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Audible Studios (2017)
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Fiction. Mystery. HTML: From Ellie Alexander, beloved author of the Bakeshop Mysteries, comes the first in an intoxicating new series: Death on Tap. When Sloan Krause walks in on her husband, Mac, screwing the barmaid, she gives him the boot. Sloan has spent her life in Leavenworth, Washington becoming an expert in brewing craft beer, and she doesn't have time to be held back by her soon-to-be ex-husband. She decides to strike out on her own, breaking away from the Krause family brewery, and goes to work for Nitro, the hip new nano-brewery in the Bavarian-themed town. Nitro's owner, brewmaster Garrett Strong, has the brew-world abuzz with his newest recipe, "Pucker-Up IPA." This place is the new cool place in town, and Mac can't help but be green with envy at their success. But just as Sloan is settling in to her new gig, she finds one of Nitro's competitors dead in the fermenting tub, clutching the secret recipe for the IPA. When Mac, is arrested, Sloan knows that her ex might be a cheater, but a murderer? No way. Danger is brewing in Beervaria and suddenly Sloan is on the case..… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member cyderry
"It wasn't so much the sight of my husband's bare ass that would become permanently etched in my memory, but rather the rhythmic sounds of the German brass band oompah-ing in the background, coupled with the strong but delicious smell of grains steeping in the mash tun."
How could you not be
Sloan decides that it's time for her to leave the Das Kellar brewery and find a new job away from her husband's family. She accepts a position as brewer with a new small Microbrewery but things don't exactly start out well because on the day after their opening she finds a rival floating dead in the tank.
This cozy was loads of fun to read - the characters often had me laughing out loud and the information about brewing beer was very interesting.
How could you not be
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intrigued by this opening line? Sloan decides that it's time for her to leave the Das Kellar brewery and find a new job away from her husband's family. She accepts a position as brewer with a new small Microbrewery but things don't exactly start out well because on the day after their opening she finds a rival floating dead in the tank.
This cozy was loads of fun to read - the characters often had me laughing out loud and the information about brewing beer was very interesting.
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LibraryThing member Kris_Anderson
Death on Tap by Ellie Alexander is the first book in A Sloan Krause Mystery series. Sloan Krause is working on a new brew and quickly runs to her office at Das Keller to get her notes. She opens the door to discover her husband, Mac playing hide the sausage with Hayley, the new barmaid. Three weeks
Death on Tap is unique in that it dives into the world of beer brewing. I have not experienced another cozy mystery with this theme (unique). It is obvious that the author did her research into the topic. We get to learn a great deal about what goes into creating, distributing and selling beer. The mystery did not take place until I was 24% of the way into the story. By the time Sloan found the body, I already knew who committed the crime (secondary mystery is equally easy to unravel). The mystery takes up a small portion of the story. More of the book is devoted to beer brewing, regulations, etc. I admit that it is interesting (even though I do not drink the stuff), but I would have liked a better mystery. I like the sound of the Bavarian town of Leavenworth (loved the descriptions of the town and buildings). It reminds me of German Village (in Columbus, Ohio) where I grew up. It had me longing for a real German bratwurst (not the type you find in your local grocery). My rating for Death on Tap is 3 out of 5 stars. I found it odd that Garrett Strong is having the soft launch of Nitro without any staff (except Sloan), no planned menu, no remodeled kitchen, no furniture or décor (Sloan mentions having to find tables and chairs), and a limited beer menu. For a man with a business/corporate background, it shows a distinct lack of planning. I was not a fan of Mac Krause and his constant use of the word “baby” when talking to Sloane (big pet peeve of mine). The pacing was slow in places causing me to lose interest (more about beer). I know that the author needs to set the stage for readers, but I do not believe we needed quite so much detail (it seemed like Ms. Alexander wanted to put in everything she learned while researching the topic). Many details are repeated frequently throughout the story (hops, Sloan’s lack of family growing up, description of Sloan’s farmhouse, etc.). It will be interesting to see what direction the author takes with the next book in the series (I hope a divorce is in the works for Sloan).
