Ambitious Brew: The Story of American Beer
by Maureen Ogle
ISBN: 9780156033596

In the first-ever history of American beer, Maureen Ogle tells its epic story, from the immigrants who invented it to the upstart microbrewers who revived it.

Welcome to the preview of my book, Ambitious Brew. I hope you enjoy reading it each day and I look forward to any comments or questions you may have. -- Maureen

As a matter of fact, I am enjoying one right now. I like this introduction to your book, and look forward to reading the "truth" of the history of American beer. Beer, in my opinion is at least as American as Mother and apple pie, so certainly deserves as much attention.
Thanks for providing it!
C

Great comment, and thanks -- because if nothing else, I was trying to treat beer with respect and dignity. After all, it's part of everyday life (and has been part of human life for at least 9,000 years*) and so why not treat it with as much respect as, say, meat or bread?


*That's according to the archaeological research as of about two years ago. For all I know, someone could have found evidence that pushes that back another few thousand years!

I grew up next to a large brewery, and the smell of brewing beer reminds me of home. In high school we toured the brewery and learned about the hops and barley. I never heard of "corn and rice". That sounds like whiskey and sake. When reading labels on beer now, I see a lot of wheat in the ingredients.

Until I started writing this book, I'd never been anywhere near a brewery -- so as you can imagine, that distinctive brewery odor came completely out of left field! (Or, er, out of the brewhouse, I guess.) And of course, once sniffed, never forgotten!

As for wheat: yes, wheat beers have become very popular in the U.S. in the past decade. It gives beer a completely different flavor than barley -- although most brewers also add spices to wheat brews, and that also adds to the flavor.

So far I haven't been impressed with wheat beer. I've seen it on labels of japanese and european beer too.

As near as I can tell, people either love wheat beer, or they don't. Few people fall in between.

Maybe some people are put off by the spices? I mean, I love cardamom and coriander, so I'm all for beer that contains either. But if you're not a fan of those flavors, wheat beer probably isn't gonna thrill you.

What I find odd about wheat beer is that it took so long to catch on in the United States. It's been brewed in Europe for centuries -- well over a thousand years. But I never found any evidence of it being brewed here in the nineteenth century, or even after Prohibition, until, as I noted earlier, just a few years ago.

I have very much enjoyed the daily readings and plan to get the book. Being of German ancestry,from Wisconsin,and interested in history, this book is a natural. I wonder whether or not the Milwaukee Journal newspaper would do an article based on the book. No doubt there are others, especially those not part of this book club who would also be interested!

Thanks for the comment.

When the book came out (back in the fall of 2006), I did a reading/signing at the Harry Schwarz store at Bayside, and also did a number of radio interviews with various Milwaukee stations. I think I might have done a TV interview as well -- at a station on Capital Street? It's all a bit hazy now.

Anyway, I was definitely there at the time.

But I also have to say that Milwaukee was a GREAT place to research the book. I'd never been to the city before I started working on this book, and I fell in love with the place.

I spent hours reading microfilm at the main library downtown. What an incredible building. It was a lovely spot to do research.

I also was lucky enough to befriend John Eastberg at the Pabst Mansion. He rummaged around in the Mansion's files and shared every single thing he could find: photos, letters, anything!

So I've got a real soft spot for Milwaukee, that's for sure.

Maureen: I also share a "soft spot" for Milwaukee. The history as well, as the culture are interesting. I lived in Milwaukee for a number of years.

At this time, I live approximately 100 miles north of Milwaukee. As a history bluff, I found out that at one time there were a number of smaller brewerys in this area.

Thanks for providing good reading.

Elaine

I too am of German ancestry and they all arrived shortly before the time of the beer start up by Best. Unfortunately I do not drink beer myself, but I am finding the book very interesting, and plan to finish it. Thank you for an interesting book.

Thanks to everyone who took time to read portions of the book, and to all the folks who commented (and emailed me off-site).

Thanks, too, to the dearreader.com staff for making my visit possible.

And most important: thanks to ALL of you for taking time to make books and reading part of your lives. I can think of few activities that matter more. Pass it on!