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Joshua M. Bernstein
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The Complete Beer Course: Boot Camp for Beer Geeks: From Novice to Expert in Twelve Tasting Classes Hardcover – September 3, 2013

by Joshua M. Bernstein (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 588 ratings
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It's a great time to be a beer drinker, but also the most confusing, thanks to the dizzying array of available draft beers. Expert Joshua M. Bernstein comes to the rescue with The Complete Beer Course, demystifying brews and breaking down the elements that make beer's flavor spin into distinctively different and delicious directions. Structured around a series of easy-to-follow classes, his course hops from lagers and pilsners to hazy wheat beers, Belgian-style abbey and Trappist ales, aromatic pale ales and bitter IPAs, roasty stouts, barrel-aged brews, belly-warming barley wines, and mouth-puckering sour ales. There is even a class on international beer styles and another on pairing beer with food and starting your own beer cellar. Through suggested, targeted tastings, you'll learn when to drink down-and when to dump those beers down a drain.
Previous page
  1. Print length
    320 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Union Square & Co.
  4. Publication date
    September 3, 2013
  5. Dimensions
    8.75 x 1.25 x 9.5 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1402797672
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1402797675
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Bernstein has written a book that will take the reader from 'beer novice' to 'intrepid and informed explorer' in no time flat."--Garrett Oliver, Brooklyn Brewery brewmaster and editor-in-chief of The Oxford Companion to Beer"The Complete Beer Course belongs in the library of every beer lover, home brewer and professional brewer."--Jim Koch, founder, the Boston Beer Company"Figuring out which beers you want to spend the most time with just got easier with Bernstein's romp through beer history, styles and thirst-provoking stories."--Charlie Papazian, author of The Complete Joy of Homebrewing

"It might be the best craft-beer book of 2013. But it is also, more important, both the product of a beer-centric age and a solution to its challenges—and, if we're lucky, an indication that beer writing is evolving to suit the needs of a broader audience." —Washington Post ". . . covers a variety of beer-related topics, including a nice breakdown on specific hops, terms glossary, a list of brew weeks by state and more.” —Cleveland Plain Dealer "Structured as a 12-part course spanning the world of beers, this tome is terrifically comprehensive. Brooklyn-based beer expert and journalist Bernstein (brewed awakening: behind the beers and brewers leading the world's craft brewing revolution) shares his immense appreciation for a remarkable variety of beers. The result is appealingly chatty writing that, while definitely reading as a progression through what the author calls a 'boot camp,' is also encyclopedic in nature. Readers may be familiar with common styles such as ales and lagers but are likely to emerge keen to seek out less well-known tipples such as milk stout or gose (a salty, German style). The chapters are balanced between a focus on more typical representations of styles and niche varieties, and Bernstein suggests many favorites for the reader to taste while reading. Spotlights on particular breweries and beers and lavish illustrations make this book as enjoyable to flip through randomly as to read from start to finish. Verdict a wide-ranging volume that is sure to appeal to beer enthusiasts and casual consumers alike. Highly recommended for public libraries and collections with a focus on food and beverages." —Library Journal (STARRED REVIEW)
 

"Josh Bernstein has written a book that will take the reader from ‘beer novice’ to ‘intrepid and informed explorer’ in no time flat. If you've ever looked at the vast array of beers out there and asked yourself ‘what is all this stuff, where does it come from, and what does it taste like?’, then The Complete Beer Course is the book that will throw open the doors and introduce you to a bigger, tastier world." –Garrett Oliver, brewmaster of The Brooklyn Brewery and Editor-in-Chief of The Oxford Companion to Beer

“Here's a book you'll want to have a beer with. No, here's a book you'll want to have many beers with.  Joshua Bernstein has done something nearly impossible. He has written a book that is equally valuable and interesting to experienced brewers as it is to the neophyte beer drinker who is eager to learn. The Complete Beer Course belongs in the library of every beer lover, home brewer, and professional brewer. Cheers to Joshua!”—Jim Koch, Founder and Brewer, The Boston Beer Company - brewer of Samuel Adams

“All beer is good. Figuring out which ones you want to spend the most time with just got easier with Joshua Bernstein’s romp through beer history, styles, and thirst-provoking stories.” –Charlie Papazian, author of The Complete Joy of Homebrewing

“When I decided to write about beer professionally 25 years ago, there was no book like The Complete Beer Course. Luckily, Joshua Bernstein has indentified this gap in beery knowledge and sought to fill it, to the benefit of future beer aficionados everywhere. Whether your goal is to become a beer writer or just more thoroughly enjoy your ales and lagers, The Complete Beer Course will set you on the right track!”—Stephen Beaumont, coauthor of The World Atlas of Beer and The Pocket Beer Guide (both with Tim Webb)

