Skip to main content
21st March 2012

BEER TRIUMPHS AT FOOD AND DRINK BOOK AWARDS

Garrett Oliver, Brewmaster at Brooklyn Brewery, has won the drink category in the André Simon Food and Drink Book Awards for his book The Oxford Companion to Beer (published by Oxford University Press), making it only the second beer book ever to win in this category since its inception.

A ground breaking and original work, The Oxford Companion to Beer is the most comprehensive reference book ever published about the most popular and diverse beverage in the world today. In excess of 160 beer experts from more than a dozen countries contribute to more than 1,100 entries.

The Oxford Companion to Beer covers why craft beer is not a fad; craft brewers sourcing ingredients locally; why craft beer is a new affordable luxury; craft beer and food pairing; home brewing; health benefits; beer politics; differences between beer’s ‘appellations controlee’; and why beer is no longer just ‘a man’s drink’.

David Gleave (Master of Wine), Managing Director of Liberty Wines, assessed the drinks category nand comments: “Garrett Oliver worked with 166 contributors to compile what is the first serious reference book on beer. In addition to his contributors, he assembled an Advisory Panel to peer review each piece submitted before it was forwarded to him. The result is a book that is easy to read yet one that will remain a serious reference book for years to come.”

Ian Clay of Brooklyn Brewery’s UK Importers, James Clay agrees: “This book demonstrates not just the eloquence and authority of Garrett Oliver, but also the new-found confidence of brewers to place our wonderful array of beer styles on the pedestal they deserve. Brewers are innovating as never before and in the midst of all his brewing, Garrett finds the time to piece together this game changing book that underlines his position as one of the foremost authorities in world beer.”

The André Simon Memorial Awards commemorate the charismatic bon viveur who was one of London’s leading champagne shippers and was the active president of the Wine & Food Society. The books must contain original research, be educational, pleasurable to read and well produced. The awards have been presented every year since 1978.

 

About Brooklyn Brewery

Brooklyn Brewery makes beer. Good beer. Not only does it taste good and make your meal better, but the Brewery like to think that since its founding in 1988, Brooklyn Brewery has brewed flavourful beers that enrich the life, tradition and culture of the communities it serves. Its award-winning roster of year-round, seasonal and specialty beers have gained the Brewery notoriety as one of the top craft beer producers in the world. While striving to brew the best beer possible (and make time for our growing families), The Brewery promotes the proliferation of good beer and good food whenever it can. Brooklyn beers are currently distributed in 25 states and 20 countries.

Throughout 2011 The Brewery underwent an expansion that will double overall capacity in 2012 and quintuple by 2013. Brooklyn Brewery probably exports more beer than any other American craft brewery.

 

About James Clay

James Clay speciality beer importers distribute Brooklyn Brewery’s beers to bars, restaurants, independents and supermarkets around the UK. For more information please visit www.jamesclay.co.uk or call 01422 377 560.

 

About Oxford University Press

Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford. It furthers the University’s objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide. OUP is the world’s largest university press with the widest global presence. It currently publishes more than 6,000 new publications a year, has offices in around fifty countries, and employs more than 5,000 people worldwide. It has become familiar to millions through a diverse publishing programme that includes scholarly works in all academic disciplines, bibles, music, school and college textbooks, children’s books, materials for teaching English as a foreign language, business books, dictionaries and reference books, and academic journals.

 

The Oxford Companion to Beer is available at all good bookstores RRP £35.

For further information, contact Julie Carolan julie@randr.co.uk; or Kate Farquhar-Thomson of Oxford University press kate.farquhar-thomson@oup.com.

20th March 2012