Publisher's Synopsis
Lucy Burningham is a beer lover living in America's capital of craft brews: Portland, Oregon. As a journalist spurred by curiosity and thirst, she made it her career to write about craft beer, traveling to hop farms, attending rare beer tasting parties, and visiting as many taprooms, breweries, and festivals as possible. With this as her introduction, Lucy decided to take her relationship with beer to the next level: to become a certified beer expert, a Master Cicerone. Join Lucy as she studies and sips her way to becoming a Cicerone. Travel with her to Europe to learn from some of Belgium's most influential brewers, and contemplate the craftsmanship and ingredients that go into making a great beer. Dine with her at three-star Michelin restaurants as she examines how the palate interprets flavours and aromas. Hang out with her as she tries her hand at brewing beer herself, both at her home and in a commercial brewery with her mentor, brewer John Harris, for an inside look at brewing techniques. With an eclectic cast of characters, including brewers, maltsters, hop farmers, beer sommeliers, pub owners, and fanatical beer drinkers, Lucy's journey into the world of beer is by turns educational, social, and personal--just as enjoying a good beer should be. In the end, not only will you understand the basics of how beer is made, sold, and served, you'll also understand why the drink inspires fanatical craft brewing fandom, and why a good beer shouldn't be taken for granted.
