Product Description

A beer-lovers' book which playfully examines a myriad of philosophical concerns related to beer consumption.

• Effectively demonstrates how real philosophical issues exist just below the surface of our everyday activities
  
• Divided into four sections: The Art of the Beer; The Ethics of Beer: Pleasures, Freedom, and Character; The Metaphysics and Epistemology of Beer; and Beer in the History of Philosophy
  
• Uses the context of beer to expose George Berkeley’s views on fermented beverages as a medical cure; to inspect Immanuel Kant’s transcendental idealism through beer goggles, and to sort out Friedrich Nietzsche’s simultaneous praise and condemnation of intoxication
  
• Written for beer-lovers who want to think while they drink

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #80210 in Books
• Published on: 2007-10-29
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 248 pages

Review
“…is well written and interesting as well as accessible for a casual reader coming across new and interesting ideas.”(What's Brewing, January 2008)

Review
"[T]his really is a superb and accessible book, that dares to take a different angle towards beer-writing. It’s funny, knowing and well-written and much recommended" British Guild of Beer Writers, November 2007 Newsletter

"Don't be intimidated. This enjoyable tome is for anyone who has ever peeled a beer label and declared, 'I drink, therefore I am'" - Joe Sixpack, Philadelphia Daily News

“Whether your glass is half full or half empty, break out your favorite beers and contemplate the Socrates and Platos of our time. Beer & Philosophy could provoke, prod, inspire and antagonize every one of the world's beer drinkers.” - Charlie Papazian, author, The Complete Joy of Homebrewing and Microbrewed Adventures

"There has recently been a proliferation of stimulating "philosophy of" volumes, treating topics from Buffy the Vampire Slayer to poker. But what could be more philosophically worthy than that noble draught of hop and grain? Pour yourself a cold one -- preferably your favorite craft or home brew -- have a sit with this volume, and prepare to see the mysteries of the universe unravel, or at least seem a little less pressing." - John M. Doris, Washington University in St. Louis

"Much of this book is well written and interesting as well as accessible for a casual reader coming across new and interesting ideas."
What's Brewing

“A truly well rounded view…and a critical reflection on what and how we eat can contribute to a robust enjoyment of gastronomic pleasures.”
Gourmet Retailer

From the Back Cover
From the dawn of civilization, human beings have bent elbows together to consume beer. The stonecutters and laborers who built the Egyptian pyramids did it – and even today, what is more thirst quenching than a good beer at the end of a hard day? Beer is the most democratic of all beverages, making it an excellent vehicle for examining everyday life.

Beer & Philosophy is written for beer lovers who want to think while they drink. It playfully explores a multitude of philosophical questions:

What is the definition of an authentic beer and is its goodness context-dependent?
Is it preferable to drink large quantities of Pabst Blue Ribbon or better to consume smaller amounts of Chimay Blue Grande Réserve?

Can the existence of high quality brew be used to prove the theory of Intelligent Design?

The contributors to this volume present intriguing and often humorous arguments for how complex philosophical concerns are intrinsically linked to something as prosaic as quaffing a pint with friends.

Customer Reviews

Mixed bag
This book was, in general, a fun read, although I can't say either my knowledge of beer or knowledge of philosophy was increased much. The opening essay on phenomenology raises some interesting if decidedly non-pragmatic discussions of why we call a particular beer "good", the second essay (by Brooklyn Brewery's philosopher-brewer Garrett Oliver) investigates our cultural fascination with making imitations rather than the real things, and an essay deeper into the volume looks into the principles of pleasure and how it can be measured (i.e, do you buy the one case of really good beer or two cases of industrial lite beer?).
However, there are also a couple essays that are painfully forced, one that is outright bizarre (discussing why beer is good in the context of Intelligent Design), and another couple about which all I can say is that they are definitely printed in this book.
Good fodder for discussion with your beer geek friends or those who just like to argue academically. Others will be less amused.

Not All It's Cracked Up to Be
The English Campaign for Real Ale newspaper pans this book unmercifully.

Marcus Rees' review concludes: "...it had me reaching for a beer more from desperation than inspiration."

Great Book!
Great book if you are just getting into beer and want to know about the "real" stuff.