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The Brewer's Tale
- A History of the World According to Beer
- Narrated by: Christopher Sutton
- Length: 8 hrs and 6 mins
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Publisher's summary
Winner of 2014 US Gourmand Drinks Award
Taste 5,000 years of brewing history as a time-traveling home brewer rediscovers and re-creates the great beers of the past.
The Brewer's Tale is a beer-filled journey into the past: the story of brewers gone by and one brave writer's quest to bring them - and their ancient, forgotten beers - back to life, one taste at a time. This is the story of the world according to beer, a toast to flavors born of necessity and place - in Belgian monasteries, rundown farmhouses, and the basement nanobrewery next door. So pull up a barstool and raise a glass to 5,000 years of fermented magic.
Fueled by date-and-honey gruel, sour pediococcus-laced lambics, and all manner of beers between, William Bostwick's rollicking quest for the drink's origins takes him into the redwood forests of Sonoma County, to bullet-riddled South Boston brewpubs, and across the Atlantic, from Mesopotamian sands to medieval monasteries to British brewing factories. Bostwick compares notes with the Mt. Vernon historian in charge of preserving George Washington's molasses-based home brew, and he finds the ancestor of today's macrobrewed lagers in a nineteenth-century spy's hollowed-out walking stick.
Wrapped around this modern reportage are deeply informed tales of history's archetypal brewers: Babylonian temple workers, Nordic shamans, patriots, rebels, and monks. The Brewer's Tale unfurls from the ancient goddess Ninkasi, ruler of intoxication, to the cryptic beer hymns of the Rig Veda and down into the clove-scented treasure holds of India-bound sailing ships. With each discovery comes Bostwick's own turn at the brew pot, an exercise that honors the audacity and experimentation of the craft. A sticky English porter, a pricelessly rare Belgian, and a sacred, shamanic wormwood-tinged gruit each offer humble communion with the brewers of yore.
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In Proof, Adam Rogers reveals alcohol as a miracle of science, going deep into the pleasures of making and drinking booze—and the effects of the latter. The people who make and sell alcohol may talk about history and tradition, but alcohol production is really powered by physics, molecular biology, organic chemistry, and a bit of metallurgy—and our taste for those products is a melding of psychology and neurobiology.
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Great listening to all about booze
- By Atila on 08-02-14
By: Adam Rogers
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The Drunken Botanist
- The Plants That Create the World's Great Drinks
- By: Amy Stewart
- Narrated by: Coleen Marlo
- Length: 10 hrs and 16 mins
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Every great drink starts with a plant. Sake began with a grain of rice. Scotch emerged from barley. Gin was born from a conifer shrub when medieval physicians boiled juniper berries with wine to treat stomach pain. The Drunken Botanist uncovers the surprising botanical history and fascinating science and chemistry of over 150 plants, flowers, trees, and fruits (and even a few fungi).
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No more cheap tequila!
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A Guide to Wine
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- Narrated by: Julian Curry
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Actor and wine expert Julian Curry has devised a unique audiobook guide to wine. The whole subject is introduced and explained how wine is made, the different grapes, the different blends, vintages, wine-growing areas and types. In an entertaining and informal style, he also teaches how to taste wine, and how to choose and store it.
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Comprehensive overview
- By Laurence on 09-26-03
By: Julian Curry
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The Fruit Hunters
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- Narrated by: Stephen Hoye
- Length: 11 hrs and 4 mins
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Tasty, lethal, hallucinogenic, and medicinal - fruits have led nations into wars, fueled dictatorships, and even lured us into new worlds. Adam Leith Gollner weaves business, science, and travel into a riveting narrative about one of the earth's most desired foods.
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Interesting world...
- By Henry Scalfo on 07-16-08
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Super Sushi Ramen Express
- One Family's Journey Through the Belly of Japan
- By: Michael Booth
- Narrated by: Ralph Lister
- Length: 10 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
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Japan is arguably the preeminent food nation on earth, a Mecca for the world's greatest chefs, with more Michelin stars than any other country. The Japanese go to extraordinary lengths and expense to eat food that is marked both by its exquisite preparation and exotic content. Their creativity, dedication, and courage in the face of dishes such as cod sperm and octopus ice cream is only now beginning to be fully appreciated in the sushi and ramen-saturated West.