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later, Sloan is ready to start her new job at Nitro, a new nanobrewery in Leavenworth, Washington (a Bavarian themed town). Garrett Strong inherited the building from his great aunt Tess and has completely renovated the inside (looks like a sterile science lab). The morning after the soft opening, Sloan goes to toss some hops into the fermenting tank and discovers Eddie Deluga face up in the Pucker Up IPA brew. Mac ends up at the top of Chief Meyers suspect list. Mac may be a cheater, but he is no killer. To clear Mac of suspicion, Sloan sets out to discover who could have wanted to harm Eddie. Death on Tap is unique in that it dives into the world of beer brewing. I have not experienced another cozy mystery with this theme (unique). It is obvious that the author did her research into the topic. We get to learn a great deal about what goes into creating, distributing and selling beer. The mystery did not take place until I was 24% of the way into the story. By the time Sloan found the body, I already knew who committed the crime (secondary mystery is equally easy to unravel). The mystery takes up a small portion of the story. More of the book is devoted to beer brewing, regulations, etc. I admit that it is interesting (even though I do not drink the stuff), but I would have liked a better mystery. I like the sound of the Bavarian town of Leavenworth (loved the descriptions of the town and buildings). It reminds me of German Village (in Columbus, Ohio) where I grew up. It had me longing for a real German bratwurst (not the type you find in your local grocery). My rating for Death on Tap is 3 out of 5 stars. I found it odd that Garrett Strong is having the soft launch of Nitro without any staff (except Sloan), no planned menu, no remodeled kitchen, no furniture or décor (Sloan mentions having to find tables and chairs), and a limited beer menu. For a man with a business/corporate background, it shows a distinct lack of planning. I was not a fan of Mac Krause and his constant use of the word “baby” when talking to Sloane (big pet peeve of mine). The pacing was slow in places causing me to lose interest (more about beer). I know that the author needs to set the stage for readers, but I do not believe we needed quite so much detail (it seemed like Ms. Alexander wanted to put in everything she learned while researching the topic). Many details are repeated frequently throughout the story (hops, Sloan’s lack of family growing up, description of Sloan’s farmhouse, etc.). It will be interesting to see what direction the author takes with the next book in the series (I hope a divorce is in the works for Sloan).
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LibraryThing member seasonsoflove
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion of the book or my review itself.
Sloan feels shattered after catching her husband with another woman. Working hard to pick up the pieces, she finds work at the new brewery in town, only
Sloan is a great character-she's strong, smart, and really good at brewing. I really liked her relationships with her son, her in-laws, and her new boss.
The mystery was an intriguing one as well. There were a lot of interesting suspects, and a lot of twists and turns. The way the brewing process was integrated and explained really added to the story.
The ending seemed a little rushed. The solution to the mystery made sense, and was intriguing, but I wanted a little more time spent on it.
I'm excited for this new series-Sloan is a character I look forward to following in more mysteries to come.
Sloan feels shattered after catching her husband with another woman. Working hard to pick up the pieces, she finds work at the new brewery in town, only
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to find a dead body in the fermenting tub. When her husband is accused, and her new work place threatened, Sloan is determined to solve the mystery.Sloan is a great character-she's strong, smart, and really good at brewing. I really liked her relationships with her son, her in-laws, and her new boss.
The mystery was an intriguing one as well. There were a lot of interesting suspects, and a lot of twists and turns. The way the brewing process was integrated and explained really added to the story.
The ending seemed a little rushed. The solution to the mystery made sense, and was intriguing, but I wanted a little more time spent on it.
I'm excited for this new series-Sloan is a character I look forward to following in more mysteries to come.
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LibraryThing member joannefm2
Sloan Krause is a brewmaster at her husband's family's brewery, Der Keller. On a day off, she decides to work anyway, and walks in on her husband while he's having sex with the new waitress. She leaves and immediately throws him out of their home, then finds a new job at a rival brewery that has
She's fairly happy in her new position, helping him with the menu and anything else that needs to be done. But when they finally open for business, a rival brewmaster, Eddie, who is surly by nature seems even more so this evening, and it doesn't help that when Sloan arrives the next day she finds Eddie's body in one of the vats.
Seeing as how her husband's prints were on the vat, and his lighter was found near the body, he's arrested for the murder. But Sloan knows that even though he cheated on her, he's no murderer, and she's decided to try and find out who might have wanted the rival brewmaster dead. If she doesn't, Mac will be railroaded for the crime, and leave her son without a father, which she isn't willing to do...
First off, even though the blurb states it, Eddie was not found with the recipe in his hand. In fact, that tidbit - where it was found and by whom it was taken - wasn't even mentioned until much later in the book. Just getting it straight.
