This edited collection examines the various influences, relationships, and developments beer has had from distinctly spatial perspectives. The chapters explore the functions of beer and brewing from unique and sometimes overlapping historical, economic, cultural, environmental and physical viewpoints. Topics from authors – both geographers and non-geographers alike – have examined the influence of beer throughout history, the migration of beer on local to global scales, the dichotomous nature of global production and craft brewing, the neolocalism of craft beers, and the influence local geography has had on beer’s most essential ingredients: water, starch (malt), hops, and yeast. At the core of each chapter remains the integration of spatial perspectives to effectively map the identity, changes, challenges, patterns and locales of the geographies of beer.

Mark Patterson had a Near Death Experience from alcohol poisoning as an irrational teenager. Almost ten years later he received a phone call in the middle of the night from a woman whom he never met. She described the events of his Near Death Experience with amazing detail. She went onto describe events from his childhood. It was a true wake up call. Her message to Mark; "You have an important message and mission to the world, get with it."