The Audacity of Hops: The History of America's Craft Beer Revolution - Softcover

Acitelli, Tom

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1613743882 ISBN 13: 9781613743881

Publisher: Chicago Review Press, 2013

Synopsis

Discover the underdog story of how America came to dominate beer stylistically in Tom Acitelli's The Audacity of Hops: The History of America's Craft Beer Revolution, the first and only history book on American craft beer.

Based on extensive archival research as well as interviews with the movement's key players going back to the 1960s, this acclaimed book is the most comprehensive chronicle yet of one of the most interesting and lucrative culinary trends in the U.S. since World War II. 

Acitelli weaves the story of the rise of American craft beer into the tales of trends like Slow Food and the rebirth of America's urban areas, and paints an unforgettable portrait of plucky entrepreneurial triumph. The backgrounds on all your favorite craft brewers are here, including often forgotten heroes from the movement's earliest days as well as the history of homebrewing since Prohibition.

This is the "book for the craft beer nerd who thinks he or she already knows the story" (Los Angeles Times) as well as for fans of good food and drink in general.

About this title

About the Author

Tom Acitelli's AmericanWine: A Coming-of-Age Story was a finalist for the James Beard Award for best beverage book of 2015. He is also the author of Whiskey Business: How Small-Batch Distillers Are Transforming American Spirits. Acitelli writes regularly onbeer, wine, and spirits for various publications, and is the history columnistfor All About Beer magazine.

Review

"The Audacity of Hops chronicles the rich history of America's craft brewing revolution with deft portraits of the resourceful pioneers, the innovative brewers, and the intrepid entrepreneurs who are changing the way the world thinks about beer." -Steve Hindy, co-founder of Brooklyn Brewery and co-author of Beer School

"A new and excellent history of craft beers in America." -Harvey Steiman, Wine Spectator

"Rather than become mired in a minutiae of names and dates, Acitelli wisely frames his narrative as a discrete selection of entertaining vignettes that focus on key players and moments in America's craft-beer revolution as representative of the larger movement. It's an entertaining and informative read for anyone remotely interested in the history of American craft beer." -The Daily Camera (Boulder, Colo.) 

"Tom Acitelli has compiled an extensive collection of firsthand accounts from the pioneers, brewers and industry luminaries that have taken beer back from industrial giants. A book for the craft beer nerd who thinks he or she already knows the story, The Audacity of Hops is sure to provide new insight into craft beer's explosive popularity." -The Los Angeles Times

“This is the story of how the ‘Kingdom of Beer’ was returned to the drinker. It’s about the nurturing of the beer epiphany in a time when word of a revolution in the making was passed on one glass of brew at a time. The Audacity of Hops is an absorbing reflection on what goes into every professional craft-brewed beer in America. Impassioned millions have taken the kingdom back.” —Charlie Papazian, founder of the American Homebrewers Association and author of The Complete Joy of Homebrewing 

“Everyone who cares about good beer owes Tom Acitelli a huge thanks: his history of American craft beer is lively, substantive, and thoughtful.” —Maureen Ogle, author of Ambitious Brew: The Story of American Beer

"Excellent history of the American craft brewing movement." —Slate

“Mr. Acitelli’s exhaustive chronicle of the American beer revolution ... lovingly told.” —The Wall Street Journal

“Highly quaffable and enjoyable. You can crack open a section or two, pore over it for an hour or so, and familiarize yourself with the moments and luminaries who contributed heavily to the American brewing renaissance. Heady stuff.” —Sam Calagione, president and founder of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery and author of Brewing Up a Business

“[Tom Acitelli]’s thorough research into the craft beer revolution tells a great story and shows how a ragtag yet purposeful group of passionate individuals can build an industry. He did an amazing job capturing the characters, improbable tales, and astounding passion that make up the craft brewing community.”  —Ken Grossman, founder, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.

Edition details

• Publisher: Chicago Review Press
• Publication date: 2013
• ISBN 10: 1613743882
• ISBN 13: 9781613743881
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 416