Anyone who goes by the name “the Beervangelist” is clearly a man with a mission – and New Holland Brewing‘s Fred Bueltmann is all that and more. And yes, Fred is passionate about his beer, but he’s also a nationally recognized expert on pairing craft beer and food and he’s recently released a book about just that…

Fred Bueltmann is a true craft beer renaissance man. In addition to being an owner of New Holland Brewing, he is a Certified Cicerone®, a past president of the Michigan Brewers Guild, and a judge for one of craft beer’s biggest events: the Great American Beer Festival. He’s also an ardent advocate for quality food, localism, and craft beer’s place at the table, and that passion informs his new book. Beervangelist’s Guide to the Galaxy: A Philosophy of Food & Drink was written to spread the gospel of craft beer and the foods they go best with. Like Fred, who we recently visited with at this year’s SAVOR, this book is terrific fun.

The Beervangelist’s Guide to the Galaxy is one part cookbook, two parts craft beer, and all parts Fred. It’s written in a loose and engaging style and exudes all of his trademark good humor, as well as his love for the subject. This “Guide to the Galaxy” is chock full of great beer and food recipes, cleverly divided by seasons (as they’re a cornerstone of his approach to food and drink). Whether you are new to craft beer or a seasoned vet, this guide will provide you with all the tools you’ll need to create interesting and entertaining craft beer dinners.And, as one might expect from a tome that calls itself a “Guide to the Galaxy,” it covers a lot of ground.

Fred’s a humanist first and he takes a Zen-like Midwesterner’s approach to his philosophy of food and drink. He believes that great pairings begin with an understanding of where the food is coming from. His focus on food – its sourcing, preservation, and preparation – is straightforward and his approach to craft beer is informed and refreshingly non-elitist.

Beervangelist’s Guide to the Galaxy an engaging read and a terrific resource that’s written to inform and entertain at the same time. It’s beautifully designed, with tantalizing photos provided by Jeff Hage, and features so many simple yet intriguing recipes, such as Drunken Beer Belly or Dragon’s Smoked Trout, that you almost don’t know where to start.

The Beervangelist’s Guide to the Galaxy: A Philosophy of Food & Drink is a welcome addition to anyone’s craft beer library and is available for purchase at the New Holland online store and on Amazon.