All About Beer Magazine - Volume 38, Issue 4
September 25, 2017 By

Ancient Brews: Rediscovered and Re-created
By Patrick E. McGovern
$26.95, W.W. Norton & Co.

Imagine a glass with only a thin film of beer remaining. Think you could re-create it? For a homebrewer with an exceptional palate, it may be possible. But now imagine starting with a completely empty bronze drinking vessel that was buried for thousands of years. In Ancient Brews, Patrick E. McGovern chronicles the necessary research (and occasional guesswork). Chapters include the archaeological legwork behind Dogfish Head Craft Brewery’s Ancient Ales series, followed by a homebrew recipe and suggested meal pairing. McGovern also explains the origins of his relationship with Dogfish Head founder Sam Calagione (who wrote the foreword) and the reason Chateau Jiahu is McGovern’s favorite in the series. McGovern focuses on the past, and Calagione on the present. Thanks to their work, this book is worth reading now and well into the future. –Jon Page