Pilsner: How the Beer of Kings Changed the World

Description

Best Book at the North American Guild Beers Writers "Effervescent and informative . . . This chronicle will intoxicate both beer nerds and history buffs." -Publishers Weekly A book for both the beer geek and the foodie seeking a better understanding of modern food and drink On the night of April 17, 1945, Allied planes dropped more than a hundred bombs on the Burghers' Brewery in Pilsen, Czechoslovakia, destroying much of the birthplace of pilsner, the world's most popular beer style and the bestselling alcoholic beverage of all time. Still, workers at the brewery would rally so they could have beer to toast their American, Canadian, and British liberators the following month. It was another twist in pilsner's remarkable story, one that started in a supernova of technological, political, and demographic shifts in the mid-1800s and that continues to unfold today anywhere alcohol is sold. Tom Acitelli's Pilsner: How the Beer of Kings Changed the World tells that story, shattering myths about pilsner's very birth and about its immediate parentage. A character-driven narrative that shows how pilsner influenced everything from modern-day advertising and marketing to immigration to today's craft beer movement.

Tom Acitelli is the author of The Audacity of Hops, Whiskey Business, and American Wine. He has written about alcohol for the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, and Eater, among many others, and was the history columnist for several years for All About Beer magazine. He lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

"Pilsner, the book, is just like Pilsner, my drink: Bright, crisp, bubbly, fun, golden, and easy to knock back." -- Meathead, author of the New York Times Best Seller Meathead, The Science of Great Barbecue And Grilling "Effervescent and informative. This chronicle will intoxicate both beer nerds and history buffs." -- Publishers Weekly "Tom Acitelli tells the vibrant story of the world's most beloved (and misunderstood) beer style. The characters, passions, and flavors of lagers and pilsners get the respectful treatment they deserve from an author regarded as one of beer's great historians. As complex and satisfying as a helles lager, this informative and enjoyable book is one to help you appreciate where beer came from and is today." -- John Holl, author of The American Craft Beer Cookbook and host of the Drink Beer, Think Beer podcast "Expertly crafted from deep knowledge and sharp insight, Pilsner: How the Beer of Kings Changed the World finishes light, refreshing, and deeply satisfying. It's a lot like my favorite beer style, pilsner! Well done, Tom Acitelli." -- Bill Covaleski, founder and brewmaster, Victory Brewing Company "Acitelli's confident, precise approach produces an entertaining narrative." -- Kirkus Reviews "Serious beer aficionados will love this detailed history of their favorite quaff." -- Booklist