Best Homebrew Books?

[JMK1992]

I was wondering what some of the best books are people would recommend with regards to homebrewing?

 

[MoonBrewer]

Depends a lot on your level of experience and your goals. A good starter and intermediate book is "How to Brew" by John Palmer. Everything you need to know to brew great beer, it can take you from simple extract brewing all the way to all-grain mashing. It does go into technical detail but IMO does not get overly complicated.

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

Not a direct answer to the question (I may make some observations in a day or two), but one of the better (IMHO) reviews of a number of current home books can be found here: https://www.reddit.com/r/Homebrewing/comments/5ivg5c/book_recommendations/dbbbbh6/.

 

[JimRausch]

Agreed with Moonbrewer, J.P.'s 'How to Brew' is the 1st book that I'll bet probably 95% of us would say to get first. Another first book, part B, would be Charlie Papazian's 'The Complete Joy of Homebrewing'. It's older and a bit less detailed, but it is much more entertaining. Papa Charlie can sure tell a tale or two.

 

[WBB]

This whole website is a book. Charge up your iPad and have at it.

 

[AF1HomeBrew]

G.Strong's"Modern Homebrew Recipes" book is a great book if you are an all-grain brewer. Lots of recipes with notes from Gordon, and each recipe includes water treatment.

 

[AZCoolerBrewer]

I think “Radical Brewing” by Randy Mosher is a really great start for a intrepid homebrewer. He talks a lot about the “why” of homebrewing which to me is what the hobby is about.

 

[hopsngrain]

How to brew from John palmer has been great for me, I knew nothing at all before reading the book and he really explain things clearly, as a second book I would recommend the book designing great beers from Ray Daniel once you're ready to go all by yourself

 

[beernutz]

I have a bunch of homebrewing books but the ones I refer to the most are
How to Brew by Palmer
Brewing Classic Styles by Zainasheff and Palmer

 

[imasickboy]

I recommend Brewing Classic Styles for the recipes. It won't necessarily teach you how to brew, but it will give you a great set of beers to work on.

 

[CascadesBrewer]

I will second (or third? fourth?) the recommendation for "How to Brew". I have been brewing for over 20 years. My "bible" from Dave Miller was dated so I picked up the latest edition of "How to Brew" to freshen up my library. It really is a well written and well organized book. You can read the first chapter and brew a batch of beer...read the next few chapters to learn the "why" of basic brewing...and there is enough detailed info that you can keep learning for the next 20 years.

Ray Daniels "Designing Great Beer" is another standout for me. I just got "Brewing Classic Styles" (another Palmer book) and it seems solid as well.

 

[kevin58]

This whole website is a book. Charge up your iPad and have at it.

Except the free version on the website is the first edition. John has made many changes and even done an about face on several practices which are updated in the current fourth edition.

I've read 'em all and the book I got the most out of was Gordon Strong's Mastering Homebrew. You cannot expect to create recipe without understanding the ingredients and Gordon makes it very easy. His written descriptions are crystal clear and then he provides some great graphic charts and scales.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1452105510/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

 

[JimRausch]

My "bible" from Dave Miller was dated

"The Homebrewer's Bible" was my 1st HB book, even before I picked up J.P.'s HTB. Yes, it's older, but it's still the first one I go to and look up a table or formula. For me, the difference was that it's is very well organized and has a great, easily used table of contents. Yes, my mom was a librarian.

 

[AF1HomeBrew]

Except the free version on the website is the first edition. John has made many changes and even done an about face on several practices which are updated in the current fourth edition.

I've read 'em all and the book I got the most out of was Gordon Strong's Mastering Homebrew. You cannot expect to create recipe without understanding the ingredients and Gordon makes it very easy. His written descriptions are crystal clear and then he provides some great graphic charts and scales.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1452105510/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

The Amazon link is to a Randy Mosher book.

 

[kevin58]

The Amazon link is to a Randy Mosher book.

You are right! I read Gordon's name in one of the earlier comments and the name must of got stuck in my head. That is the book though. Thank you.

 

[AF1HomeBrew]

You are right! I read Gordon's name in one of the earlier comments and the name must of got stuck in my head. That is the book though. Thank you.

I agree with your comments on the Randy Mosher book that was in the link. It was very nicely produced.

 

[shoreman]

What subject in homebrewing are you looking for? or just a general book?

 

[JMK1992]

What subject in homebrewing are you looking for? or just a general book?

A general book on homebrew and something to help me with putting together my own recipes

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

A general book on homebrew and something to help me with putting together my own recipes

Do you have an ebook reader? Do you have a budget?

amazon (and google) have some homebrewing books (for example Mastering Homebrew) for less than $3 each today. Not trying to sell anything here - but I will note that Mastering Homebrew was, for me, a great ebook at $10.

 

[Druman07]

How to Brew is the one I have grown into. A bit intimidating at first, but a reference I keep going back to. That being said I have several books. I do like Home Brew Beyond the Basics by Michael Karnowski which is about all grain brewing. Its concise and well written.

 

[catdaddy66]

"The Homebrewer's Bible" was my 1st HB book, even before I picked up J.P.'s HTB. Yes, it's older, but it's still the first one I go to and look up a table or formula. For me, the difference was that it's is very well organized and has a great, easily used table of contents. Yes, my mom was a librarian.

Two of my sisters are librarians!

