Pairing Books and Beer: a Special Guest-Post of Novels 'n' Bottles by Sam Calagione

Yesterday we posted about sharing a page of New York magazine with Woody Harrelson and Marilyn Monroe, and picturing Vonnegut pulled up to the bar with Woody and Marilyn.

So what better topic to write about today than the wonderful kinship of beer and books?

We'll start with a poem called "Lines on Ale" by the third baseman for the American Canons, Edgar Allan Poe.

"Lines on Ale"

Fill with mingled cream and amber
    I will drain that glass again.
Such hilarious visions clamber
    Through the chamber of my brain -
Quaintest thoughts - queerest fancies
    Come to life and fade away;
What care I how time advances?
    I am drinking ale today.

But for a delve a little deeper into this keg of kinship, Dogfish Head's generous and ingenious brewmaster Sam Calagione has done us the solid of throwing together a wonderful list of great pairs of novels and bottles.

So pull up a stool and crack open a classic with these recommendations of Sam's: 

Moby Dick – Leviathan Series Stout from  Harpoon Brewery – deep, dark, and bold…call me Ishm-Ale.

The Encyclopedia of Herbs – Saison du Buff – a collaboration between Dogfish Head, Victory, and Stone breweries that is made with parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme.

The Book of Genesis as illustrated by R. Crumb – A little more off-centered than the King James version – R. Crumb’s illustrations bring the good book to life – I recommend pairing this with a vintage Sierra Nevada Bigfoot barley – I like to think Jesus actually turned water into BARLEY wine.  

Lolita – a Belgian White Beer or German hefe - something enjoyed really young and fresh by the half-gallon jug from your most local brewpub. “Oh Wheat beer, light of my life, fire of my loins.”

Brave New World – Sam Adams' Utopias

The Heart of Darkness  - Heart of Darkness Stout, Bell’s Brewery. 

The Call of the Wild – Cantillion Kriek – a Belgian ale made with cherries and spontaneously fermented with wild yeast.

Thanks, Sam, and cheers!