In the last week I have been immersed in a writing project I am thoroughly enjoying, so I’ve had just enough personal time to exercise, fiddle around with homebrewing, and do a little reading (finally almost done with The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing — which is nothing less than astonishing).
But I keep meaning to update you with my homebrewing — the reading, in any event.
Homebrewing is a surprisingly bookish craft, and many of the books make wonderful reading. But if you can’t read all of the homebrewing books (or watch all the videos) you could start with these two books (scandalously underrepresented in public library collections):
Papazian, Charlie. The Complete Joy of Homebrewing. Now in its third edition, this cheery, reassuring book has walked many a new homebrewer through that crucial first brew. The pictures and illustrations are hokey, but not in a bad way.
Palmer, John. How to Brew. A thorough book that digs deep into the technical aspect of brewing. Palmer is a metallurgist, and his love of science and technical precision combine with an engaging voice to make an absorbing read. A great second book after Papazian.
If your poor downturn-eviscerated book budget has even a nickel to spare, you could add these as well:
Mosher, Randy. Radical brewing : recipes, tales, and world-altering meditations in a glass. Go to the edge of brewing and back! Elegant and inspiring.
Hieronymus, Stan. Brew Like a Monk. Great for understanding those wonderful Belgian beers, and beautiful reading. A book of style and history — not a how-to or recipe book.
Spencer, James. Introduction to extract home brewing. This is a DVD by the host of Basic Brewing podcasts and video casts. I listen to Spencer’s podcasts regularly and have watched his free online videos. Though I haven’t yet viewed his DVDs, I recommend anything he produces. His relaxed, reassuring style and his deep domain knowledge are a winnable combo, particularly when he pairs up with cohort Steve Wilkes and they nerd it up in their button-down shirts in an average American kitchen (I love it when the dog wanders in and out). Spencer has a number of other videos; his Stepping Into All-Grain is on my personal purchase wish list (since only 3 libraries carry it!). I’m not sure I want to try all-grain brewing without Spencer holding my hand.
There are many more good brewing books, some broad and some quite specific (I’m seriously tempted to write Brewing for Little Old Librarians) and I may have left yours off. Make a pitch for the brewing books you love!
Posted on this day, other years:
- Horizon 8.0 is the New Taos - 2007
- Camcorder Suggestions? - 2006
- Camcorder Suggestions? - 2006
- San Jose Library Blasted in Bayosphere - 2006
Have you tried Ray Daniels’ Designing Great Beers. That is a great resource when you get beyond just following kits and other people’s recipes. It is a great resource for designing your own recipes from grist, water chemistry and yeast strain. In my opinion far more useful than those lame clone recipe books that every library seems to have bought in the 90’s
Brendan another gardener/brewer/librarian
[…] Free Range Librarian › A Basic Homebrewing Collection for Your Library […]
Brendan (another brewbrarian!), I haven’t read Designing Great Beers, though I will request it via ILL today! I see a number of copies within reasonable request distance. It tells me something that this book holds its value even sold used on Amazon — usually the sign of a good title!
Papazian also has two other books. His Home Brewer’s Companion seems more geared towards the advanced brewer.I haven’t had a chance to read it yet, although I’ve had it on the shelf for a while. (Just hasn’t grabbed my interest yet). I really liked his Microbrewed Adventures, but there’s little about brewing there and more about his interesting beer-related trips and starting up the Homebrewer’s association.
Although not about brewing, Michael Jackson’s World Guide to Beer is an excellent book on various styles of beer in the world today. I can’t remember what edition/version I read though, as there seems to be three or so. I keep meaning to get at least one of them. They’re more “tabletop books” but have great info about little know (and probably now extinct) styles around the world.
I just got the Designing Great Beers from Daniels for Christmas from my brother, but again, I’m behind on my brewing reading. :(. It’s highly, highly recommended by folks. Just browsing it is interesting, even if a lot of it is over my head.
Our libraries here have been getting a pretty steady flood of brewing books lately. I’ve skimmed some of the recipe books, but nothing stands out (Clonebeers, Homebrewing Favorites). Not bad, but are simply just recipe collections. I’ll probably look at them later, but the recipes in Mosher’s book hold more appeal.
Oh, one other unusual one. Extreme Brewing by Sam Calagione. It’s geared for the first time brewer, but has some very interesting recipes in the back. Worth a skim, but I don’t know if I’d recommend buying it. Has far more pictures than either How to Brew or Joy of Homebrewing, but is sadly short.
One of these days I do need to get around to Brewing Like a Monk.
Skimming through more of the worldcat list right now and thought I’d mention the guys at Craftbrewer as their favorite lager book, although I don’t have the equipment to do lagers reliably yet.
New brewing lager beer : the most comprehensive book for home- and microbrewers
The also mentioned How to Brew and…some other one as their top three brewing books.
Thanks for the list ;).
Built out the WC list a little with Jon’s additions, though I find WorldCat lists clunky. Wish I could share maintenance of a list, do better description, etc.
I haven’t seen the Sam Caglione book yet, but there was an article in the New Yorker (11/24/2008) which summarizes his freethinking approach to brewing.
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/11/24/081124fa_fact_bilger?currentPage=all
Being an old Reinheitsgebot guy, it makes me wonder what beer is anymore 🙂
John, that article is a fabulous piece of writing–it captures not just Caglione but the rise of craft brewing. I really hope it ends up in one of the “best of” anthologies so it gets a fresh readership.
We have a few books on homebrewing at home, but I will have to share this post with my husband. He is brewing a new batch this weekend (delayed from last weekend). Thanks for all the great info’.
Tangee, what’s the hubby brewing? I’m going to get a kit today to brew something for my partner — something light and not too hoppy.
Love the post. You’ve given me a few ideas. I tried home brewing a few years back with modest success. Maybe it’s time to give it another shot.
Go for it, Jeremy! We need more brewbrarians (or librewians). It’s a fun craft. I am reviewing the All-grain DVD later this week but I’ll add, liked the book(s)… LOVE the movie. Add the Basic Brewing “extract” DVD to your reading pile. Their techniques are current and the delivery is clear and pleasing.
Graham Wheeler’s out of print “Brew Your Own British Real Ale at Home” and “Brew Your Own British Real Ale” are great for anyone who is interested in brewing English beers. Very pricy from online resellers but he does have an updated version recently published in the UK.
An essay on brewing, vintage & distillation, together with selected remedies for hangover melancholia; or, How to make booze by John Festus Adams
http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/67599
This one is out of print, but I’m a big fan of this author and his works on chickens and gardening are also worth reading. He manages to be informative without being too serious, and we cab all use a little fun now and then. Oh wait, maybe that’s why you are homebrewing…