Nonfiction
Adult
Wowzers! This is a massive resource for anyone interested in brewing their own beer, whether novice or expert. This is the fourth edition, updated and revised to include coverage of the many improvements in brewing technology and techniques in the past decade since the last edition was published. In the preface, author Palmer notes when the book was first published in 2001, people entered the field in hopes of brewing better beer than what could be found on store shelves. Since then, of course, craft brewing has exploded, and you can find tasty beer on shelves and in pubs. So why brew then? For the sheer love of creating a great beer, natch! Palmer makes sure you understand every step of the process, giving you greater skill in creating tasty and rewarding brews. My review is based on a digital copy of the new print edition, and I’m amazed at how extensive and well constructed (intellectually) this is. There are some 25 chapters, nearly 10 appendices, an exhaustive index and even a bibliography in the unlikely event readers want more information. The Table of Contents is 12 pages long! Holy heck this is a resource. As the book is nearly 600 pages, Palmer understands new brewer impatience and offers an all-important first chapter offering the basics for brewing your first batch once the kit is home!! Then he launches into the detail that will make your brewing results the toast of the neighbourhood. The first section is on Brewing Beer Kits, and is a natural starting point, covering sanitation, the science of malt and barley, using extracts, hops, and grains. There is a chapter on yeasts and one on water, and a chapter on bottling and kegging. As the reader develops a greater understanding of brewing science, we start learning about how to create different kinds of beer, and Palmer wraps up Section I with chapters on lagers, strong beers, sour beers, and even a chapter on brewing with fruits, vegetables, and spices (raspberry ales – yum!). In Section II, kits are abandoned in favour of All-Grain Brewing, and we delve into malted barley and brew mashes in great detail, ensuring you are ready to consider making stouts and pilsners. The final section offers the experienced and confident brewer recipes for all the best beer styles, from amber ales to bock beers, and guidance in how to start experimenting with your own recipes. The final chapter is on troubleshooting, helping brewers pinpoint what might be causing a funky fermentation smell, problems with carbonation, or a soapy flavour, to name just a few issues. This is the kind of reference book that will be consulted over and over again. If you have any interest in brewing beer, this is the authoritative resource. Most impressive. My thanks to Brewers Publications for the advance reading copy provided in exchange for my honest review.
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Purchased for our collection! Nice update.

“How To Brew: Everything You Need to Know to Brew Great Beer Every Time” is the perfect book for anyone interested in making beer at home. The book starts out detailing the most important thing for aspiring brewers, it answers the question about what to take in order to make a basic beer and the steps to succeed at it. The author, John J. Palmer, gets into the chemistry involved and troubleshooting later in the book. This format is perfect as most of us want to know how to start a hobby first; then, if we like it, we thirst to learn more about it.

According to Palmer, cleaning and sanitizing cannot be over emphasized in the beer making process. He reviews different products and goes into their uses, advantages, and disadvantages.

Buying beer making equipment and ingredients, whether as components or as a kit, is discussed in detail. This detailed script gives the reader the knowledge required to enter a homebrew store and ask intelligent questions about the products offered.

After purchasing the ingredients needed to make beer, you need to know how to extract the essences from the grain and the hops. The author provides detailed instructions on how to do this. He also goes on to explain the chemistry behind the extraction process that he recommends. Following this is a thorough explanation of the fermentation stage including yeast buying guidelines.

The only other book that I’ve read like How to Brew is a book by Daniel Pambianchi on home wine making. In that book, the author also emphasized the importance of cleanliness and sanitation and, again like Palmer, talked about the process and the chemistry. While the processes are different, the chemistry behind the two different products is similar. For me, both books serve as reference guides. My only regret with How to Brew is that I acquired it in a digital format. I highly recommend that you buy it as a physical book as it will be easier to navigate as a reference guide.

Where Palmer excels in How to Brew is in his approach to the subject. His writing leans toward a person new to the hobby of home brewing beer. In my mind, this is the best aspect of Palmer’s book and it is the reason that I will recommend it to anyone contemplating home brewing.

For year, How To Brew by John Palmer has acted as one of the guiding works for those getting started in homebrewing. Filled with everything you need to get started and guide you in your first years, it's a reference many experienced home brewers still find themselves coming back to later too.

This updated edition adds even more great information to a book known to be required-reading for any aspiring home brewer. It'll surely help many more get started in this awesome hobby and continue to be a reference for wherever homebrewing takes you.

Disclaimer: I received a free ecopy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

As a homebrewer, this has got to be the bible on how to do things. There is a lot of technical detail, which could be overwhelming for someone new to the hobby, but the first chapter is really all you need to get started and it isn't too complicated.

I've read the previous edition in detail, so I mainly skimmed it this time around. What I like best about it is that it is broken up into two main sections (one for extract brewing and one for all grain) and that within each are numerous chapters that the curious mind can delve into to try to improve their beers. There is a progression that can be followed without being restrictive.

As I said, it is quite technical at times. It's possible to go as deep as you want into that aspect. Don't care about certain aspects (or maybe don't understand it)? You can skip it altogether and still make good beer by following the points outlined in the first chapter. This book can hook you in to learn about all the different things that affect the brewing process. It can also serve as a resource for brewers of all levels. The fourth edition has added a lot of information about various hops and malts that are available now. This is a book I've used multiple times and will certainly use again in the future.

Over the past few years I have become a massive fan of craft beer and it is has opened up a whole new world of palate pleasing options. However, I am a complete novice in the home brew game. John Palmer's "How to Brew: Everything You Need to Know to Brew Great Beer Every Time" is essential for any new and current home brewer. He covers all of the essential topics from basics like equipment, the science behind brewing, cleaning equipment to the fun things like different hop varietals and experimenting with flavors. The book is an easy to read guide and but also covers very technical information. I can not wait to start brewing great beers. I would recommend this book for any home brewer or craft beer fan looking to learn more about the craft of beer making.

I received a free ecopy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is such a wonderful resource!
Step by step instructions with a listing of all the equipment that you need, this is a new brewers best friend! Easy to read and written for a new brewer, I highly recommend this for anyone who is just starting out or anyone trying to refine their process and just learn more about beer and how it is made.

Very thorough yet easy to follow guide. Tons of info, helpful photos, recipes and more. Perfect for homebrewers of all experience levels.