Beer - Paul Barnett

Once looked down upon in the western world as a commoners' drink, beer has now regained its rightful position in society as one of our greatest libations. Thanks to the explosion of microbreweries on both sides of the Atlantic and to the tireless international endeavours of the Campaign for Real Ale, fine beers are now widely available, and there's a growing public demand for beers from all over the world. Here, in one brief international survey, are not just the facts but the legends, not just the best-known beers but the curios you may have to dare yourself to drink.