Beer help, please?

I have decided to start my Christmas shopping today. One relative on my list is a long time beer drinker/lover and is starting to take more of an interest in it. Can the beer experts here give me recommendations for:

1) a beer book - preferably not uber-geeky but something that explains the history, production, styles, and tasting notes.

2) A dozen beers that I can find locally, which represent the beer spectrum and would be an introduction, along with the book, to the wide world of beer. If one of the retailers can help me, I'll come by for suggestions.

Thanks

Jay, I would highly recommend finding out which Keg Liquor store Todd Antz will be working today and have a chat with him. He has the knowledge and product in your choice of location. You could also PM him. Merry Christmas to you and yours!

I have decided to start my Christmas shopping today. One relative on my list is a long time beer drinker/lover and is starting to take more of an interest in it. Can the beer experts here give me recommendations for:

1) a beer book - preferably not uber-geeky but something that explains the history, production, styles, and tasting notes.

Thanks

The Oxford Companion to Beer by Garrett Oliver
The Brewmasters Table by Garrett Oliver
A Taste for Beer by Stephen Beaumont

See Todd Antz for a hand-picked 12 pack

I second the The Brewmasters Table by Garrett Oliver and Todd Antz at The Keg.

Shawn

Since David won't say it, I will. I'd start with all the offerings that NABC bottles. The have a good selection of different styles, most leaning towards the hoppy side, but offer a nice variety. I'm sure David could let you/us know when the winter bottles will be put on the shelves.

Or you could just buy a gift certificate to NABC, ATG, Cumberland. and/or BBC and let your relative sample some of the great beer being made in our back yards.

If you are out and about and looking for me, I'll be working at our new location in downtown New Albany from 10 AM - 5PM on Satuday. The address is 302 Pearl St, New Albany, IN 47150 (for your GPS) or you can reach us at 812-948-0444. Next week, I will be bouncing back and forth between the stores, but I'm pretty easy to track down.

I know Destinations Booksellers on Spring St here in New Albany has a great selection of beer books in stock right now too. They are just a couple minutes away from our store.

Thanks to Ed Vermillion and David Pierce for cluing me onto this post. The power of Facebook and Hotbytes lives on!

Thanks all and to Todd Antz for great service. We made it a downtown NA afternoon visiting Todd first at Keg Liquors for a nice beer selection, then lunch at Bank Street Brewhouse, and finally to Destinations Booksellers where I was able to get the recommended The Brewmasters Table . All three of those places are gems.

Tasting Beer by Randy Mosher is also a nice compendium.

Thanks all and to Todd Antz for great service. We made it a downtown NA afternoon visiting Todd first at Keg Liquors for a nice beer selection, then lunch at Bank Street Brewhouse, and finally to Destinations Booksellers where I was able to get the recommended The Brewmasters Table . All three of those places are gems.

Downtown New Albany is a gem.

Thanks all and to Todd Antz for great service. We made it a downtown NA afternoon visiting Todd first at Keg Liquors for a nice beer selection, then lunch at Bank Street Brewhouse, and finally to Destinations Booksellers where I was able to get the recommended The Brewmasters Table . All three of those places are gems.

Downtown New Albany is a gem.

+1

Thanks all and to Todd Antz for great service. We made it a downtown NA afternoon visiting Todd first at Keg Liquors for a nice beer selection, then lunch at Bank Street Brewhouse, and finally to Destinations Booksellers where I was able to get the recommended The Brewmasters Table . All three of those places are gems.

Jay,

It was a pleasure meeting you and your wife today. I appreciate you all coming into the new store. I always enjoy mixing up a set for people like that. I know its a present I would surely appreciate!

I'll thrown in my vote for The Brewmaster's Table. It's an excellent book that covers everything you're looking for.