Despite competition from an ever-growing range of alternative adult beverages, beer remains a vastly important beverage globally. There is a huge diversity of beer styles, drinks suited not only to refreshment and delight in themselves, but also to suit any drinking occasion, including alongside food of all types. There is nutritional value in beer and evidence that, consumed responsibly, it can be a valuable part of a well-balanced diet. This relates to the wholesomeness of the basic materials employed for the brewing of beer, notably malt and hops, but also the nature of the longstanding processes that are employed in converting cereals such as barley and wheat into malt and thence through the time-honored stages of brewing. This book explains these issues- history, nature and complexity of the modern brewing business, types of beer, quality attributes of beer, the underpinning processes, and much more. Any reader, from those who know little about the subject through to the beer aficionado, will gain a meaningful understanding of beer: the science and technology that are involved in its production and properties but also the art that is at the heart of producing the world's favorite alcoholic drink.

Fermentation, as a chemical and biological process, is everywhere. Countless societies throughout history have used it to form a vast array of foods and drinks, many of which were integral and essential to those cultures; it could be argued that the production of beer and bread formed the basis of many agriculture-based civilizations. Today, nearly every person on the planet consumes fermented products, from beer and wine, to bread and dairy products, to certain types of meat and fish. Fermentation is a nearly ubiquitous process in today's food science, and an aspect of chemistry truly worth understanding more fully. In The Oxford Handbook of Food Fermentations, Charles W. Bamforth and Robert E. Ward have collected and edited contributions from many of the world's experts on food fermentation, each focused on a different fermentation product. The volume contains authoritative accounts on fermented beverages, distilled beverages, and a diverse set of foods, as well as chapters on relevant biotechnology. Each chapter embraces the nature of the product, its production, and its final composition. The text also touches on the raw materials and processes involved in producing packaged foodstuff, and the likely future trends in each area. In the conclusion, Bamforth and Ward present a comparison between the various products and the diverse technologies employed to produce them. Fermentation is a multifaceted process that affects a wide variety of products we consume, and The Oxford Handbook of Food Fermentations is the definitive resource that captures the science behind fermentation, as well as its diverse applications.

Essays in Malting and Brewing is an original and comprehensive examination of brewing from the perspective of a real brewer. Brewing texts generally use a sequential barley-beer-bottle organization that takes the reader systematically through the various stages of beer-making in a logical and informative way. This approach adequately communicates the essential operation. However, brewers think about all of the stages in the process that might affect a single property, such as beer color. Alternatively, brewers might ponder the influence of such affective agents as modification or oxygen throughout the process. Essays in Malting and Brewing departs from the traditional sequential approach to pursue brewing in the manner a brew master approaches the process. It is structured to look down the length of the process for causes and effects. Each essay discusses a problem, a beer component, or a flavor, by following how this one item arises and how it changes along the way. This is a crucial feature to bear this in mind when reading the book because this organization brings together information and ideas that are not usually presented side-by-side. brewing and the way they are handled impact on process performance and product quality. This new approach to an enduring subject is essential for the informed reader interested in the malting and brewing process.

In Praise of Beer is a helpful guide for beer lovers looking to learn more about what they should look for with each sip of beer. In his latest book, Charles Bamforth brings new light to the topic of beer in ways perfect for any beer fan, lover, or connoisseur. The book answers popular questions from consumers, including what consumers should be expecting from their beer; what styles are available; what they should be thinking about when purchasing beer, either in a bar or a beer shop; how to look after beer; how to present beer; which beer for which occasion, including dining; and if they can drink beer (in moderation) with a clear conscience. In Praise of Beer is written in an authoritative but easy-to-read style and is full of anecdotes, inside knowledge and valuable information.