Beer tasting has come into its own. The goal of this book is not to make you a beer expert. It's to make drinking beer more fun - more fun for you and more fun for the people drinking with you. People who don't know beer appreciate it when there is someone who can help them navigate around all the selections that are available. People who really know a lot about beer appreciate it when there is someone who can ask them interesting questions. And when people appreciate you, it's fun to drink beer with them.
That's the plan. Diabolical, I know.
Thanks to the craft beer craze over the last couple of decades, beer drinkers have a vast variety of quality beers to enjoy. That's great But unfortunately all that abundance can make things a whole lot more complicated. All that choice can be overwhelming. Just picking out something you will probably like can be challenge.
Selecting beer is kind of like selecting wine: to do it right you really need some understanding. That's what this book is about. Reading and using this book will give you a solid foundation in beer. It will show you how to explore all those beers with complete confidence. More than that, you'll understand why a given beer tastes the way it does. You will learn the various ingredients that come together to make beer and how each affects its flavor. You will be able to take beer apart and understand better why certain beers appeal to you. And based on your particular preferences, you will be able to select new beers that are well worth exploring. With this knowledge you will win friends and influence people - all while drinking beer.

We are blessed to live in an era in which superb beers are available in abundance to anyone with the wisdom to drink them.