Good Books – Lonely Planet’s Global Beer Tour

American Craft Beer delivers craft beer news, entertainment and lifestyle 24/7 and because we do, we’re occasionally sent books to review. And we recently received a fun new book from the Lonely Planet crew that’s a “must” for every beer traveler’s library.

Beer books can be a lot of things, but with so many of them, fun isn’t the first thing that comes to mind.

The beauty of Lonely Planet’s Global Beer Tour is that in addition to being a useful and informative guide to the world’s craft beer scene, it never forgets to entertain.

Authored by a consortium of 28 writers who are part of Lonely Planet’s community of beer-loving travelers, this colorful guide showcases beer’s most essential and exotic locations. And it does it in a manner that’s always conversational, like hostel travelers sharing insider tips in out of the way beer hangouts.

Spanning five continents, and 32 countries (including the good old USA), Lonely Planet’s guide to the best beer and beer places around the world casts a wide net.

With every brewery they highlight, they thankfully stick to the relevant essentials and throw in a quirk or two to keep things fun. You get just enough to be intrigued and a little more to stay entertained.

Yes, they delve into the breweries and the beers that you’ll want to explore. But they also recommend cool things in the neighborhood – hidden walks, bike rides, museums and galleries that you might want to check out while you’re enjoying your buzz.

And to ensure that you don’t come off as complete beer traveler newbie, they set you up with the basics you‘ll need for each country – things like how to say “cheers” or order beer in that language, the best beer styles from that region, and bar foods you’ll need to try.

Craft beer, and beer travel has never been more interesting or more vital, and with Lonely Planet’s Global Beer Tour it’s even a better time. So we suggest you don’t hit the road without a copy.