Anyway, this book was fine for a first effort, but I found a few things that bothered me. All Sloan does is drink beer, but no mention is made that she even has any kind of a "beer belly." Not even a little "pooch." People who drink beer constantly - and she doesn't go to a gym to work out - would have some physical traits if they didn't do something about it. She drinks a lot of beer. In fact, that's all anyone drinks in this town. She gets stressed, someone hands her a pint of beer. There's a lot of stress in her life. Point made. She mentions once that her husband Mac is starting to get a belly, but never even mentions anything about herself - even though we never see Mac take a drink.
Secondly, she makes food for Nitro but I have issues with that. She pulls chicken out of her fridge and cooks kebabs - for how many people? A hundred? Two? How many chicken breasts did she have in there? 40 or 50? Because ten or so kebabs is not going to feed all the people that showed up for opening night. And it would take a long time to cook for that many people than what she supposedly did. (Who keeps that much food at home, anyway, on the off chance they might have to cook for that many people?)
Plus, she only makes things with beer. Who eats cupcakes, shortbread, and brownies made with beer? And since when are they served at a brewery? Personally, I don't drink, but I eat at a brewery or two in town, and they've never had common desserts like that at a bar. Who would buy a cupcake or cookies at a bar? This didn't ring true. Maybe a fancy chocolate cake (three layers, heavy frosting) or a streudel (which would be more in line with a brewery) but not shortbread. Never shortbread - unless the breweries of Washington have no imagination and the diners are willing to pay $5 for a brownie. I don't see it. (Or maybe I just eat at upscale breweries that don't serve food you can buy at any convenience store in town).
I also see that we're probably at the beginning of (ho hum) another love triangle. Her husband cheated on her; and since she forgave him, he'll probably do it again. The best she can do is cut her losses and tell him goodbye. Honestly, I abhor love triangles, and if it goes that way in the second book, I am done with the series - especially since he cheated on her. Honestly, I am so tired of books that have love triangles. In real life, women don't usually have two boyfriends hanging around; and if the situation were reversed and this were a man with two women, you'd think him no better than a gigolo. Garrett is obviously the better man - look at what he did when she was at the hospital.
The book was a light on the mystery and heavy on brewing information. The brewing information wasn't boring, I'm not saying that at all; but I didn't think the mystery was all that interesting. Yes, we had a dead body, and yes, we were finding out who wanted to commit the crime, but I didn't see that any of the suspects had a real reason to kill him. Just breaking up with someone isn't enough to want them dead, in my book. Any there was no real investigation going on by anyone.
Most of the book was on Sloan trying to help get Garrett's business off the ground, and worrying about Mac's family and how they were dealing with things. It was okay, but not engrossing in any way. They aren't that interesting of a family. The parents are lovable, I get it; but they handled the brewery long before Sloan arrived and she should allow them the benefit of the doubt. The book wasn't supposed to be about Mac's family, but that's what I felt it was about.
Anyway, it was fine for a first in the series book, but not anywhere near the I-can't-wait-to-read-the-next-in-the-series feeling I like to get from a book. However, I will read the second and see if it improves at all...or if we have, as I said, a love triangle - which will end the series for me.
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just started up. Garrett Strong is a quiet man who keeps his cards close to his chest, but after tasting his new brew, Sloan realizes he knows what he's doing.She's fairly happy in her new position, helping him with the menu and anything else that needs to be done. But when they finally open for business, a rival brewmaster, Eddie, who is surly by nature seems even more so this evening, and it doesn't help that when Sloan arrives the next day she finds Eddie's body in one of the vats.
Seeing as how her husband's prints were on the vat, and his lighter was found near the body, he's arrested for the murder. But Sloan knows that even though he cheated on her, he's no murderer, and she's decided to try and find out who might have wanted the rival brewmaster dead. If she doesn't, Mac will be railroaded for the crime, and leave her son without a father, which she isn't willing to do...
First off, even though the blurb states it, Eddie was not found with the recipe in his hand. In fact, that tidbit - where it was found and by whom it was taken - wasn't even mentioned until much later in the book. Just getting it straight.
