Looking for good beer history

[hoffmeister]

Hey all...
I'm in need of some help. I'm doing some preliminary research on for a paper on beer styles/origins/history and having some trouble finding anything substantial. I've found plenty on beer in America, but little on the development of beer throughout the world. Primarily, I'm looking for dates, locations, etc. Anybody know of anything that might meet this need? Current or out of print books are fine, I don't mind tracking things down. Thanks for the help.

Mike

 

[the_bird]

Ray Daniel's Designing Great Beers is a tremendous resouce both for making receipes and giving you all kinds of history on the different styles, their origins, their development over the years. Some technical info, lots of non-technical as well.

In terms of beer in America, definately check out Maureen Ogle's new book; I would wager that a lot of what she has researched directly conflicts with what you have found elsewhere. The story of "Beer In America" is mostly dead wrong, according to her.

EDIT: I didn't mean "Beer in America" to refer to a specific book, just the general story that we all seem to hear from various places about beer's development in this country....

 

[Glibbidy]

Beer in America: The Early Years--1587-1840: Beer's Role in the Settling of America and the Birth of a Nation- Gregg Smith

I own a copy, it's a fabulous book on the history of beer in american just prior to the modern age. He has written several other books on the history of beer.

As far as Maureen Ogle's book goes....it looks more like the modern history of beer in America. I do not own this book, and the information I obtained was from reviews at Amazon.

 

[olllllo]

If you really wanted to focus in on something interesting look into fremented drinks in Meso America like Chicha and Pulque.

That may really appeal to your prof if they have a liberal streak in them.

Source materials will be harder to find though.

 

[hoffmeister]

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone, I appreciate the leads. I didn't think about fermented beverages that originated in the Americas, that could be really interesting. I'll have to run it by the prof. Thanks again, and if anyone out there has any more suggestions I'd love to have them.

 

[david_42]

The World of Beer: A Fascinating Guide to the History of Beer, Brewing and Styles of Beer by Brian Glover

[It's a sad thing when it is easier to find a book on the web than in your own book pile!]

 

[iBeer]

One fantastic book is called "History Of The World In 6 Glasses" by Tom Standage. It's an awesome book that talks about the main drinks that have been around since the dawn of civilization and how those drinks shaped the world we live in today. It starts off discussing beer then moves into wine, coffee and tea, spirits and coke.

 

[homebrewer_99]

Beer History: Drink Pee, Repeat...end of chapter 1.