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Interesting material that's well-narrated
- By John S. on 11-09-16
By: Michael Booth
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The United States of Beer
- A Freewheeling History of the All-American Drink
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Huckelbridge shows how beer has evolved along with the country - from a local and regional product (once upon a time, every American city had its own brewery and iconic beer brand) to the rise of global megabrands, like Budweiser and Miller, that are synonymous with US capitalism. We learn of George Washington's failed attempt to brew beer at Mount Vernon with molasses instead of barley and of the 19th-century "beer barons", like Captain Frederick Pabst, Adolphus Busch, and Joseph Schlitz.
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History Humanized
- By Dave on 06-25-16
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Breakfast in Burgundy
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Laced with compelling writing about French food and its ways, Breakfast in Burgundy is part travel memoir, part foodie detective story, and part love song to Raymond's adopted home. This audiobook tells the story of the Blake's decision to buy a house in Burgundy. Raymond describes the moments of despair such as the water leak that cost a fortune and the fantastic times too. Blake has admitted to being fascinated by flavor and how it is created."
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surprisingly lulz and interesting
- By Amazon Customer on 12-02-21
By: Raymond Blake
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Chasing the White Dog
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In Chasing the White Dog, journalist Max Watman traces the historical roots and contemporary story of hooch. He takes us to the backwoods of Appalachia and the gritty nip joints of Philadelphia, from a federal courthouse to Pocono Speedway, profiling the colorful characters who make up white whiskey's lore. Along the way, Watman chronicles his hilarious attempts to distill his own moonshine - the essential ingredients and the many ways it can all go wrong - from his initial ill-fated batch to his first successful jar of 'shine.
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Wonderfully written and narrated, poorly recorded.
- By Cameron on 04-18-16
By: Max Watman
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In this engaging, anecdotal history of food, world conquest, and desire, a chef-turned-journalist tells the story of three legendary cities, Venice, Lisbon, and Amsterdam, that transformed the globe in the quest for spice.
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Not that bad.
- By EmperorTab on 10-19-08
By: Michael Krondl
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Farm City
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Novella Carpenter loves cities - the culture, the crowds, the energy. At the same time, she can't shake the fact that she is the daughter of two back-to-the-land hippies who taught her to love nature and eat vegetables. Ambivalent about repeating her parents' disastrous mistakes, yet drawn to the idea of backyard self-sufficiency, Carpenter decided that it might be possible to have it both ways.
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Hmmm.
- By THoward on 09-30-09
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Milk!
- A 10,000-Year Food Fracas
- By: Mark Kurlansky
- Narrated by: Brian Sutherland
- Length: 12 hrs and 38 mins
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Mark Kurlansky's first global food history since the best-selling Cod and Salt; the fascinating cultural, economic and culinary story of milk and all things dairy - with recipes throughout. According to the Greek creation myth, we are so much spilt milk; a splatter of the goddess Hera's breast milk became our galaxy, the Milky Way.
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Horrible narration nearly kills Kurlansky
- By Scarlatti's Muse on 05-15-18
By: Mark Kurlansky
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Rice, Noodle, Fish
- Deep Travels Through Japan's Food Culture (Roads & Kingdoms Presents, Book 1)
- By: Matt Goulding
- Narrated by: Will Damron
- Length: 7 hrs and 49 mins
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An innovative new take on the travel guide, Rice, Noodle, Fish decodes Japan's extraordinary food culture through a mix of in-depth narrative and insider advice. In this 5,000-mile journey through the noodle shops, tempura temples, and teahouses of Japan, Matt Goulding, cocreator of the enormously popular Eat This, Not That! book series, navigates the intersection between food, history, and culture, creating one of the most ambitious and complete books ever written about Japanese culinary culture from the Western perspective.
