... or should that be bar table? Anyway, as I've begun collecting books on beer I've now accumulated a couple very enjoyable ones that I consider light enough to be appropriate for the coffee table or the toilet tank. The two books are The Beer Book and the "Eyewitness companions" Beer.
The first of these, The Beer Book, is largely a collection of photos of beer bottles from breweries throughout the world. Breweries are presented by region or nationality and for each brewery the book provides a blurb about the brewery itself and then a brief description of a few beers from that brewery. Interspersed throughout are vignettes with features of various aspects of beer and the brewing industry. The production value of this book it pretty high- it's hardbound and has glossy, color pages throughout.
The second book lists the esteemed beer expert Michael Jackson as its editor-in-chief. The bulk of this book is also descriptions of breweries and their beers. The layout is different and there are far less pictures of bottles. While both books include introductory chapters this one is a better read and goes into some detail about beers from certain regions.
While these books are similar and could be seen as substitutes for one another, I've enjoyed them both and learned bits from each. I haven't had them long enough to determine if I will refer to one more frequently than the other. The one area where the companion "Beer" book has a clear advantage is in form factor- it's smaller and could arguably be considered a pocket guide that could inconspicuously accompany you to your favorite beer bar.
