Book Beer Pairing: The Shepherd’s Hut – Tim Winton

Grab a strong one, you’re going to need it!

The Shepherd’s Hut by Tim Winton
Published:  June 19, 2018 (US)
Reviewed by: Nicole
Rating: 5 stars
Find/buy it here: The Shepherd’s Hut

“…I suspect that God is what you do, not who or what you believe in.”

This book is what would happen if Holden Caulfield was on the lam in Western Australia.  People have been raving about this book, and I didn’t think I was going to be one of them for an early percentage of the book.  It’s coarse and harsh, and I don’t mind harsh, but it’s survival harsh – like eating bugs and killing bush animals for food.  The cute hoppy kind.

I don’t want to say too much about the story, but Jaxie finds himself parched and hungry at the edge of a pink salt lake.  This is where he discovers the Shepherd’s Hut and where the story took off.  It was the slowest most magnificent build of a tale until the end where I couldn’t flip the Kindle pages fast enough.  Winton is a fantastic writer (though be warned, a lot of Aussie slang is used along with myriad f-bombs and c-drops.)  He spares not a care for the squeamish.

This is a travelogue (of sorts) of Western Australia, a tale of survival and friendship.  Of introspection and examination of life and death.  I absolutely loved it, and as it wound down, I was wishing there were more.  My guess is we’ll be hearing more about this book in the coming months.

You’d think I’d choose an Australian beer to go with this book, but you’d be wrong.  I don’t know any besides Fosters.  Is that even still a thing?  It’s not a thing for me, regardless.

I went with a double IPA from St. Archer called Mosiac.  It’s 9% ABV, hoppy, (kangaroo level) and bitter.  Refreshing, substantial, satisfying.  Perfect for the book.

As a side note, my favorite salt in the world comes from Australia.  Murray River Salt Flakes.  Highly recommended.