Anyway, this book was fine for a first effort, but I found a few things that bothered me. All Sloan does is drink beer, but no mention is made that she even has any kind of a "beer belly." Not even a little "pooch." People who drink beer constantly - and she doesn't go to a gym to work out - would have some physical traits if they didn't do something about it. She drinks a lot of beer. In fact, that's all anyone drinks in this town. She gets stressed, someone hands her a pint of beer. There's a lot of stress in her life. Point made. She mentions once that her husband Mac is starting to get a belly, but never even mentions anything about herself - even though we never see Mac take a drink.
Secondly, she makes food for Nitro but I have issues with that. She pulls chicken out of her fridge and cooks kebabs - for how many people? A hundred? Two? How many chicken breasts did she have in there? 40 or 50? Because ten or so kebabs is not going to feed all the people that showed up for opening night. And it would take a long time to cook for that many people than what she supposedly did. (Who keeps that much food at home, anyway, on the off chance they might have to cook for that many people?)
Plus, she only makes things with beer. Who eats cupcakes, shortbread, and brownies made with beer? And since when are they served at a brewery? Personally, I don't drink, but I eat at a brewery or two in town, and they've never had common desserts like that at a bar. Who would buy a cupcake or cookies at a bar? This didn't ring true. Maybe a fancy chocolate cake (three layers, heavy frosting) or a streudel (which would be more in line with a brewery) but not shortbread. Never shortbread - unless the breweries of Washington have no imagination and the diners are willing to pay $5 for a brownie. I don't see it. (Or maybe I just eat at upscale breweries that don't serve food you can buy at any convenience store in town).
I also see that we're probably at the beginning of (ho hum) another love triangle. Her husband cheated on her; and since she forgave him, he'll probably do it again. The best she can do is cut her losses and tell him goodbye. Honestly, I abhor love triangles, and if it goes that way in the second book, I am done with the series - especially since he cheated on her. Honestly, I am so tired of books that have love triangles. In real life, women don't usually have two boyfriends hanging around; and if the situation were reversed and this were a man with two women, you'd think him no better than a gigolo. Garrett is obviously the better man - look at what he did when she was at the hospital.
The book was a light on the mystery and heavy on brewing information. The brewing information wasn't boring, I'm not saying that at all; but I didn't think the mystery was all that interesting. Yes, we had a dead body, and yes, we were finding out who wanted to commit the crime, but I didn't see that any of the suspects had a real reason to kill him. Just breaking up with someone isn't enough to want them dead, in my book. Any there was no real investigation going on by anyone.
Most of the book was on Sloan trying to help get Garrett's business off the ground, and worrying about Mac's family and how they were dealing with things. It was okay, but not engrossing in any way. They aren't that interesting of a family. The parents are lovable, I get it; but they handled the brewery long before Sloan arrived and she should allow them the benefit of the doubt. The book wasn't supposed to be about Mac's family, but that's what I felt it was about.
Anyway, it was fine for a first in the series book, but not anywhere near the I-can't-wait-to-read-the-next-in-the-series feeling I like to get from a book. However, I will read the second and see if it improves at all...or if we have, as I said, a love triangle - which will end the series for me.
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LibraryThing member SmithfieldJones
First book in Ellis Alexander's second series (the first being the Bakeshop Mysteries), is a winner. The microbrewery scene is different and interesting, and Ellis Alexander knowledge of the topic shows through. The characters are well-drawn, and Sloan Krause--our protagonist--is memorable,
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likable, and her debut bodes well for rest of the series. We'd also want Garret back too, and as to Mac? Well, annoying, and arrogant he makes a good foil for Sloan's smart, intelligent personality. Cindy Brown's review says it all as to Sloan: "Brewmaster Sloan Krause is the perfect cozy protagonist: vulnerable enough to keep her heart guarded, yet capable enough to rewrite ales with the big boys, whip up beer-inspired treats an, of course, solve a murder." Show Less
LibraryThing member thornton37814
After catching her husband with another woman, Sloane Krause goes to work for a nano-brewery in Leavenworth, Washington. When another brewer turns up drowned in the brewery's vat and her husband appears to be the leading suspect, she knows he is incapable of murder. She searches for clues that
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might eliminate the suspicion from him. The book contains many details on craft brewing. I'd read a short story in this series previously and liked the setting and characters, but the short story I'd read contained spoilers for this story, so I already knew some of what was going to happen. It's a good start to the series, and I probably would have enjoyed it more if I'd read this story before the short story! Show Less
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