Review: Beerology by Mirella Amato
Last May, Mirella Amato – Canada’s first Master Cicerone – released her first book, Beerology: Everything you need to know to enjoy beer… even more. Amato pulls readers into the world of beer, providing tips on storage and cellaring, guiding them through tastings and pairings, and introducing them to the many facets of the golden liquid.
Her narrative is smooth, fluid like a great conversation with a close friend; she makes beer approachable for newbies and reminds veterans why they got involved in beer in the first place. Beer lovers of all stages in their education can geek out over her handy charts, found at the back of the book, which classify beer based on colour, alcohol and more.
Amato separates her guide into four major beer groups – refreshing, mellow, striking and captivating. She tells the story of each section with gusto, covering everything from origin story to brands. The chapter division and writing style guides readers through the vast number of brews and styles available, without alienating or confusing them. In just a short, 192 pages, Amato provides readers with all of the tools needed to figure out personal preference, to host their own tastings and to decipher and explore the beer world on their own.
Amato appeared on CTV News in June, speaking with Mutsumi Takahashi about her book and the growth of beer’s popularity in Canada:
Beerology is available in paperback at Chapters/Indigo and Amazon. Add this handy reference to your library and then go out and meet Amato for yourself; she hosts educational tastings and workshops year round. Or browse her website, Beerology.ca, for a quick primer through Beer 101 and more information about Amato.