Froth!: The Science of Beer

I heard on CNBC that China is kicking our butts in some important areas of industrial manufacturing. Then I read in the first few pages of "Froth!" that China is probably the number one beer manufacturer. I'd be really depressed, except that the rest of the book was such a hoot! Denny recites a lively, entertaining history of beer, from the dawn of civilization to the present; discusses the economic considerations that led to the dominance of brands he collectively labels "Macroswill;" describes some of the various types of beer; provides a how-to guide for home-brewing; and discusses some of the scientific aspects of brewing, like the factors that determine whether a particular foam bubble is round or polygonal, the thermodynamics of brewing, and other topics. (Don't worry; although there are some math formulas, they're just a bonus for nerds to enjoy. They aren't essential for understanding the basic points.) A wonderful complement to a cellar-cool, Bavarian helles. Prost!