"Boston Beer" by Norman Miller
Boston has a storied history when it comes to beer. You may not know this, but there were over thirty breweries in Beantown until Prohibition.
The craft beer industry has exploded over the past decades, and there are plenty of thirsty aficionados who are glad to see the trade coming out with new beers to quench their thirsts. In his book, "Boston Beer", Norman Miller shares your love for beer and your curiosity about beer that has come from a city known for its history and bad traffic. Miller's book begins just before the start of the American Revolution, where pubs and alehouses were filled with colonists who were downing tankards of ale while commiserating among themselves about being taxed by the British crown without being represented in British Parliament. Beers were made by the individual tavern keepers and alewives.
Beer brewing was common in Boston until Prohibition. Up until that time, Boston was home to over thirty breweries, and each of them offered cold and refreshing beer for their patrons. While the 18th Amendment severely cut into the business, some of them were able to remain operational by brewing non-alcoholic "near beers".
“Boston Beer” looks at what happened during the Temperance Movement and how the brewing industry has struggled to come back, even today. There are chapters dedicated to breweries that had a “can-do” attitude but couldn’t survive the red tape, dry spells, or local beer drinkers' infatuation with beers from seemingly more chic and glamorous locations.
As for the breweries that are still operational, Miller gives in-depth histories through interviews with the founders. "Boston Beer" follows the beers born in the Hub of the Universe from their humble beginnings as homebrews to becoming certified household names. Not only will you develop a newfound appreciation for the likes of Harpoon and Samuel Adams, but you will enjoy the behind-the-scenes look at how they developed and evolved over the years yet still remained true to their original mission statements.
Locals should be proud of the breweries and beers that have come out of Boston and other Massachusetts localities, and beer drinkers from all over will be interested to read about the different breweries and offerings. Some of the now-defunct breweries may jog the beer drinker's memory and the overall story will make Mass residents proud of the beers that have been created in their own backyard.
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