Starting out in homebrewing can seem overwhelming at times. What does all this terminology mean? Do I really need all this shiny equipment?
To help you on your voyage of brewing discovery I’ve listed five of the books I found useful when I started out on my adventures in homebrewing. If you follow the advice in these books, you too will be able to have the “these tastes as good as the beer from the supermarket” experience.
Table of Contents
Craft Brew
Euan Ferguson
Frances Lincoln (2016)
ISBN: 978-0-7112-3733-9
This is the only homebrew book that I know of that jumps into all grain brewing, and personally I believe it is the best way to start. It may be a little light on techniques, but the big selling point is the fifty recipes from some of the world’s leading craft breweries.
Excerpt: The best beer is the beer you’ve brewed yourself. With a few ingredients, and some basic kit and a bit of dedication, you could soon be sipping on a homemade hop-bomb of an IPA or a darkly delicious porter. And who better to learn from than the world’s best craft brewers, who all started off with nothing more than a desire for better beer? For the first time, the most exciting, ground-breaking, and uncompromising craft breweries share the recipes behind their best beers, for you to make at home.
How to Brew: Everything you need to know to brew beer right the first time
John J Palmer
Brewers Publications (2006)
ISBN: 978-0-937381-88-5
This is the book considered by many to be the definitive guide to homebrewing and is an essential for every homebrewer.
Excerpt: Presented in a clear, no-nonsense style, this authoritative text introduces brewing in an easy step-by-step review so that new brewers can be happy with their results starting with the first batch. Beyond the basics, Palmer provides an accessible reference to both intermediate and advanced techniques like all grain brewing variations and recipe formulation. A must for any novice or intermediate brewer—perfect for anyone who has discovered the joy of homebrewing!
Home Brew Beyond the Basics: All-grain Brewing and Other Next Steps
Mike Karnowski
Lark (2014)
ISBN: 978-1-4547-0795-1
Excerpt: Start with a photo-intensive guide to all-grain brewing or skip ahead to advanced mashing techniques and malt selection. Then explore whatever calls you: take a crash-course in water chemistry, try whirlpool hopping, brew a fruit beer, capture wild yeast, make your first Berliner Weisse, or kick the bottles and start kegging. Unique recipes cover everything from traditional parti-gyle stouts to a style-bending American wild ale.
Radical Brewing: Recipes, Tales & World-Altering Meditations in a Glass
Randy Mosher
Brewers Publications (2004)
ISBN: 13-978-0-937381-83-0
Excerpt: Did you know the Sumerians invented light beer? Ever think of sugar as a great-tasting brewing ingredient? Have you ever considered treacle as an adjunct? (you should). Have you ever brewed a beer with 473 units of bitterness? Did you know that crab eyes were once used in brewing?
You will find this and more in this though-provoking celebration of 12,000 years of the art of brewing. With 90 complete recipes and an abundance of useful information for the novice as well as the grizzled veteran, Radical Brewing puts you in touch with some of brewing’s most exotic—and delicious—brews.
After a concise introduction to beer and how to brew, Radical Brewing moves on to the secrets for the great session ales, lagers, and easy-to-brew Belgian beers. Then, it moves on to the next level: strong beers, adjunct beers, fruits, spices, smoked beer and more. The challenging Belgian styles are next, followed by a tour through the vast repertoire of beer through the ages and an introduction to mead and honey beers. Chapters on group brews and activities, equipment, and the art of enjoying beer & food complete the text.
Tasting Beer: An Insider’s Guide to The World’s Greatest Drink
Randy Mosher
Storey Publishing (2017)
ISBN: 978-1-61212-777-4
Not exactly a book about homebrewing but on that will help you evaluate the quality of the beer that you brew and introduce you to a wide range of beer styles.
Can you tell a Weissbier from a Belgian? Deepen your appreciation of your favourite brews by learning to identify the scents, colours, and flavours of all the major beer styles. This completely updated second edition of the best-selling classic explores the culture, chemistry, and creativity that make craft beers so wonderfully complex. Randy Mosher delivers expert insights into the science of brewing and tasting, along with expanded sections on serving and pairing, including recipes for beer cocktail.
And yes, you need as much shiny stainless steel as you can afford. Will it help you brew better beer? Probably not, but it looks nice.