“Boot camp for beer drinkers? Yes. (Minus the early morning hours and whistle-blowing drill sergeant.) Bernstein’s lively prose and command of the terrain will transform the greenest novice into a savvy beer connoisseur.”—Maureen Ogle, author of Ambitious Brew: The Story of American Beer

From the Inside Flap

Go on a fun, flavorful tour through the world of craft brews with one of the most unique and fascinating voices in beer today. In this thoroughly up-to-date, comprehensive, and utterly witty beer course (the only one currently available in print), Joshua M. Bernstein demystifies beer by "elementally breaking down the grains, yeast, hops, and techniques that cause beer's flavor to spin into thousands of distinctively delicious directions."
Not only has the work of Bernstein, a highly acclaimed beer expert, appeared in publications such as the New York Times and Imbibe, but he also leads a New York City tour of homebrewers' apartments and lofts as well as lectures around America. Now he has created this complete course for anyone who wants to choose from and enjoy the vast array of singular brews available today.
After giving you the tools to taste, smell, and evaluate beers, Bernstein takes you through a series of easy-to-understand classes that will have you hopping from lagers and pilsners to hazy wheat beers, Belgian-style abbey and Trappist ales, aromatic pale ales and bitter IPAs, roasty stouts, barrel-aged brews, belly-warming barley wines, and mouth-puckering sour ales. A sequence of suggested, targeted tastings will help you distinguish appropriate flavors and those that "signify that you should dump those beers down a drain." Features on the world's most visionary breweries, a glossary of terms, a chapter on pairing beer with food and starting your own beer cellar, an informative chart on hops, and a calendar of craft beer weeks complete the course.
"Years of experience and sampling have given me the confidence to pass on certain beers, and seek out others as rabidly as my dog does a chicken bone,"writes Bernstein. "The key is being armed with the necessary knowledge. That means learning the ropes, loosening your lips, and trying one beer after another, and another. Something tells me you'll like taking The Complete Beer Course, where earning extra credit has never been so much fun."

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Union Square & Co.; 0 edition (September 3, 2013)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1402797672
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1402797675
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.78 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.75 x 1.25 x 9.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 588 ratings

About the author

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Joshua M. Bernstein

Joshua M. Bernstein

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Joshua M. Bernstein is a beer, spirits, food, and travel journalist and the author of six books, including Brewed Awakening, Complete IPA, and The Complete Beer Course (all Union Square & Co.). His journalism appears regularly in newspapers, magazines, and websites, including the New York Times, Food & Wine, Men’s Journal, VinePair, Wine Enthusiast, and Imbibe, where, as contributing editor, he oversees beer coverage. CNBC, NPR’s Marketplace, Fox Business, and Beer Sessions Radio have featured Bernstein as a beer expert, and he consults for breweries, bars, and bottle shops and leads private tasting seminars and tours. He lives with his wife and daughter in Brooklyn.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
588 global ratings
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Top reviews from the United States

Lyndsey
5.0 out of 5 stars ... my brother who recently turned 21 and I'm so glad that I did
Reviewed in the United States on November 7, 2015
Verified Purchase
I bought this as a gift for my brother who recently turned 21 and I'm so glad that I did! The minute it was delivered I idly flipped through its pages and before I knew it, two and a half hours had passed by and I still had the book in my hands. The book impressed me immediately with its hefty hardcover, eye catching illustrations, and, most important, with its "up-to-date, comprehensive, and utterly witty beer course" as promised.
My favorite part of the book? The "Two to Taste" sections throughout the book where Mr. Bernstein is kind enough, and thorough enough, to provide the best quality beers to sample throughout each course of the book itself. And if you live in a rural state, say Maine like I do, Mr. Bernstein even provides backup beers to sample which are more readily available at the local liquor store. Overall a great purchase and even more so, a great gift.
I'll definitely be purchasing this book again, and soon, after all there are still quite a few people I know who would love to find this wrapped beneath their tree this year! Kudos to Mr. Joshua M Bernstein, your books will always be welcome on our bookshelves
2 people found this helpful
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S. McLane
5.0 out of 5 stars For anyone who wants to graduate beyond the 'big three' and consume great tasting beer!
Reviewed in the United States on November 30, 2013
Verified Purchase
Fantastic!!!
So far so good. I have been reading this book in detail since I received it several days ago. I was intimidated by it's weight in the package when the UPS driver handed it to me :-O

But, as an individual who grew up with an Encyclopedia Britannica, weight = knowledge.

This book is extremely informative and easy to read. It discusses the history, chemistry, business, and classes of the craft beer industry. It dives into the complexity of creating a great beer with fun facts an enthusiasm.

A multitude of beers are described in detail and broken down by ingredients so that particular taste buds are satisfied.

Joshua B. has created a must have book for the slightly geeky to overly geeky about craft beers and everything they are about.

