Three women, some pie, and a desire to make beer. This book is much like the Blotz light beer in the book, pale in nature with a lesser punch. It’s an easy read that managed to keep my attention even though it had many holes…in the storyline and in the execution. 

Strong characters either make or break a book. And strong female protagonists are my favorite types of characters. But as much as I tried to adore these women, I just couldn’t find much to love about them. Edith is unbecomingly passive and gets walked all over all throughout the story. She’s content with life, even as people abuse her, and even though there is potential for her to experience so much more. Helen is just plain mean spirited and cunning. She finds success but the cost is damning. Diana is the most likeable, resilient, and the hardest working. But even her storyline, which has incredible potential, fell flat to me. 

I did enjoy seeing all three of these women in the “man’s world” of beer. The best part of the book is the 50 or so pages where Edith and her friends start making quirky, unusual beer (Pie in a Bottle) while Diana recovers. I loved seeing hardworking grandmas able to reinvent themselves, work hard, and endure. 

I tend to like a beer that is full bodied, but sometimes a light beer is just right on a hot afternoon. This story is much like that.