What are considered the best books to read for someone getting into home brewing for the first time? thanks!
"Complete Joy of Homebrewing" (by Charlie Papazian) second. Both are basically requirements for any homebrewers bookshelf. Once you have the basics down, there are a ton of other books, including the ingredient series ("Hops" "yeast" "water" etc) and more specialty books, like How to Brew Like a Monk and so forth.
I don't like Joy of Homebrewing at all. After How to Brew, there are a lot Radical Brewing Brewing Classic Styles Designing Great Beers Then you get into "specialty" books like IPA or Farmhouse Ales or Homebrewers Guide to Vintage Beer There is also the Series on Brewing ingredients (Water, Malt, Yeast, Hops) and tons more after those
Thanks! My buddy came to me the other day saying he wanted to stated home brewing so I figured I would get him some good reading material first.
Can I ask why you don't like Joy of Homebrewing? I know Palmer is more of a numbers guy. Papazian is more of a feel guy; doesn't necessarily brew to styles. The whole RDWHAHB thing. I personally found Papazian easier to follow than Palmer. Regardless, I do have both books and still refer to them.
Personally, I am more of a numbers/science kind of person, I know that a lot of beginners are turned off by Palmer's approach. I think the RDWHAHB is the most useful part of Papazian for a beginner, but in the end, I don't think you can go very far with that approach. I haven't picked up either one in a while, but if I had a question or wanted to review something like water chemistry, I would not even consider reaching for the Papazian. I suspect that most people who stay with the hobby will eventually graduate from Papizian to Palmer, I am glad I started with Palmer.
May be a weird one, but I recently printed this out and have been reading it... More-so just to learn styles better and understand key differences better. http://www.bjcp.org/stylecenter.php Beer Style Guidelines.
Joy Of Homebrewing is my favorite book by Papazian, because it works for me. It got me started. I like the science behind brewing as well but if that's all I had to go on to begin with, I probably wouldn't have had as much fun. Starting out and having fun for me while not worrying about stuff I worry about now was key. But everyone is different, and the awesome thing about home brewing is... it caters to all different types of people. If you want to get super sciency... (no that's not a word but you get my meaning) then you can brew that way. If you want to have fun, and not worry (As much) about numbers, you can do that too. I've found the more I get into it, the more fun I have being sciency... Have fun!
I read this review the other day and thought it sounded good. I consider myself still a beginner. http://beervana.blogspot.com/2015/07/book-week-strongs-modern-homebrew.html
Tell him to find a homebrew club. They typically let newbies sit in for the price of a commercial 6 pack. Someone will let him sit in on a homebrew session.
Gordon's new book is very good. He covers his techniques and procedures, and shows in some cases how recipes have evolved. Charlie Ps book has had Updates, it is on its 3rd edition. It is a little relaxed free style at times. The recipes are free form, but I am surprised when somebody in the club brews one out of that book, and how good they taste. The book is for the first time homebrewer, so equipment and techniques are basic.
