Great books, like great beer, never go out of style.  And with the holiday shopping season now ticking away, we’re showcasing some of the year’s best craft best books for both fans and brewing professionals.

The Book of Hops by Dan DiSorbo

Here’s what this book is not. It’s not a lengthy scientific dissertation on hops. Nor is it a step-by-step technical manual on brewing. Conceptually unique and beautifully illustrated The Book of Hops: A Craft Beer Lover’s Guide to Hoppiness melds the instincts of the finest coffee table art book with a soliloquy on what makes beer sing, the hop.

Featuring striking photos by Erik Christiansen, The Book of Hops explores the symbiotic relationship between hops and craft beer in a straightforward, yet almost poetic manner.

“The best-loved craft beers and breweries would not exist without hops, writes author DiSorbo. “Utilizing simple words, infographics and ridiculously detailed photos, think of this guide as a new drinking companion on your way to becoming an enlightened hophead.”

In addition to its totally gorgeous images of hop’s many varieties, The Book of Hops offers a handy primer section breaks down the science, story and production of beer, including a guide to key ingredients, the brewing process and even the right glass for the right beer.

The book also details key beer styles, from Pale Ales and Pilsners to Imperial Stouts and New England IPAs, with a brief history and summary of each style’s taste profile.

With contributions from today’s most important brewers and growers, along with hundreds of hand-picked craft beer recommendations throughout, The Book of Hops is a hophead’s essential and one of the best beer books of 2022.

The Meaning of Beer by Jonny Garrett

Jonny Garrett, the cofounder of the YouTube sensation Craft Beer Channel (which has over 160,00o subscribers and more than thirteen million views) is an award-winning beer writer in the UK. Voted “British Beer Writer of the Year” in 2019 and 2022 Garrett has already authored four books on beer, but his latest The Meaning of Beer may be our favorite.

One part history, another part societal analysis, all parts tempered by his deep love and understanding of beer,  The Meaning of Beer takes reader in search of the deeper cultural impact of brewing—how it has become one of the world’s most important inventions and shaped our lives for millennia and how it may impact our future. According to Garrett “the people who built the pyramids were paid in ale; the first fridge was built for beer, not food; bacteria was discovered while investigating sour beer; Germany’s beer halls hosted Hitler’s rise to power; and brewer’s yeast may yet be the answer to climate change.’

Ultimately, The Meaning of Beer this is not about how we made beer, but how beer made us and it’s one of our favorite beer books this year.

Beer Hiking New England by Carey Kish

Finally a beer book that’s is exactly what it sounds like: a thoughtfully put-together guide for people who like to earn their beer. The full-color book pairs great hikes with great breweries, offering an easygoing roadmap to exploring New England’s trails by day and its taprooms afterward.

The guide features 50 hikes in the first edition (expanded to 52 in the second), spread across all six New England states. Kish covers the full range of terrain and effort, from mellow walks and scenic rambles to more demanding climbs, making the book accessible whether you’re a casual stroller or a seasoned peak-bagger. Along the way, readers are taken from coastal paths and forested hills to rugged alpine landscapes.

Each hike is clearly laid out with practical details—how to get there, how hard it is, how long it takes, and what to look out for once you’re on the trail. The real hook, though, comes at the end of each entry, where Kish points hikers toward a nearby brewery or brewpub. And he doesn’t just list the stops; he adds context about the breweries, the people behind them, and even suggests a specific beer to try, complete with tasting notes on appearance, aroma, and flavor.

The book’s spe4ctacular full-color photos and visual maps add to its appeal, making it as enjoyable to flip through at home as it is useful to carry along on a trip.

Kish—who goes by the trail name “Beerman”—is well qualified to guide readers through this mash-up of hiking and hops. Based in Maine, he’s hiked the Appalachian Trail twice, along with the Pacific Crest Trail, the Continental Divide Trail, and the Florida Trail. He’s also the author of AMC’s Best Day Hikes Along the Maine Coast and editor of the AMC Maine Mountain Guide. To research Beer Hiking New England, Kish logged more than 20,000 miles on the road and sampled over 230 beers firsthand.

Drink Better Beer by Joshua M. Bernstein

A renowned Brooklyn-based beer, spirits, food, and travel journalist, Joshua M. Bernstein has already authored three of our favorite beer books, Brewed Awakening, The Complete Beer Course and Complete IPA. And he’s done it again.

Who better to learn the intricacies of beer than from the professionals that live in that world? In Drink Better Beer, Bernstein taps into the insights of more than 100 professionals, including competition judges, beer consultants, and master brewers and delivers one his most entertaining books yet.

Find out how to shop smarter by heeding two simple rules. Learn the art of selecting the right glass, cleaning it, and how to pull off the perfect pour. Decipher beer aromas with just a couple of sniffing tricks. Unlock the taste secrets of different styles. Learn how to know if your favorite beer store is treating their beer the way they should.