Which book would you buy?

[Calder]

My teenage daughter wants to buy a couple of CDs from Amazon, and needs something else in the order to get the free shipping. Thought I would use this as an excuse to get another book. I've got two in mind, never read or seen either, would like to hear from anyone who might have an opinion (on the books that is).

The two I'm looking at are:

Radical Brewing, Randy Mosher, $12.54.

Yeast, Jamil Zainasheff and Chris White, $11.75.

I've already got a number of books, so am not looking for anything basic. The last ones I got were the Belgian series; BLAM, Farmhouse Ales, and Wild Brews. The latter 2 are great books. I read BLAM last, and it is a bit of a disappointment compared to the others; I wish I had read it first.

I would be interested in what anyone thinks about either book. Any recommendations on other books are welcome; I know a lot of the basic stuff, and want details. I started brewing in 1996.

 

[Kaz]

I got the 'Yeast' book for Christmas, great reading if you want to really learn how to handle yeast. I haven't read Radical Brewing yet. I also like Designing Great Beers and Brewing Classic Styles.

 

[ffmedic]

I've been reading Radical Brewing lately, I haven't finished it yet. I've enjoyed it so far. The author is humorous and it gives some great history behind styles and beer in general. Good recipes for AG and extract. I really enjoyed a part in the book on ways to improve Pilsners and Stouts, my 2 favs.

 

[doctorRobert]

My teenage daughter wants to buy a couple of CDs from Amazon, and needs something else in the order to get the free shipping. Thought I would use this as an excuse to get another book. I've got two in mind, never read or seen either, would like to hear from anyone who might have an opinion (on the books that is).

The two I'm looking at are:

Radical Brewing, Randy Mosher, $12.54.

Yeast, Jamil Zainasheff and Chris White, $11.75.

I've already got a number of books, so am not looking for anything basic. The last ones I got were the Belgian series; BLAM, Farmhouse Ales, and Wild Brews. The latter 2 are great books. I read BLAM last, and it is a bit of a disappointment compared to the others; I wish I had read it first.

I would be interested in what anyone thinks about either book. Any recommendations on other books are welcome; I know a lot of the basic stuff, and want details. I started brewing in 1996.

Radical brewing is a really fun read. Every homebrewer should own it. If you want to make odd or big beers pick it up. But really a fun book to flip through, and some great recipes.

Yeast is good too. Less fun, more technical.
That being said, i didnt change any of my processes because of the book. I dont think my beer is better atter reading it, only that I know more about what happens, and can source off flavors better (which will make better beer, but thats more about learning a certain yeast strain). If you want to store yeast, and are anal about pitching rates, buy it.

 

[remilard]

If you can, I think you should get both.

 

[Pappers_]

Big thumbs up to Radical Brewing - it's my favorite brewing book, hands down. Also read Yeast, which was good, too.

 

[Stoutman82]

I love the radical brewing book very interesting I learned a lot from it.

 

[Cpt_Kirks]

"Yeast" is chock full of useful information about the fermentation process, but frankly, it will put you to sleep.

"Radical Brewing" is full of recipes and discussions of historic beers, plus it is FUN to read. You might even giggle in a few places.

 

[cclloyd]

Haven't read Radical - but I have to agree with Kirks - "Yeast" is full of info and makes a great insomnia cure as well.

 

[EzMak24]

both are solid books

 

[Hex]

If you can, I think you should get both. (I did and still read them frequently)

 

[BrewThruYou]

"Yeast" is chock full of useful information about the fermentation process, but frankly, it will put you to sleep.

"Radical Brewing" is full of recipes and discussions of historic beers, plus it is FUN to read. You might even giggle in a few places.

I agree about Yeast. There's useful information, but there's a lot of useless stuff for homebrewers in it. There's big sections on techniques using lab equipment I've never heard of and have no desire to attain. I read a small section at a time at night...puts me out fast.

I just ordered Gordon Strong's new book - Brewing Better Beer: Master Lessons for Advanced Homebrewers.

 

[Scooby_Brew]

"Radical Brewing", Randy Mosher - I loved it, I read it a few times back-to-back, and I go back to it a lot.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

For $24 and free shipping, both.

If the money is hard to justify, use a vacation day off work (to still get paid of course) and recoupe the $24 in the gas not used to commute.