Thanks for taking the time to write this one, Joshua!
9 people found this helpful
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Calvin
5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT FOR NEW BEER GEEKS!! VERY FUN AND ENTERTAINING READ!!!
Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2013
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GREAT READ FOR ANYONE WANTING TO BECOME A BEER GEEK!!!

WILL BUILD A GREAT FOUNDATION OF BEER KNOWLEDGE!!

I purchased this book when i started working as a bartender at The House of Brewz in Ft. Myers Florida where we have 150 Taps and 100 bottles of beer. I am not much of a reader but this book is informative and very entertaining. I actually enjoy reading it. If you are new to the craft beer world or you just want to learn more about the beer you already love, this is the book for you.

I purchased another beer book along with this book and the only reason i have opened it was out of curiosity. While the other book seems to go more in depth it is a very boring read. I have already recommended The Complete Beer Course to all of the staff i work with and many of my usuals.
5 people found this helpful
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Chet Mortenson
4.0 out of 5 stars Good
Reviewed in the United States on December 9, 2017
Verified Purchase
Good and has a lot of info and advice on all kinds of craft beers from around the world. The recommendations selections seem more authentic and not just the most popular brand from that type. A lot of research and reference info on craft beer
3 people found this helpful
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Bayou Beast
5.0 out of 5 stars Great coffee table gift.
Reviewed in the United States on December 19, 2021
Verified Purchase
Quality binding, pages, and print. Great for casual reading in bits.
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SAs
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book if you REALLY want to know about beer!
Reviewed in the United States on May 12, 2022
Verified Purchase
Great read and captivating explanations about the development, history, brewing, types, etc., of beer.
Well put together.
One person found this helpful
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Jennifer Jerrell
5.0 out of 5 stars Beer, beer, beer
Reviewed in the United States on July 10, 2015
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I bought this book as extra reading for a beer class I was taking. I thought I was taking a beginners course but after the first day I realized I was woefully out of my league. Apparently, it wasn't enough just to like drinking beer. I came across this book and for the price, it's a great deal. It's a great narrative, easy to follow and up beat. Bernstein truly knows his audience. Granted, while I found the first few chapters the most informative, the second half of the book is geared more towards beer snobs. I don't think I'm quite at beer snob level even after I passed my course with an A and the superlative of "Most Improved," but no doubt this book will help me get there.
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Jon K
5.0 out of 5 stars Prost!
Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2015
Verified Purchase
I love beer. I've read multiple books on it cover to cover. I travelled to Belgium just to visit some of the trappist breweries and get my hands on the much coveted Westvleteren. What i'm saying is, i'm totally a big deal and you should believe me ;)

This book is excellent, goes from basics and delves into the production and history of beer and each style. Broken into multiple lessons on certain beer families, and Bernstein provides examples for you to get your hands on to "follow along." This and Mosher's "Tasting Beer" can together act as a veritable beer bible.
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Top reviews from other countries

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Sankha Shubhra Ghosh
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Book & Good Hard Binding Book
Reviewed in India on July 4, 2023
Verified Purchase
The media could not be loaded.
 Very good Book to have but could have been better if beer manufacturing processes & some details on Hops can be mentioned.
Paper quality wonderful ...
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Sankha Shubhra Ghosh
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Book & Good Hard Binding Book
Reviewed in India on July 4, 2023
Very good Book to have but could have been better if beer manufacturing processes & some details on Hops can be mentioned.
Paper quality wonderful ...
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Flavio Henrique Ferreira Barbosa
5.0 out of 5 stars Muito bom!
Reviewed in Brazil on June 1, 2020
Verified Purchase
Para os apaixonados por Cerveja Artesanal apresenta informações e técnicas para a sua produção caseira, com explicações claras e em linguagem leve e compreensível. O livro passa pelas origens e as curiosidades históricas da cerveja, esmiúçam os processos de produção, com kits prontos ou com métodos tradicionais, orientam sobre a importância da limpeza, da pureza da água e do armazenamento, listam os equipamentos necessários, e abordam em detalhes os ingredientes, malte, lúpulo e levedura, além dos adjuntos, como especiarias, ervas e frutas.
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Kasandra
5.0 out of 5 stars Great!
Reviewed in Canada on April 3, 2016
Verified Purchase
I purchased this for my brother as a Christmas gift. He loves nearly all types of beers. He told me he really likes this book. It would probably best for people who love beer but aren't too knowledgeable on the topic. It makes for a great coffee table book when you have guests over.
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Jo MG
5.0 out of 5 stars This is a great book - full of information
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 25, 2015
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This is a great book - full of information! I got it as a present form brother and he loves it.
2 people found this helpful
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Chemi78
4.0 out of 5 stars Great beer styles encyclopedia.
Reviewed in Spain on April 17, 2015
Verified Purchase
Ther book offers what it promises. A great explanation of beer styles with all the characteristics defining each one. The only objection, from an European point of view, it is too much focused on American beers. The examples of each beer style are hard to find here. Apart from that, a great book!
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