Great books like great beers never go out of style.  And with the holiday shopping season now ON, we thought we’d showcase some classic craft books.

And here are three craft beer books from some of our favorite beer writers that have stood the test of time…

Complete IPA: The Guide to Your Favorite Craft Beer by Joshua M. Bernstein

A love letter to craft beer’s most beloved style, Complete IPA is a contemporary guide to the best India Pale Ales in the world.

A renowned Brooklyn-based beer, spirits, food, and travel journalist, Bernstein has already authored two of our favorite beer books, Brewed Awakening and with The Complete Beer Course – and we think he’s done it again.

And “complete” is an appropriate description word of Bernstein’s wide-ranging “guide to your favorite craft beer,” which takes the reader on a journey from the IPA’s early beginnings to the force it’s become today.

For those of us who love IPAs (and actually, who doesn’t?) Joshua M. Bernstein’s Complete IPA is pretty much “required reading.” It’s also a craft beer classic.

Oh Beautiful Beer: The Evolution of Craft Beer and Design  by Harvey Shepard

We view brewing serious craft beer is an art – but that art isn’t limited to what’s in your glass. And craft beer’s growing popularity has led to an explosion of new breweries – all with new beers and label designs as artful as what you’re drinking.

Inspired by Harvey Shepard’s art and graphics website, Oh Beautiful Beer is a lavish, full color compendium of the industry’s most dazzling label designs and one of the best “coffee table” beer book’s that we’ve ever seen.

As perfect a gift for those who appreciate graphic design, as it is for the beer geek community, Oh Beautiful Beer concisely presents the ongoing evolution of craft beer label design with over 200 pages of stunning visuals. And they’re all helpfully peppered with just the “right amount” of information about the breweries, the beers, and the artists responsible for giving each beer its unique vibe…

The Beer Bible: Second Edition by Jeff Alworth

There’s been a tremendous number of craft beer books released over the years, but very few of them ever warrant a second edition. And if you’re looking for a primer on beer that touches all those beer bases without geeking you out – then Jeff Alworth’s The Beer Bible is that book. It’s also a huge book written in an informative yet conversational style – and at 644 pages Alworth covers a lot of ground.

Beer styles and their history, it’s all here, as is beer tourism, food pairings and the drinking experience itself. And refreshingly, Alworth consistently approaches all of these subjects in a manner that’s never elitist and always entertaining.

Written with both the beginner and the beer-savvy reader in mind, The Beer Bible is a beautifully crafted reference book that’s modern, straight-forward and fun.  It’s an essential addition to anyone’s beer library that’s sure to please, and a true classic in the world of beer books.

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