All About Beer is one of the best- known beer publications in the United States. It is a well- rounded magazine that manages to cover many topics important to both beer lovers and brewers in a relatively short amount of space. Each issue is only 82 pages in length so there isn’t much room available for the monthly departments, columns, and features. Still, this magazine manages to keep the reader well- informed about beer while offering plenty of fun and entertainment along the way.
All About Beer has several enjoyable sections and among the best are the Buyer’s Guide and Beer Talk. The Buyer’s Guide is found in the middle of each issue and it includes some educational material along with ratings of specific brands, taken directly from the Beverage Tasting Institute. What I like most about this section isn’t necessarily the ratings themselves, but rather the opportunity to read about and discover new beer products. In this section, I am certain to find many beers I have never seen nor tasted in the past, and this offers a nice guide for future beer purchases. Beer Talk is another highlight. What I like here is the differences of opinion stated by the panel of judges, including the likes of Charlie Papazian, Garrett Oliver, Fred Eckhardt, and others. Eight beer products are presented and each of the beer critics gets to taste and describe the beer; pointing out the pros and cons and offering their own unique perspectives.
On the industry and entertainment side, All About Beer keeps you informed about brewery openings and closings, beer events, and other assorted happenings. The brewery closings and openings section is actually a little too simple, since all it tells you is the name of the brewery and the state in which it was/is located. The beer calendar is the same way- very brief and to the point, but at least it includes web sites and phone numbers, in most instances, to get more information.
Overall, All About Beer is a very good beer publication. There are only a few publishers that offer magazines dedicated to beer, so the newstand choices are limited. All About Beer is one of the best in the bunch, offering a nicely- rounded approach that includes educational material, tasting facts, industry news, and featured columns that make for some fun reading. It helps to quench my thirst for additional beer knowledge and for new beer products to seek out and sample. I would like it more if it was issued monthly instead of only bi-monthly, but All About Beer is still one of the best magazines available for those who want to keep up with the latest beer events, new products, and industry news.
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