(Drivebycuriosity) - Do you like beer? For me it is an acquired taste. I gave up on barley juice when I lived in Germany, because I found the German brews boring and - having lots of calories - they raised my weight.
I rekindled my interest in beer when I began to live in the US and got introduced into the varieties of American craft beers, especially IPS, and become a connoisseur of artisan fermented grain juices.
The little booklet "Exploring The Fascinating World Of Beer" by Marc Ferrari gives a nice introduction (about 75 pages amazon ). The author describes the history of beer - starting with the Sumerians - and tells how barley - or other grains - are turned into malt and then fermented into beer; he names the importance of the different kinds of yeast & hops and sketches the divergent brewing methods for lager beer ( including Pils ) and ales (including IPAs) and the importance of the mineral content of water. Ferrari also covers the economics of beer brewing, the influence of the industrial revolution & technological progress.
Health Aspects
I find especially the health aspects interesting. Beer reduces the risk of heart disease! "Beer contains antioxidants that help prevent to oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, also known as ´bad`cholesterol, which can lead to the formation of plaque in the arteries. Additionally, beer contains flavonoids, which have anti-inflammatory properties that can further reduce the risk of heart disease."
The book was written in a simple language - with plenty repeats - , but has a lot useful information and it hits the spot.
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