Oxford Companion to Beer (part 1)

I am going to write a full review of the newly release Oxford Companion to Beer at a later date, but I wanted to let people know it is available.

In the interest of full disclosure, I did contribute 10 articles on hops to the book, but I hope that this fact doesn't affect my review in any way.

First off, let me state that the book is huge, much bigger than I expected when I was writing my very small part. It weighs in at almost 4 pounds and is a staggering 960 pages! This is not a book to read cover-to-cover, but it is meant to be an encyclopedia. Look up what you are interested in finding out, and then be ready to be taken on a journey as you veer off your original course reading about some other topic. I would also suggest just randomly reading some of the entries.

The Source Luke, The Source (apology to George Lucas)

Like any book of its size and scope, there are bound to be inaccuracies, and there are some in the beer world who have already started hammering away, specifically at some of the historical aspects. I am all for accuracy, but many of the complaints give opinions, but not much in the way of solid evidence. What I mean by that is, show me the original source materials. Many of the naysayers quote this and that, but I have yet to see a specific, verifiable reference. I am not saying that they are wrong, but when the rebutal is, "so and so said this in the early 1700's", that is not proof, at least academically. Show me the source.

Throw the baby out with the bathwater

Another thing that irratates me is the whole attitude that if one part of the book might, and I stress might, be wrong, then the other 959 pages must suck as well. Well, I just don't buy it. Many comments have been added to a certain website that basically say they won't buy the book now, because it is so full of errors (my paraphrasing). I say to them, well, I guess you missed out.

As Jordan St. John notes in his review of the book for IF Press,

What I want to stress to you is that it is not a completely accurate work. This is the first edition, and has been proved in a recent online controversy to contain the occasional inaccuracy or misstep. I’m afraid this is the fate of all such first editions that attempt to consolidate knowledge where there was no previously existing consolidation. Beer industry professionals, I have observed, never have a complete picture of the history of beer.

And neither do scientests, historians or anyone else. There is always new evidence and new theories.

I recommend that anyone who loves beer, get the book, and read it. I am even using it as the primary book in my classes at UNLV starting in the Spring of 2012.

If you are concerned about errors or omissions, there is a website devoted to tracking just that. It is the OC Beer Commentary Wiki.

As a side note, someone must have complained to Amazon since they (as of this article date) have put the book under review. Kind of lame, but some people don't have a life I guess.

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