Good Beer Guide to Belgium and Holland: All the Beers and 600 Bars to Try Them in (Paperback)

Tim Webb's mission is to describe the world's fines ales and where to find them. He says, without a hint of modesty, that this book is the biggest and best guidebook in any language to these countries' beers. Having lived in Belgium eight years, I have to agree. (And, yes - I gave him some advice and went with him on several beer safaris.) The book lists more than 500 bars offering a range of beers: this may be 200 in a "temple of beer" in Flanders, or perhaps a "mere" 40 in Wallonia; choice is relative. The star rating system of bars has gone, but is retained in the improved breweries and beer section, which clearly explains the different styles ands gives examples of the best brews. The beers index is (thankfully) much-improved.

Major improvements include details on budget accommodation, local beer festivals, a section on beer cuisine and tasting notes, while the change in title reflects the inclusion of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. However, as he lists five breweries but only three bars, one can only say "Reports, please!"

Webb's outspoken, racy style is in marked contrast to Michael Jackson's more patrician writings, but there is clearly room - and need - for both authors on any beer lover's bookshelves. He rightly highlights the burgeoning sales of Belgian beer in the UK, but is (for once) too modest to make the obvious connection with this excellent guide. Did you hear the one about the beer that tastes like "an industrial waste product" ... which beer is it? Go buy the book!

Tim Webb's mission is to describe the world's fines ales and where to find them. He says, without a hint of modesty, that this book is the biggest and best guidebook in any language to these countries' beers. Having lived in Belgium eight years, I have to agree. (And, yes - I gave him some advice and went with him on several beer safaris.) The book lists more than 500 bars offering a range of beers: this may be 200 in a "temple of beer" in Flanders, or perhaps a "mere" 40 in Wallonia; choice is relative. The star rating system of bars has gone, but is retained in the improved breweries and beer section, which clearly explains the different styles ands gives examples of the best brews. The beers index is (thankfully) much-improved.

Major improvements include details on budget accommodation, local beer festivals, a section on beer cuisine and tasting notes, while the change in title reflects the inclusion of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. However, as he lists five breweries but only three bars, one can only say "Reports, please!"

Webb's outspoken, racy style is in marked contrast to Michael Jackson's more patrician writings, but there is clearly room - and need - for both authors on any beer lover's bookshelves. He rightly highlights the burgeoning sales of Belgian beer in the UK, but is (for once) too modest to make the obvious connection with this excellent guide. Did you hear the one about the beer that tastes like "an industrial waste product" ... which beer is it? Go buy the book!

(This review originally appeared in the October edition of "What's Brewing", the newspaper of CAMRA, Campaign for Real Ale)