 

[wildwest450]

Brewing better Beer by Gordon Strong. It's advanced and it's awesome.
First brewing book i've ever read.


_

 

[edb23]

get radical brewing. This book is absolutely amazing, it introduced me to a lot of new ideas and techniques, helped me figure out how to put recipes together, and helped me understand the why of employing different brewing techniques as opposed to just the when.

 

[shawnR07]

why not both?? I don't think you can ever have too many books...

 

[overflow]

Brewing better Beer by Gordon Strong. It's advanced and it's awesome.
First brewing book i've ever read.


_

Seconded. I got this book three days ago and haven't been able to put it down. I own and have read lots of beer books, if I were you I'd say the following are must haves (In order of personal pref.)

Brewing Classic Styles
Designing Great Beers
Brewing Better Beer
Yeast

 

[heywolfie1015]

Radical Brewing. It's more fun. Gets your creative juices flowing.

 

[turkeyjerky214]

Radical Brewing is a more casual, fun read. Yeast is more educational.

I've enjoyed Radical Brewing so far, but the author's attempt at humor is not really my style. It's actually made parts of it difficult to get through. You can definitely tell he's trying REALLY hard to be funny in certain parts. Aside from that, I highly recommend it.

 

[stat]

+1 to gordon strong's brewing better beer. I've only read 3 chapters and have found several things I'm going to change in my process.

Yeast was good too but didn't make me change anything about how I ferment.

 

[Teromous]

I just want to go on the sidebar and say that if you buy a lot of things on amazon, you might want to look into their prime membership. It doesn't cost a lot and you get free 2 day shipping on most items, and reduced 1-day shipping. I have probably earned my membership back 10 fold on the free 2-day shipping I get on stuff.

 

[Pilgarlic]

If you're a reader, and you apparently are, you will sooner or later have both. Take your pick.

 

[dantheman13]

If you're a reader, and you apparently are, you will sooner or later have both. Take your pick.

And if that is the case, you might as well get free shipping for the second book by buying both!

 

[PhelanKA7]

I thought about grabbing Radical Brewing but decided against it because i'm constrained to brewing extract/partial for now because i'll be living in a tiny apartment for at least another year. Radical Brewing struck me as really being worthwhile primarily to AG brewers. Is this a true or false assumption? I thought maybe just the discussion bits and abstract thoughts might be woth it alone from what I have heard of the book.

 

[doctorRobert]

I thought about grabbing Radical Brewing but decided against it because i'm constrained to brewing extract/partial for now because i'll be living in a tiny apartment for at least another year. Radical Brewing struck me as really being worthwhile primarily to AG brewers. Is this a true or false assumption? I thought maybe just the discussion bits and abstract thoughts might be woth it alone from what I have heard of the book.

There is actually quite a bit for extraxt brewers, and a lot of all grain recipes can be converted. He talks about how to convert them if i remember correctly. But do avoid Gordon Strongs book, if you havent seen the thread about his book, he does not cater to extract brewers.

 

[edb23]

he provides an AG and extract version of nearly every recipe in the book, and a method for converting the recipes to extract or partial mash that he doesn't include a recipe for. but once you get that book, all you're gonna do is buy a bigger kettle or two so you can do all grain brews on the stovetop.

 

[Calder]

Lots of great responses; and only 24 hours.

Looks like Radical Brewing is the winner. Thanks for all the great responses.

If you can, I think you should get both.

If you can, I think you should get both. (I did and still read them frequently)

why not both?? I don't think you can ever have too many books...

If you're a reader, and you apparently are, you will sooner or later have both. Take your pick.

And if that is the case, you might as well get free shipping for the second book by buying both!

I fully intend to get both books. Just going to wait until my daughter needs a few more $s again in her order to get free shipping to get the second one. I find it difficult to find something I want off Amazon, so if I have these books in reserve, it makes it easy to fill up her order to get the free shipping.

I'm going to look at 'Brewing Better Beer' by Gordon Strong too.

Thanks again to everyone who replied.

 

[Calder]

Went for the yeast book in the end and some cheap test tubes.

 

[reim0027]

"How to Brew" by John Palmer (first edition is available online).
"Complete Joy of Homebrewing" by Charlie Papazian.
"Designing Great Beers" by Ray Daniels.

 

[BA_from_GA]

Designing great beers or brewing better beer.