BRITAIN’S beer revolution shows no signs of stopping.

New breweries are springing up all over the country at a remarkable rate (more than three a week last year), bringing new ideas, innovative beers and local enthusiasm.

Few areas have fared as well as Yorkshire, and Leigh Linley’s well-presented, hard-back guide, Great Yorkshire Beer, is a timely and leisurely look at some of the region’s pioneers and pace-setters.

The author wanders around the region, interviewing brewers, hearing their stories, profiling their beers and giving a raft of tempting recommendations and recipes for beer and food pairings.

The interviews are interesting and enjoyable but it is the food tips that broaden the book’s appeal. Wine experts have been recommending food pairings for years, but beer buffs have been slow to do likewise. Linley’s work is a welcome step towards making up for lost time.

Some recipes – such as chicken in brown ale, or porter cake – include beer in the dish; others just go well with certain styles. Alongside is an array of simple one-line pairings that dare the reader into experimentation: scampi and calamari with Leeds Pale; baked feta with Summer Wine Diablo IPA; and coconut-battered prawn with Ilkley Mary Jane were three highlights from a long list.

Yorkshire’s best brewing occurs, by and large, in the west of the county and Linley’s book reflects that, but Rooster’s from Knaresborough and Wold Top from Hunmanby Top fly the flag for North and East Yorkshire respectively.

The sub-heading of this book is “Good beer, good food, good people” and it delivers on that promise, providing heartening stories and hearty dishes. It is available now from gnbooks.co.uk and would be a worthy addition to any kitchen or coffee table.

• Great Yorkshire Beer is launched at the York Tap on May 30.