Customer Reviews:
 A Must Have September 25, 2008
Absolutely, totally, and amen to all that. Webb is THE beer writer in English and anybody interested in beer should have this book. And make the pilgrimage. What sets this book apart, apart from the density of knowledge, which is formidable, is the quality and texture of the opinion, which is deft, witty, ironic, fun, and - probably more important than any of these - solidly based in 25 years of research - it's a hard job, but somebody has to do it....
A classic August 22, 2008
Can't really add anything to the pevious review of this book. Well written & researched, its a must for anyone who has an interest in beer.
I never go to Belgium without it June 15, 2005
27 out of 27 found this review helpful
Yet again, Tim Webb delivers the essential guide for discerning beer-lovers visiting Belgium. Unlike Michael Jackson, who though knowledgeable seems reluctant to criticise brewers however bad their beers are, Tim tells it like it is. If a brewer uses dodgy flavourings or just simply produces poor beer, you can rely on Tim to tell you. But the upside of this is that if he rates a beer highly, you know it's going to be worth trying.
The book has two main sections: the breweries section, where Tim describes every Belgian brewery and its beers, then the cafes section where the best bars in each town and city in the country are detailed, with brief introductions to the towns themselves and useful tourist information.My only personal disappointment with this edition is that coverage of the Netherlands has been dropped. Originally this was a guide to the whole of Benelux and although dropping Luxembourg (where there was only ever one decent bar anyway, which has closed) was no real loss, I found the Netherlands information useful. However, dropping Dutch information has made more space available for more detailed coverage of Belgium and the addition of a far more comprehensive review of places where wonderful Belgian beers can be enjoyed in Britain as well. Definitely an indespensible book if you're serious about beer.
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