Help me out here

z987k · 05-11-2009, 04:05 AM

Ok so someone needs to help me out here. I've been going over Randy Mosher's book "the brewer's companion" and I've read some things I know to be blatantly wrong.

For instance he says the sulfate decreases hop bitterness(p.114), when everything I've ever read and experienced says the opposite. In fact brew science and practice has to say this on sulfate: "The ion contributes a drier, more bitter
flavour to beers that should be balanced by appropriate amounts of chloride ions."

That's the only one I've highlighted so far as it just started to get interesting how often he was wrong on something.

Next I was looking through the list of wild yeast and spoilage bacteria and I was having a really hard time coming up with ANYTHING online, you would think a species of yeast would be somewhat documented if it's know enough that this guys knows their cell shape, what off flavors they make, if it forms a pellicle, roppiness, gram pos/neg right?
So in light of me not being able to figure this out, can anyone point me to any information(google+wiki) on any of the following: Hansenula Anomala, Pichia Membranafaciens and Candida Norvigensis.
And more importantly these seem to be extremely rare, why the hell does it matter?

So anyways I guess aside from figuring out those yeasts, I'm really starting to doubt anything this guy says. I mean a good deal of the book is right, but to freely spread misinformation in a book that is supposed to be a resource for brewing... how would the beginner have any idea? He has no formal training, and seems to only be qualified in the fact that he brews.

**Cheeto** · 05-11-2009, 09:51 AM

z987k,

Look just inside the front cover of that book.

I suspect that book was written some 15-20 years ago
and cited info from publications that are even older !

The brewer's companion (Open Library)

I would not go as far as calling it bad info but maybe just old info

Some great breakthroughs have been made in Homebrewing in those 15-20 years

-Jason

**Homercidal** · 08-31-2009, 05:24 PM

If you find a blatant error, it might be a good idea to write Mr. Mosher and inform him. He's very experienced and knowledgeable brewer and as I met him this spring at a homebrewing seminar, I found him to be lively and friendly as well.

I've thoroughly enjoyed his other books, Radical Brewing, and Tasting Beer, but neither would I recommend as a how-to guide to brewing.

cabdriver · 10-29-2010, 12:39 PM

Well crap then I have just purchased this book.. i have thoroughly enjoyed "radical brewing" if this book is not to be taken 100% literal so be it I'm sure i can preen some useful information from it. I do enjoy his writing style. Perhaps somebody could put me onto a good source of info not too advanced but definitely not too laymen speak. Hell maybe this thread is too old to get a reply even.. thanks guys.

wildwest450 · 10-29-2010, 10:37 PM

That's why I get all my brewing info off the internet, it's never wrong.

cabdriver · 10-30-2010, 01:23 AM

I do like having a book to refer to just seems more personal than the internet, perhaps I'm old fashioned. plus I have found more misinformation on the net than anywhere else.. cheers for the info..