Travels With Barley: The Quest for the Perfect Beer Joint | Ken Wells | Talks at Google

TL;DR

Ken Wells takes readers on a journey through the beer industry, sharing stories and insights from his travels along the Mississippi River.

Transcript

welcome uh ladies and gentlemen to uh authors at google uh we've got a great author today his name is ken wells and he's written this wonderful book travels with barley which you should all have right everyone have one nice okay cause he's gonna autograph those later yes um so uh so ken is a pulitzer prize finalist uh he spent 24 years as a writer ... Read More

Key Insights

• 🍺 The beer industry in America is an $86 billion industry, larger than mining, record, and movie industries.
• 🍺 Craft brewers are challenging the dominance of larger beer companies, offering more creative and unique beer options.
• 🍺 Beer joints serve as a gathering place for storytelling and camaraderie among beer enthusiasts.
• 😀 Anheuser-Busch, despite its dominance, faces competition from craft brewers and has even experimented with unusual beer flavors.
• 💪 New Orleans, while not known for its beer culture, has a strong drinking culture and remains a favorite city for the author.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did Ken Wells come up with the idea for "Travels with Barley"?

Wells was approached by his colleagues at the Wall Street Journal to write a book on the beer industry, as he was known for being one of the few beer-drinking journalists at the company.

Q: What is the significance of the Mississippi River in relation to the book?

The book follows Wells' journey along the Mississippi River, using it as a metaphorical river running through the heart of American commerce and beer culture.

Q: How did the craft beer industry challenge the dominance of Anheuser-Busch?

The craft beer movement introduced a wide range of interesting and unique beers, leading to increased competition and a sense of jealousy among larger beer companies like Anheuser-Busch.

Q: How did Ken Wells approach his research for "Travels with Barley"?

Wells conducted extensive research on the beer industry, visiting breweries, attending beer festivals, and interviewing beer enthusiasts. He used a digital tape recorder to capture conversations and stories from people he met along his journey.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Ken Wells, a Pulitzer Prize finalist and former Wall Street Journal writer, embarked on a beer-focused journey after being approached with the idea by his colleagues.

• He spent 18 months exploring the beer industry, meeting with beer enthusiasts, and visiting various beer joints across America.

• The book highlights the growing craft beer movement, the dominance of Anheuser-Busch, and the friendly and storytelling nature of the beer community.