Read this because a friend of my wife's features heavily in it -'Rudgie', or Paul Rudge, - famed brewer and character around Burton on Trent. It's really a quest for the unattainable - a perfect bottle of Indian Pale Ale, 'the beer that built the British Empire.' A little like a grail quest, but with barley and hops. The style is seemingly whimsical, even offhand, yet imparts an astounding amount of information. His book on cider is also worth getting.