A Study of American Beers and Ales

"A Study of American Beers and Ales" by James Garfield Riley, with assistance from L. M. Tolman, is a scientific exploration from the early 1900s, which is an examination into the makeup of American beers and ales, specifically targeting the contrast between those made entirely from malt and those using a mix of grains. The book kicks off by explaining what the study covers and how it was done, noting the importance of using real samples taken right from breweries, instead of beers made in a lab. The authors tell how they watched beer being made and gathered samples at different points in the process. The study provides extensive methods of analysis and findings from different breweries to show how different brewing steps and ingredients change the beer. All of this sets the scene for a thorough study, culminating in charts that reveal the components of various beers and ales, and makes way for a more detailed look at the chemical characteristics of these drinks.