So, we’ve been brewing beer for a couple of years now, at first from kits from austinhomebrew.com, then we realized how wonderful of a resource our local homebrew shop is. Problem is, we’re not terribly creative, and have been relying on giving the guy there characteristics that we’d like in our target beer, and just having him grab ingredients for us and scribble notes down. Which has been fine so far…
But I really like books on things I’m interested in. I’ve run through a couple of old threads on here, and it seems the “For Dummies” book is recommended; I’d like to see if anyone has any other suggestions as well. With little background knowledge, the “clone” books are enticing, but I feel I wouldn’t really learn anything about theory or the craft in general.
We’ve got a fairly basic setup, a large pot, a couple strainers, and plenty of bottles, and have figured out the basics of even all-grain brewing with our limited equipment, but I’m eager to learn how to even begin reading all the arcane voodoo I keep trying to read in homebrew forums.
What are y’all’s favorite books, ones that you use as reference and like to keep around?
Charlie Papazian. You can’t go wrong with any of his books. The Complete Joy of Homebrewing is a must. Seriously, that book will lay the foundation for all you need to know in homebrewing.
This… is like an entire book, in electronic format? Someone should really market these, I’m sure they could make a killing.
Also, I’m not going to get any work done today.
This one has got great reviews on Amazon, and once I’m done with the other one, I think I’ll get it. I really just needed a Doper hand-holding, I guess. I tend to jump straight here whenever I need advice on anything.
But recognize its limitations. I’ve found Charlie’s basics to be sound, but his flavor profiles are off sometimes and he rarely (never) pushes the envelope for flavor. If you know the style of beer you want to brew, get yourself the appropriate style book from Amazon. The worst of them is excellent. Every brewer should be required to memorize George and Laurie Fix’s treatise on Viennas.
I’ve done a few brews “on my own” (aka, being hand-held by friends with experience), and recently got this book to help me feel comfortable striking out completely on my own.
Great descriptions of the whats and whys of the process.
As silenus says, it might not be the most innovative, but as a book for a beginner who needs to learn what the heck is really happening as a foundation for future brewing, you can’t go wrong with this one.