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Starts strong tapers off
- By Craig Bryan on 01-02-21
By: Matt Goulding
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Imbibe! Updated and Revised Edition
- From Absinthe Cocktail to Whiskey Smash, a Salute in Stories and Drinks to "Professor" Jerry Thomas, Pioneer of the American Bar
- By: David Wondrich
- Narrated by: David Colacci
- Length: 9 hrs and 31 mins
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The first edition, published in 2007, won a James Beard Award. Now updated with newly discovered recipes and historical information, this updated edition includes the origins of the first American drink, the mint julep (which Wondrich places before the American Revolution) and those of the cocktail itself. It also provides more detail about 19th-century spirits, many new and colorful anecdotes and details about Thomas' life, and a number of particularly notable, delicious, and influential cocktails not covered in the original edition.
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Interesting history, but needs recipies
- By E. Atkinson on 03-02-20
By: David Wondrich
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What listeners say about The Brewer's Tale
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- ThatGuy
- 06-04-15
Good for a beer lover
I am an amateur brewer who has read several books on the history of brewing. I thought this was one of the most entertaining books I have read on the history and development of styles.
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- Sam Havens
- 04-17-15
Informative
I went into this hoping to learn a lot, and I did. The writing when he was describing the taste and production of beer was on point, but when he narrated and pontificated it felt sophomoric. Definitely worth a listen if you are a beer lover.
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1 person found this helpful
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- August Lovegren
- 07-31-19
Great exploration from past to present
Bostwick is a gifted storyteller and dug deep on his research as well. Recommended for anyone wondering about the history of beer and especially for homebrewers. From ancient Egyptian and Norse grog and Belgian abbey ales to today's craft beer scene and the behemoths of mass lager production, it's a great survey of beer history. He even mentioned my personal brewing hero Stephen H. Buhner. Yet I'd say he exaggerates a bit to subtitle it "A History of the World according to Beer;" it's not THAT extensive.
I would have wished the book were longer if it weren't for a quirk of the narrator Christopher Sutton's pronunciation. He says /k/ and /g/ sounds like he's trying to dislodge a film of mucus from the roof of his mouth. At first it was kind of subtle and didn't bother me, but as the book went on I had to take breaks because that sound was getting on my nerves so much. But other listeners might not even notice it. My dad didn't.
All in all I loved this book and will probably order a paper-and-ink copy soon.
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- Jared Brandon
- 04-18-22
Light and Easy, Like A Pilsner
It’s an interesting tale—or series of tales—that takes you to many places and introduces you to intriguing brewers. It’s not a book about techniques or recipes, except where those things help to tell the story of one beer critic’s journey into beer. There are fascinating historical nuggets, and the occasional elaboration on the more technical or scientific elements. Well worth a credit.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Jack Perdue
- 07-02-15
Good Beer Stories
I enjoyed following the author from one brewery to the next. I feel like I'm tagging along on vacation with him. I've noticed this new genre or writing style among beer writers. The audiobook voice was soothing but often mispronounced some of the beer words. Recommended reading to learn more about beers history and current situation.
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Overall
- PJT
- 08-11-20
Loved it
A sometimes serious, sometimes humorous, but always interesting look at life...and beer.
I shall approach every next pint with new knowledge, appreciation, and a touch of whimsy.
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- Stef
- 02-21-23
Tangy with notes of plum
Bostwick writes like a bohemian poet and Sutton delivers the lines as a practiced player. The book is enjoyable, I'd prefer if it was less florid and more prosy, but the content is interesting and enjoyable.
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- James
- 06-20-16
Great history of brewing for beer geeks
A well-written and fascinating tale looking back at how beer shaped so much of the world.
The history of beer evolution in England was particularly fascinating, especially the rise and fall of the porter and the influence pale ales had on the world.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Regina Szyszkiewicz
- 01-05-19
Fantastic
One of my favorite history books ever. Easy to follow, yet filled with rich and interesting detail, A Brewer’s Tale is the perfect example of how history books should be written. There is serious and frequently quoted research based on primary sources interwoven with relevant ties to our modern day and age as well as a delightful and practical understanding of humanity as a whole. This book combined two of my favorite things (history and beer) and made me fall in love with both all over again.
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- Brock
- 04-25-15
@craftbierian loved this book great history
He ties history into local craft beer. It's a must for any craft enthusiast. Great performance. Beer beer beer beer
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