Which beers are the best? This book presents the inside stories on Czech and German lagers, Belgian wheat beers and Trappists, classic British ales, Irish stouts and American micro brews. It explains why beers taste the way they do, and notes their strength and ideal serving temperature.

In a bid to uncover the unique spirit of the single malt whisky, author Iain Banks has decided to undertake a tour of the distilleries of his homeland. His tour of Scotland combines history, literature and landscape in an entertaining and informative account.

Walks you through the various steps in the brewing process at the beginning, intermediate and advanced levels. This work offers information on the homebrewing basics with an equipment list; instructions on keeping your hardware sanitized; and, descriptions of the beer ingredients, and their roles in the brewing process.

This A-Z reference to single malt whiskies includes a detailed description of each malt, accompanied by the author's personal tasting notes. There is a directory of all the major distilleries and their products, information boxes and easy-reference symbols.

A wonderfully evocative book that tells the story of Islay's whisky and reflects a place and a taste never to be forgotten