Books and beers: 5 pairings for the mind and the taste buds

Good books and cold beers are trademarks of summertime in Canada. Here are five pairing picks to get you to Labour Day weekend and beyond.

Hum if You Don't Know the Words by Bianca Marais

Providing a personal glimpse into race relations in Apartheid-Era South Africa, this summer release from Toronto-based Bianca Marais studies the fallout of the Soweto Uprising on a young white girl and the Xhosa woman hired to care for her. It is a heartfelt coming of age tale that explores themes of loss, family and racism.

Beer Pairing: Helles Lager, Wellington Brewery  

This pairing is a shout-out to the lagers that dominate beer sales in South Africa today. Welly's Helles is a clean, refreshing, no-nonsense lager. With a smaller can size and relatively low ABV, you'll be able to reach for a second when you can't stop reading.

The Substitute by Nicole Lundrigan

Uncomfortable in the best way, Lundrigan has crafted a disturbing thriller about a mild-mannered substitute teacher accused of murdering the student found dead in his backyard. As his community turns against him, readers are taken on a journey to determine whether or not Warren Botts is guilty of the crime.

Beer Pairing: American Brown Ale, TWB Cooperative Brewing

This beer balances the nuttiness of an English brown ale with the fruity, assertive hops of its American cousin. It's smooth and delicious, but bitter enough to stick with you in the darkest parts of this tale.

Neon Soul by Alexandra Elle

This collection of short poems about self-love, wellness, overcoming adversity, and motherhood — among other things — is perfect for anyone itching for the October release of Ontario poet Rupi Kaur's next collection. Elle's writing is relatable and affirming, leaving readers with a sense of hope for the future.

Beer Pairing: Hibiscus Saison, Royal City Brewing

Between the sweetness of the malt, the herbal tea notes of the hops and hibiscus, the spicy clove taste of the Belgian yeast and the gentle, refreshing tartness that overlays it all, this beer is as real and complex as the life events that inspired Elle's poetry.

Babylon's Ashes by James S. A. Corey

The sixth book in the Expanse series, Babylon's Ashes is speculative fiction at its finest. Beginning in the aftermath of the Free Navy's attack on Earth, it delivers on the promise made by its predecessors to provide eerily relatable space politics, warfare, and personal drama. The first book in the series is Leviathan Wakes. Start there if you haven't been following the series.

Beer Pairing: Fickle Mistress, Block Three Brewing

Just as good science fiction pushes the boundaries of literature, so too does this dry-hopped sour challenge definitions of mainstream craft beer. It is tart, earthy, bready and full of citrus notes. Bonus points if you can get your hands on their recent limited release of the grapefruit and guava version.

The Only Café by Linden MacIntyre

Scotiabank Giller prize winner Linden MacIntyre's newest work promises to bring together events of the Lebanese civil war with the modern political climate in a fast-paced story about the man who fled to Canada to build a new life and the son who would uncover his secrets.

Set for an August 8 release, the mystery begins when Pierre Cormier is declared dead, leading his son Cyril on a journey into the traumatic past.

Beer Pairing: Two Night Stand, Innocente Brewing

A tale this intense demands a beer that can stand up to it and Two Night Stand fits the bill. A hop-forward double IPA, it is full of citrus and tropical fruit notes, balanced by a strong malt backbone that will keep you going back for more.

Kat Rogers-Hern is a Prud'Homme certified beer sommelier and an active BJCP beer judge. As co-founder of Short Finger Brewing Co., in Kitchener, she manages the company's social media portfolio and beer education programs. Outside the beer world, Kat is a librarian, philosphy teacher and technology integrationist at a local, independent school.