Monthly Archives: February 2009

Dear Mr. Oliver,

Your book The Brewmaster’s Table is a modern classic.  It is the basic reference on beer and styles at this point in time.  I know that it is ostensibly about the under-appreciated practice of matching food and beer, and it does a great job of illuminating that topic, but it really is so much more than that.  I hope that you can see that The Brewmaster’s Table stands almost alone, and, in my opinion, best fills the immense gap in beer literature left by Michael Jackson’s passing.

You may not have set out to create a basic style-by-style reference when you wrote The Brewmaster’s Table, but you did it, and better than anyone since Mr. Jackson.  Your passion for the beers of England, Belgium, Germany and the United States is palpable in the pages of your work.  I do not see this appreciation and understanding in any other attempt at a comprehensive beer book.  In addition, the insights you bring from having brewed so many of these styles gives a richness and depth to The Brewmaster’s Table that other books lack.  Thank you for writing such a brilliant book.

Here’s the catch though.  As much as I love The Brewmaster’s Table, the world of beer is changing so quickly that the producer profiles are quickly getting out of date.  Breweries have closed or been bought resulting in fundamental changes, or complete elimination of their products.  New stars have arisen, and new categories of beer have been created.  You know this as you are in the middle of the swirl of the continuing beer revolution.

The Brewmaster’s Table continues to be my top recommendation when people ask me for an introductory book about beer, but I would dearly love to see it receive the update it needs.  I know it’s already a pretty long book and covering additional producers and developing styles and trends might make it even longer, but I’m a book guy.   I like big books, and don’t find it remotely daunting, particularly for the reference-quality material like The Brewmaster’s Table (if you’re looking for a way to trim a page or two, some of the swipes about wine are a bit hyperbolic and wouldn’t be missed).   Look at the wine writing of Clive Coates, or Jancis Robinson‘s work with the Oxford Companion to Wine.  Heck, John Haeger wrote a book 70 pages longer than yours just on North American Pinot Noir – and his book has none of the beautiful photography that your does.

Mr. Oliver, you stand in a unique position.  You have a written a great book that has the potential to be an incredible resource for the ever-growing family of people who love and appreciate good beer.  I would love to see it get the update, expansion and careful tending that it needs to retain its place at the top of my beer library.  I believe there is a market for this book, and I hope that you decide to invest more of your time and talents into the evolution of The Brewmaster’s Table.

If you choose not to, my most sincere and grateful thanks for having done what you already have.  If I can be of assistance in any way, do not hesitate to contact me.

Cheers!