The Land of Ale and Gloom: Discovering the Pacific Northwest concerns the summer of 2016, which the author spent traveling the region in the looming shadow of a Trump presidency, having come to the somewhat blue realization that there perhaps remained just one thing in this world with the power to bring him true happiness: craft beer. And while there's no better place for a beer enthusiast than Oregon and Washington State, a philosophical guide seemed necessary—hence, Robert Burton's The Anatomy of Melancholy, an encyclopedic Renaissance-era opus which advises the melancholic patient to treat his affliction with a few cold brews. Along with these elements, The Land of Ale and Gloom incorporates the fascinating history and vibrant literature of the Northwest into a comic yet insightful exploration of the region.