Randy Stafford 
The Serpent’s Brew [EPUB ebook] 

In the heart of Oregon’s Willamette Valley, where hop vines intertwine with a rich brewing legacy, a chilling discovery unfolds. Master brewer Oliver Brewerton is found dead, an archaic recipe etched onto his skin—a cryptic inscription rumored to hold the key to both extraordinary flavor and devastating consequences.  His death ignites a brewing conspiracy that threatens to consume the craft beer world.
Randy Stafford, a historian scarred by the esoteric practices of ancient brewing, recognizes the sinister markings.  Driven by a shared passion for preserving tradition, he joins forces with Oliver’s fiercely independent daughter, Kimberly, to uncover the truth. Their investigation plunges them into the murky depths of brewing history, where forgotten rituals and alchemical secrets intertwine with the modern craft.  Each victim, a renowned brewer, bears a similar mark—a corrupted version of an ancient formula once revered for its mystical properties. 
Their pursuit leads them through fragrant hop fields and into the hushed sanctuaries of centuries-old beer cellars. Suspicion falls upon Omni Brew, a corporate giant led by the ruthlessly ambitious Warren Cox, who leaves a trail of broken dreams and silenced voices in his wake. But a more insidious force is at play, whispered to be the Serpent’s Brew – a corrupted concoction capable of manipulating the minds of those who imbibe it.
A cryptic message marks Randy as the next target, his past entwined with the esoteric side of brewing catching up to him.  Joined by Jesse Reynolds, a brewer haunted by his family’s dark brewing legacy, they uncover Cox’s terrifying endgame: to contaminate the winning brew at the National Homebrewers Competition, seizing control of the global craft beer market and, more chillingly, the minds of millions.
As paranoia grips Oregon, the competition becomes a battleground between tradition and innovation, where the very soul of craft brewing hangs in the balance. Randy, Kimberly, and Jesse must confront not only Cox’s insidious plot but also their own internal demons. Their quest for a counter-recipe leads them to an isolated monastery, home to the last remaining members of the Order of the Sacred Wort – keepers of a purifying brew that can neutralize the corrupted formulas.
In a heart-pounding climax, the National Homebrewers Competition transforms into a scene of chaos and confrontation.  Randy must expose Cox’s scheme before it’s too late, while Kimberly and Jesse fight to reclaim their legacy and protect the future of craft brewing. The fate of the industry, and perhaps even the world, rests on their shoulders.  But even if they succeed, the dark knowledge of the Serpent’s Brew remains, a chilling reminder of the intoxicating allure of power and the fragility of the human mind.  The world of craft beer, though saved, will never be the same.