Beer O'Clock: An Insider's Guide to History, Craft, and Culture

A perfect gift for the beer lover in your life—the history, secrets, and artistry of the world’s most popular drink!

Everything you need to know about the world’s most popular alcoholic drink—a joy-giving, convivial, nutritious, and delicious gift from nature and possibly the most diverse alcoholic libation with over one hundred different styles and thousands of brands. Written by the United Kingdom’s 2014 Beer Sommelier of the Year, Beer O'Clock not only delves into the rich history of beer production and drinking but contains practical advice and explanations of beer styles, which ones to drink and why, food-matching suggestions, and the not-to-be-missed best beers in the world. Author Jane Peyton also details the basics of making beer, the ingredients required, and explains just what it is that makes hops so special.

From the ancient worlds of Babylonia, Egypt, and Mesopotamia, where brewing was considered a gift from the gods, a complete breakdown of the myriad styles available to the modern beer drinker, the flavors and aromas inherent in each, and proper beers and foods for pairing, Jane Peyton has provided a complete beer course in a pocket-sized package.

So sit down, open a bottle of your favorite brew, and start reading. There’s no better accompaniment to the perfect pint.

Skyhorse Publishing, along with our Good Books and Arcade imprints, is proud to publish a broad range of cookbooks, including books on juicing, grilling, baking, frying, home brewing and winemaking, slow cookers, and cast iron cooking. We’ve been successful with books on gluten-free cooking, vegetarian and vegan cooking, paleo, raw foods, and more. Our list includes French cooking, Swedish cooking, Austrian and German cooking, Cajun cooking, as well as books on jerky, canning and preserving, peanut butter, meatballs, oil and vinegar, bone broth, and more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

Jane Peyton is a respected beverage writer and historian as well as the founder of School of Booze, a company that puts on beer, cider, wine, and spirits tastings and events. Her writing has appeared in magazines and newspapers including the Guardian and Independent and has appeared on TV and is a regular guest on BBC radio. She was named UK beer sommelier of the year for 2014 and is also the author of School of Booze: An Insider's Guide to Libations, Tipples, and Brews. She lives in London, England.