Home Brew Books

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by Nocontrol1977, Feb 11, 2013.

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  1. Nocontrol1977

    Nocontrol1977 Initiate (0) Jan 4, 2013 Pennsylvania

    About to venture into my first home brew. What has been the most helpful book to read before getting started?
     
  2. Snowrs

    Snowrs Initiate (0) Oct 10, 2009 Indiana

    Papazian's Complete Joy of Homebrewing

    Palmer's How to Brew
     
  3. rmalinowski4

    rmalinowski4 Initiate (0) Oct 22, 2010 Illinois

    How to brew by Palmer is all you need to get started.
     
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  4. bump8628

    bump8628 Pooh-Bah (1,617) Feb 21, 2008 Oklahoma
    Pooh-Bah Society

    How to Brew by Palmer for technique and process

    Brewing Classic Styles by Zainasheff for great no fail recipes and some additional solid advice

    The Complete Joy of Homebrewing by Papazian for the history, nostalgia, and the general spirit of homebrewing. Still a fun read despite some of it being dated. RDWHAHB!
     
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  5. Hoozierdaddy

    Hoozierdaddy Initiate (0) Apr 24, 2009 Illinois

    This.
     
  6. ubenumber2

    ubenumber2 Initiate (0) Sep 1, 2012 Arkansas

    I second the Joy of Homebrewing , a great book , also there is a book called Brew like Monk that is a very interesting read
     
  7. hopsputin

    hopsputin Grand Pooh-Bah (4,017) Apr 1, 2012 New Jersey
    Pooh-Bah Society

    I actually bought Palmer's How To Brew yesterday, thinking about starting the journey into homebrewing myself. Easy reading and informative so far - glossary in the back is very helpful, along with charts :slight_smile:
     
  8. DeviousSpirits

    DeviousSpirits Initiate (0) Mar 23, 2009 Michigan

    Sacred and Herbal Healing Beers is a great read, after you get the basics down. Haven't tried makng any of the psychotropicbrews... Yet.
     
  9. KISSFR33K

    KISSFR33K Initiate (0) Sep 15, 2012 Michigan

    John J Palmers How to brew
     
  10. bryreeves

    bryreeves Initiate (0) Oct 25, 2012 Massachusetts

  11. Nocontrol1977

    Nocontrol1977 Initiate (0) Jan 4, 2013 Pennsylvania

    I think I'm gonna get a few. Both of these were suggested by people that I know that brew. I need the know how more than finesse at this point. Understanding the process seems daunting. Ha.
     
  12. stealth

    stealth Pooh-Bah (1,819) Dec 16, 2011 Minnesota
    Pooh-Bah Society

    Just brewed my first batch last night. How to Brew was my bible. Would have never thought of rehydrating my yeast if I simply had followed the NB instructions.
     
  13. TheMonkfish

    TheMonkfish Initiate (0) Jan 8, 2012 Chad

    These were going to be my two votes (my first books) - the Papazian book is a great set of "training wheels" for when you first get going. I still find myself referring back to the Palmer book quite a bit.

    From what I've heard of him on webcasts Palmer sounds like a really cool guy - no agenda, ego in check and doesn't take himself too seriously. I kind of like that.
     
  14. MLucky

    MLucky Initiate (0) Jul 31, 2010 California

    Nah. It's a lot of information to digest at first. But it's not rocket surgery. Pretty much anybody who's motivated can get the process down after a couple batches.
     
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  15. Nocontrol1977

    Nocontrol1977 Initiate (0) Jan 4, 2013 Pennsylvania

    I have been in the restaurant biz for a long time and am a GM of a restaurant and bar but have cooked all my life. Hope it's a lot like making a luxurious hoppy alcohol infused beautiful sauce.
     
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  16. TheMonkfish

    TheMonkfish Initiate (0) Jan 8, 2012 Chad

    Totally. When I first went all grain every dream I had for three weeks was about stuff I had read and worrying about not messing up the process (kind of like when I was really into Tetris and everything I saw resembled a Tetris shape.)

    The only recommendations I would make to my former self when doing batch #1 would be to have fun and take notes of everything you do/all steps in the process.

    Welcome to the fold OP!
     
  17. Nocontrol1977

    Nocontrol1977 Initiate (0) Jan 4, 2013 Pennsylvania

    It's like Xmas morning.
     
  18. LeRose

    LeRose Grand Pooh-Bah (3,509) Nov 24, 2011 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Society Trader

    Sanitation is a key component to success. That is a learn it and live it as far as I am concerned. The home brew forum here is a great place to browse as I have recently learned. Have fun, get good gear, and don't let it scare you none. And find a bunch of friends...you make it faster than you can drink it!

    Palmer and Papazian - +1 for sure. Oh and write stuff down as someone mentioned. Notes are valuable lessons.
     
  19. litheum94

    litheum94 Initiate (0) Dec 29, 2008 California

    Definitely Palmer's How to Brew. I also found Sam Calagione's Extreme Beewing helpful. Even though the recipes are "extreme," it gives a good step-by-step set of instructions.

    You'll have a great time. I just brewed my first batch, and the excitement I felt when fermentation started was pretty damn cool.
     
  20. bulldogbrewhaus

    bulldogbrewhaus Initiate (0) Sep 17, 2012 Virginia

    How to brew is a really good one as others posters have said. Not sure if I am allowed to mention it on this site but, Homebrewtalk.com is an incredible online resource. It is also free. Cheers and good luck.
     
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