Three Sheets to the Wind

It's a much repeated refrain for many of us: where's the pub? Pete Brown's Three Sheets to the Wind is subtitled One Man's Quest for the Meaning of Beer -- and that subtitle alone will mean that many women will be buying it for the men in their lives (or even, of course, for themselves!) Pete Brown is a beer journalist, and has written a much-loved tome on the subject, Man Walks Into A Pub. It was, he says, a revelation to him when he discovered that many countries produce, drink and pay homage to beer more than the British. He noted that the Australians, Germans and other nations consider that they have the best beer in the world, and he was similarly bemused by other beer-related topics (such as the fact that the Japanese constructed a building in the shape of a glass of beer with a foaming head, and that the Spanish have very different ideas from the British about what social classes drink beer.) As all this beer-related information rushed in, Brown wondered why the national drink of the UK appeared to be losing its favoured status. The answer - for him - was to set out on the biggest pub crawl that the UK had ever seen (a dirty job, but someone had to do it). Putting both his health (and waistline) at risk, Brown has put together the definitive book on subject. And while the tone and title may be tongue in cheek, Three Sheets to the Wind is actually a fascinating piece social history that tells us as much about ourselves as it does about a certain refreshing drink. And, let's face it, it is no mean achievement to impart so much useful information as Pete Brown does -- while still making us laugh. --Barry Forshaw

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Thirsty work this, reading books, Fancy a pint? - Rated
Thanks Pete, now I don't have to spend a fortune travelling round the world finding out about beer cos you've done that hard work for me.
But hang on there just one minute, you haven't been ALL round the world at all (not that you claim to have), so can we hope for a follow up? More countries? More characters in more bars? How about trying to find the most miserable landlord/lady or bar staff in the UK? Lots of candidates in my experience. Ask them to top your pint up (to the pint you asked for and will pay quite a high price for) and watch how they react.
And PAGE 358, Status Quo ARE good, so I've deducted a point cos you said they weren't. Other than that, pure genius,. Fancy a pint?

Excellent - Rated
Anyone enjoys beer (responsibly of course)and drinking should read this book. Not only is it funny and well written, but it also highlights a very important point thats relevant to our country. Why can every other country in the world get drunk and not start fighting?
This is one of those books that you are truly gutted about it ending.
I can't recommend this book enough, also try 'Man walks into a pub' a very close second in the beer related book chart!

Beer Abroad - Rated
I picked this up fearing some kind of Bill Bryson-with-booze comedy travelogue but was pleasantly surprised. Brown is a man who is clearly enchanted with beer and it's importance in our social history and contemporary culture both at home and abroad. He travels to various cities in countries renowned for their inhabitants' love of beer - Ireland, Denmark, America, Australia etc., to see how they do things there and why. He explores the differences in approach to beer-brewing, consumption and related folklore in foreign lands - and also the similarities many of us will recognize. It's actually a tricky premise for a novel in that it could come over as a dusty work of sociology or end up like Pete McCarthy's jokey, shallow, over-rated "McCarthy's Bar". But Brown pulls it off with fresh writing, genuine wit, telling insight and above all a great affinity for the places he visits and the people he meets. My one quibble would be with the bits of dialogue with friends at the outset of the early chapters which read as bit studenty and unfunny. Intended to provide the author with a justification device for his travels, they just annoy.
That's a small complaint however about an otherwise excellent read.

The truth about beer - Rated
Pete Brown wants to see whether there is a common thread that links beer drinkers worldwide, so he travels to those places where that honourable tradition is most respected, namely Madrid, Barcelona, Prague, London, Dublin, Brussels, Milwaukee, New York, Portland, Sydney, Penrith, Melbourne, Bendigo, Shanghai, Tokyo, Munich, Copenhagen, Helsingr, Sweden and...Barnsley. As you might expect there are some amusing adventures to be had, but the book is well worth reading for two other reasons. Firstly, it makes an irresistible travel guide and will make you desperate to re/visit a few places immediately (namely Barcelona, Madrid, Portland (!) and the Oktoberfest)and secondly, it manages to come to an important conclusion about beer; it's magical stuff that is essential for the continued sanity and sociality of all good cultures, and as a result every Pro-nanny state MP should be force-fed it's contents. This is no beardy, CAMRA lovers guide by the way...its about the feeling beer gives you. Beers in!

Whatever he's having. - Rated
On the very barest of excuses, our man Pete embarks on a 3 month international pub crawl and tells you about it. An unpromising premise, but this is packed with enough insight, history and entertaining anecdote to make the journey worthwhile. I was hoping for a bit more of an insight into beer drinking other than it being good for relaxing and socialising, but he was probably a bit hungover by the time he got to that bit. I don't drink beer but the book has made me book a trip to Belgium this summer to check his recommendations out.