I started with Papazian and "The Joy of Homebrewing" and love it to this day. Palmer's "How to Brew" is exceptional as well. The series I want is "Yeast", "Water", "Hops" and "Malt". My birthday is in March... Hmmmmmmm!

 

[odie]

I’ve had these since the 90s. Actually the only books I have on brewing...and the internet

 

[shoreman]

A general book on homebrew and something to help me with putting together my own recipes

How to Brew
Brewing Classic Styles

Can't go wrong.

 

[OG-wan Kenobi]

This book changed the way I thought about making beer

 

[AZCoolerBrewer]

Not as relevant, but I think is my favorite homebrew book, is “A Treatise On The Brewing of Beer” by E. Hughes, published in 1796. Very quick read.

 

[WBB]

Except the free version on the website is the first edition. John has made many changes and even done an about face on several practices which are updated in the current fourth edition.

I think you missed the point. I meant this website, homebrewtalk.

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

This whole website is a book. Charge up your iPad and have at it.

Except the free version on the website is the first edition. John has made many changes and even done an about face on several practices which are updated in the current fourth edition.

I think you missed the point. I meant this website, homebrewtalk.

But OP asked about books, not about discussion forums.

One of the advantages of a discussion forum is that it builds on the knowledge found in books. Over time, if a forum can attract and retain knowledgeable people, the forum becomes an excellent resource.

As for learning how to brew, it can be as 'simple' as identifying the right people to listen to, then finding the places (books, discussion forums, podcasts, recorded conferences, ...) where they contribute.

 

[ApolloSimcoe]

and something to help me with putting together my own recipes

For this I would go with Designing Great Beers. It gives you the hows and whys and the math!

 

[applescrap]

Karnowski Homebrew Beyond the basics is stellar. Solid advice on oaking, barreling, tinctures, coffee, spices, fruit, wild brewing, etc. I only have this and brewing classic styles. Online I have pretty much read htb by Palmer. But love watching him talk and podcasts. He seems so cool. Would really enjoy Strong, Mosher, Beechum and Conn books. This thread has inspired me to splash out and get a few, thanks!

 

[Druman07]

From this thread I picked up Randy Mosher's book. So far its very good, very readable. How to Brew reads more like a text book, Mosher's book is nicely laid out, and interesting to read.

 

[bigHEDbrewCo.]

Extreme and protect extreme brewing by Sam Calagione of Dogfish Head

 

[shoreman]

How to Brew reads more like a text book, Mosher's book is nicely laid out, and interesting to read.

Well, Randy is also a well seasoned graphic designer. Presentation does make a difference.

 

[GPNewBrew]

But OP asked about books, not about discussion forums.

One of the advantages of a discussion forum is that it builds on the knowledge found in books. Over time, if a forum can attract and retain knowledgeable people, the forum becomes an excellent resource.

As for learning how to brew, it can be as 'simple' as identifying the right people to listen to, then finding the places (books, discussion forums, podcasts, recorded conferences, ...) where they contribute.

As with others, “How to Brew” and “Brewing Classic Styles” are the best first reads and benchmarks. As for what the forums provide, I would advise to “be careful”. Some “good sounding” advice you get on the forums isn’t exactly “good” advice, and really flys in the face of “how to brew” and “joy of brewing”. Mostly everything I read in forums is good ideas and has provided me with the means to get out of a jam; but sometimes it’s bad advice.

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

One of the advantages of a discussion forum is that it builds on the knowledge found in books. Over time, if a forum can attract and retain knowledgeable people, the forum becomes an excellent resource.

As for learning how to brew, it can be as 'simple' as identifying the right people to listen to, then finding the places (books, discussion forums, podcasts, recorded conferences, ...) where they contribute.

As for what the forums provide, I would advise to “be careful”. Some “good sounding” advice you get on the forums isn’t exactly “good” advice, and really flys in the face of “how to brew” and “joy of brewing”.

Agreed.

As I mentioned earlier, following knowledgeable people (in whatever media they chose) can be helpful.

 

[Calder]

Papazian, 'The Complete Joy of Home Brewing', and 'The Homebrewers Companion', were my first books ..... back in the last Century they were at the cutting edge of brewing. Easy to read and well written, but a lot has changed. Worth picking up if you find them. I also had Noonan 'Brewing Lager Beer' back then; it was a little more technical and not as easy to read.

I bought a few cheap 'How to ....' books, but was not impressed. I still find myself pulling out Papazian occasionally.

Mostly my research and study is on the Internet since then, but have found that there are specialty books that go into more detail, or have more information contained in them than you can find on the internet. Once you have an idea of what you are doing, there are a number of specialty books that you can move on to, such as yeast mentioned above or the Belgian series 'Brew like a Monk', 'Farmhouse Ales', and 'Wild Brews', and many more depending on what styles you like.

 

[CascadesBrewer]

View attachment 609649I’ve had these since the 90s. Actually the only books I have on brewing...and the internet

I blame that "Better Beer and How to Brew It"!!! I picked it up a long time ago on a tour of the brewery in Frankenmuth Michigan. It is a terrible book on brewing, but was the first time I realized that I could brew beer at home. I have been curious if the author(s) stuck with brewing, as I never saw anything else with the name. Dave Miller's "The Complete Handbook of Home Brewing" was my go-to book for a long time.