It only seems fitting that the great-great-grandson of Peter
Straub, founder of Straub Brewery, would pen “The Ultimate Beer
Lover’s Cookbook.”

John Schlimm of St. Marys has compiled more than 400 recipes to
put in one place – “a party in a book” as he said it.

“I have been collecting recipes for more than 10 years,” Schlimm
said, adding he attains all sorts of recipes – whatever peaks his
interest. “This book has been an evolution.”

Schlimm pointed out that this is the largest beer cookbook ever
published.

“The book has made a little bit of history itself,” he said. “If
I was going to do this it would either be the biggest or forget
about it.”

The recipes have come from his family, friends as well as his
travels all over.

“If I came across a beer recipe, I would add it in to the
archives.”

The cookbook includes a wide variety of recipes – from dips,
appetizers, main courses, desserts and, of course, drinks.

On Schlimm’s book-signing tours, the wild game recipes have been
getting a lot of attention, including the squirrel dinner for
two.

“A cousin of mine developed the recipe and enjoyed it for many
years.”

But when asked his favorite recipe, Schlimm gasped.

“That’s like asking who your favorite kid is.”

However, he quickly recovered and listed such items as the
blazing hot wing sauce, bleu cheese dip, garlic roast beef and the
Skip & Go Naked drink.

All recipes were tested and edited, he said.

One unique drink – the one that includes vodka, beer and pickle
juice – is “surprisingly not bad.”

“My theory on cookbooks is it’s never complete,” he said, adding
that people can add a little of this or take something away to suit
their own taste.

Schlimm suggested, however, to keep the beer ingredient in most
of the recipes.

“A good basic lager is a good starting point for each of the
recipes,” he said, adding that people can experiment with whatever
beer they like or even with their home brews.

Beer quotes are also included on many of the pages.

“Who knew there were so many?” Schlimm said. “It made sense to
put the two together. This is probably the largest collection of
beer quotes.”

The introduction also includes a history of beer – “The Golden
Rock Star” as Schlimm put it.

“When you’re dealing with a global superstar that’s more than
7,000-years-old, there’s bound to be some fascinating history
there.”

Some facts included are the Egyptian pyramid builders were paid
with beer and Noah served beer on the Ark.

“You can put it up against any movie star in Hollywood,” he
said. “It has more fans and can’t jump up and down on Oprah’s
couch.”

Schlimm also noted that beer has played a part in the Democratic
presidential primaries, with each candidate seeking the “ultimate
photo opportunity,” which would sometimes include drinking a
brewski.

“Beer has forever been the nectar of the working class.”

And while any good recipe is a delicately assembled equation,
Schlimm also has an equation that’s a little more subtle.

“Beer=fun.”

So what’s next for the local “celebrewtante?”

“I am always working on other projects. There’s nothing
concrete.”

The book, published through Cumberland House Publishing, is
available wherever books are sold.