy of Homebrewing" helped introduce me to making my own beer. So when I saw his latest book at my local bookstore, I felt it deserved a look. In this volume, he brings his readers on a tour of the microbreweries and early beer festivals that helped create the commercial craft-brewing landscape that a youngster like me (27) can take for granted at times. The added bonus is that for each one of his anecdotes or reminiscences he includes a homebrew recipe (in both all-grain and malt extract versions). Often these recipes are recreations of early versions of classics like Sierra Nevada Pale Ale or Redhook Ale (I can't wait to brew the recipe for the original, more flavorful Killian's). Other recipes push the envelope like a "Belgian" stout or Pumpernickel Rye Stout.

Much like Garrett Oliver's "Brewmaster's Table" or Michael Jackson's "Beer Companion", this book offers a spirited look into the delicious world of craft beer. Not a comprehensive history, but a fun romp through American craftbrewing past and present (as well as some recent international beer adventures). I highly enjoyed this book.
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I found the recipes useful/interesting. The rest of the book is a loop of "I went to this place, met some nice people, had a good time, drank this and that beer with these characteristics." ( )

I think this book really isn't too much about the beer. Is it one I'd recommend buying? Maybe if you really like beer or reading about traveling and eating. I'd say though if you like reading about travel and beer it's not a bad read. ( )

Two peeves about this book: first, the recipes are in the back, without references to the stories in the front; second, it really needed some editing. ( )