On International Beer Day, we asked some of our staff what their preferred beer is to drink with their favourite genre. Armed with this incredibly important data, we planned out a week of books and beer for you to enjoy after each long workday and on the weekend 🍻
Sunday: Shumei by Blood Brothers Brewing and Yume
Wow, try saying “Shumei Yume” 10 times fast after a couple of these! The artwork for both Shumei and Yume look beautiful together but, more importantly, this smooth, aromatic beer will help keep you calm as you dive into this immersive world of demons and dreams set in Japan.
Monday: Bang-Bang by Left Field Brewery and Evie of the Deepthorn
After Monday, possibly the worst workday of the week, adding a little bang to the end of your day is probably a good idea. The tart finish of this beer is great to read alongside Evie of the Deepthorn as you unravel an intricate story of three people who use art to transform loss and make sense of the world after experiencing trauma.
Congratulations, you’ve made it to the second workday of the week! Things might be feeling a little surreal today after the shock of Monday, right? Well, let’s keep that attitude into this evening as you crack open this beer (which perfectly balances bitter and sweet) with The Doomsday Book of Fairy Tales, a dystopian novel with a dangerous quest, a talking dog, and fragmented fairy tales set in an eerie post-climate collapse future.
It's Wednesday, otherwise known as hump day. The promise of a fun weekend is ahead of us, but still so far away. Now, the LCBO has categorized Shiny Apple Cider under their Beer & Cider category, so yes, this counts! And in our opinion, this category fits a specific type of reader. Adults who love their alcoholic apple juice are adults who love YA fantasy — we don’t make the rules. That’s why today’s pairing features the whimsical novel, The Girl of Hawthorn and Glass, and this sweet, yet also tangy drink. An oddly pleasing, strange combination perfect for a strange day.
We’ll be honest — the genre for this should have been romance, but it’s Thursday. The weekend is still so close but feels tremendously far away. We’re all a little tired. And for that reason, let this pairing of an extremely flavourful beer and an exciting coming-of-age story with the sweetest of friendships (that possibly turn into more) fuel your energy to carry you on. Your Thursday night plans just got better in the most unexpected way. You can thank us later.
Finally Friday. We’ve got a whole weekend of reading ahead of us, and what better way to start things off than with a short story collection and a classic amber ale with caramel-malt notes? These compelling stories will take you an evening to read, so don’t let us stop you from having a second beer as you reread it.
BONUS BOOK: Make it a Montreal-themed night, and pick up Victor Lessard's Never Forget and Without Blood!
Now is the perfect time to binge read this mystery series with a beer that’s simply honey, cream, and ale. These books are so compelling and atmospheric, so it must be read on the weekend with a great tasting beer that won’t distract you from the intricate plots in each book.