The Illustrated Dictionary of Beer

You’ll discover that Blue Corn Brewery hails from New Mexico, that it opened in 1997, and it has varieties that span from a 40K Honey Wheat Ale — which is brewed with malted wheat, New Mexico wildflower honey, a touch of coriander and orange peel, Atomic Blonde Lager — a Pilsner made with 100 percent German Pilsner Malt, and a prizewinning Gold Medal Oatmeal Stout that won a gold medal at the 2007 Great American Beer Festival. Where you ever curious about the history behind that wonderful Belgian beer Duvel? This book will tell you that it started in 1871 with Jan-Léonard Moortgat, who experimented endlessly until he got the right formula down to create the Duvel that we all know today.

Best of all, this book comes with photographs of all the beers it mentions, so you’ll be able to see old classics, like Budweiser and Becks, to smaller brewery bottles such as  Anchor Steam Ale and Bridge Road Brewers. So, if you’ve ever wanted to know Veltins, Rolling Rock, Allagash or one of the thousands of beers out there are all about, this book’s for you.

The Illustrated Directory of Beer, $22.49 at amazon.com.