Froth!: The Science of Beer

Description

I heard on CNBC that China is kicking our butts in some important areas of industrial manufacturing. Then I read in the first few pages of "Froth!" that China is probably the number one beer manufacturer. I'd be really depressed, except that the rest of the book was such a hoot!

Denny recites a lively, entertaining history of beer, from the dawn of civilization to the present; discusses the economic considerations that led to the dominance of brands he collectively labels "Macroswill;" describes some of the various types of beer; provides a how-to guide for home-brewing; and discusses some of the scientific aspects of brewing, like the factors that determine whether a particular foam bubble is round or polygonal, the thermodynamics of brewing, and other topics. (Don't worry; although there are some math formulas, they're just a bonus for nerds to enjoy. They aren't essential for understanding the basic points.)

A wonderful complement to a cellar-cool, Bavarian helles. Prost! Contents......Page 8 Acknowledgments......Page 10 Introduction......Page 14 One. The Evolution of Beer......Page 24 Two. How to Make Good Beer at Home......Page 66 Three. Yeast Population Dynamics......Page 91 Four. Brewing Thermodynamics......Page 106 Five. Bubbles......Page 126 Six. Fluid Flow......Page 150 Seven. Final Thoughts......Page 176 B......Page 182 F......Page 183 M......Page 184 S......Page 185 Z......Page 186 Bibliography......Page 188 B......Page 192 F......Page 193 M......Page 194 T......Page 195 Z......Page 196