I have followed The Craft Beer Channel, Jonny Garrett's YouTube channel, for years and enjoyed it immensly.
I have enyoyed it for all of the various ways he choose to make us discover the world of beer; taste tests, brewry visit, dicussion about beer very specific aspecst of beer, making beer and bringing us along, etc...
What he has done in this book, is nothing less than put down all of the most pertinent aspects of the show into writting; years of thoughts and accumulated knowledge about beer, beermaking, beer's history and the historical importance of beer - and that is no small feat.
Howeveer, that isn't even the main reason I have been suggesting this book to other beer drinkers and followers of his YT channel, in his book Jonny Garrett has gone way back to the beginning of beer and filled in all of the little nooks and crannies that other books often glaze over because they might not fit neatly into an episode or a chapter. It makes this book both vey informative and a great read; full of life, history, humour and perfectly suitable for newcommers and knowledgable beer enthusiasts.

An exceptionally well-researched and densely detailed history of beer and the benefits it has brought to society.

Beer has played a pivotal role in shaping human civilization, as Jonny Garrett beautifully illustrates in The Meaning of Beer. This engaging and accessible book takes readers on a journey through the millennia, exploring how beer influenced ancient societies, scientific advancements, politics, and even global culture. Garrett’s conversational writing style ensures that you don’t need to be a beer expert to enjoy the fascinating stories and insights he shares. From the Sumerians brewing simple beer to the transformative power of refrigeration and yeast cultivation, the book uncovers the ways beer has spurred technological progress and social connections.

Garrett also delves into the cultural and political significance of beer, from the halls of the British Parliament to the darker role of beer halls that lead up to Nazism in Germany. He highlights how beer styles like Trappist ales and Bavarian lagers came to prominence and examines beer’s influence on advertising and entertainment, from iconic logos to sports sponsorships. Whether you're a casual drinker or a craft beer enthusiast, The Meaning of Beer is a reminder to raise a glass not just to the drink itself but to the remarkable history it represents. Grab a copy, pour yourself a pint, and savour the surprising ways beer has shaped our world.

Beer isn’t just a drink—it’s history in a pint glass! In *The Meaning of Beer*, Jonny Garrett, cofounder of the Craft Beer Channel, takes us on a fascinating journey through time and around the globe, showing how this ancient brew shaped human civilization in ways we’d never expect.

Did you know the workers who built the pyramids were paid in beer? Or that the first refrigerator was invented for beer, not food? Garrett dives into stories like these, exploring how beer influenced religion, science, architecture, and even politics (yes, beer halls were pivotal to Hitler’s rise). From ancient Egyptian breweries to the frothy tents of Oktoberfest, he connects the dots between beer’s past and its ongoing role in shaping our world.

With stops at iconic beer spots and hidden gems, this book isn’t just for beer enthusiasts—it’s for anyone curious about how a humble drink helped build empires, drive innovation, and maybe even holds the key to saving our planet.

Grab a pint and settle in—this is a brew-fueled adventure you won’t want to miss! 🍺📖

I honestly didn't think I was going to like this book but was interested in it due to the title and premiss. I actually really enjoyed it. The writing was interesting and kept me engaged. I didn't even feel like I was reading and I learned a lot.

Overall this is an interesting read, though I found that a few chapters towards the end got a little bogged down in the details and I zoned out a bit reading them (ex. the cricket rules & science information). I really enjoy reading about how seemingly small things have had such big impacts on history and culture, and combined with the appreciation and knowledge I already had about beer going into this, it was really a great combination of all my niches.

My actual policy with beer is the same as Dave Barry’s: namely, I drink it and look around for more. But beer is so much more than that, and this fun and informative book about the history of my favorite beverage and the history of our interactions with it was an absolute blast.

Who are we without beer? Where would we be as a civilization - a species! - without beer. And what is it that makes beer so special in human history and culture?

These are among the questions beer journalist/content creator Jonny Garrett sets out to explore in this exceptional book. Part history, part travelogue, part culinary exploration, part social and cultural exploration, part science book, Garrett's book kinda defies easy definition (just like beer itself, ultimately, defies pigeonholing into just one thing). Garrett makes an excellent case that beer has been one of the most important "inventions/discoveries" in human history - right up there with fire and the wheel. From the importance of brewing to early civilization to the importance of brewing in the scientific revolutions of the 19th and 20th centuries, to the role the beverage has had in identity, politics and even the history of advertising...Garrett leaves no corner unexplored.

It is also somehow very poignant and funny at the same time (I laughed audibly at him saying, towards the end: "I’m not going to lie: there’s a lot more Hitler in this book than I envisaged." But it is important to include him - beer's role in Hitler's rise shouldn't be ignored - nor should the importance of Budvar to Czech culture and identity (and politics!). But the book is about more than that. It battles the beer snobbery that has (at times) infected modern culinary writing/reviews. It tackles the difficult question of why wine took over at restaurants (a relatively recent thing!). But it also strongly argues that beer, throughout human history, has been with us for all our moments - and that a world without it not only can't be imagined...it might not have even been possible!

I found myself desperately wishing I could sit down and share a beer (and this book) with my late dad. One of the very last times I was able to sit with him and just talk, father-son, before the cancer that took his life rapidly destroyed his body was over a few pints at a bar in Woodstock, GA. Some of my favorite memories of him involve the two of us with beer in hand at one bar or brewery or another (I worry that I will break down the next time I'm at Monk's in Philadelphia).

If there was any complaint, and this is so minor, it would be that the craft beer revolution in America is given only a small amount of space (a whole chapter could be written on Sam Adams, Sierra Nevada, Dogfish Head and the other breweries that completely turned American beer culture on its head). But maybe as a Brit, that's a secondary thing...and maybe that's outside the realm of what this book was about. Or maybe it's a story for another book.

All I know is that tonight...I'll be lifting a pint and thinking of both my dad and the author of this exceptional book. 5 stars. Highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hanover Square Press for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this. Out November 26th. You can preorder it here.

If you are interested in being enlightened on the history of beer and it's impact, THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU!

Thanks so much to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, Hanover Square Press and Jonny Garrett for giving me an ARC of this fascinating book!!

If you love beer, documentaries about beer, or simply a desire to learn more about humanity and how beer has influenced our place in the world, this book is for you. It manages to be humerous, informative, and enlightening all at the same time which is quite a feat for a work of non fiction. Highly recommend to all beer lovers and people like myself that are meerly interested in unusual history.

I am personally not a fan of the taste beer but I found this book FASCINATING. Beer has a much longer, more intricate history than I thought and I loved reading about some of the destination sites of beer. Very well done!