This Thing Now: "Mikkeller's Book Of Beer" Book By Mikkel Borg Bj

We're pretty obsessed with This Thing Now. Here's how to get it into your life.

Two guys walk into a bar. The first one says, "Ouch." The second guy, having heard this one before, orders a beer. The barkeep says, "Dry-hopped Session Saison or wild-fermented brett stout?" The two guys panic and order whiskey instead, then quietly sip from their glasses of shame.

Never fear the judging scowl of the brewpub bartender again: Well-known expert Mikkel Borg Bjergsø of the inventive Mikkeller Brewery has taken his vast knowledge of and experience in beer making and packaged it all into one (delightful) book.

For those of you just discovering a taste for hops, the book includes a thoughtful index of basic terminology and flavor profiles. Or if you've already converted your bedroom into a wort-chilling, propane-burning, all-grain-brewing machine, there are recipes for some of his most complex beers, complete with food pairings. The English version comes out today, so make room on your bookshelf and get rid of your beer fear.