Good book for those new to home brewing. ( )

Good book for those new to home brewing. ( )

The Complete Joy of Homebrewing Fourth Edition contains lots of good information about the brewing process and use of different sugars, ingredients such as berries, coriander, chocolate and when to add them.

There is also a useful description of different hops, basic guidelines of quantities of malts and hops to use for various styles of beer and a significant number of recipes. Unexpectedly there are also a number of different Mead recipes. There is even a section on growing hops.

The coverage of Brew In A Bag (BIAB) was quite light and I didn't see any coverage on how to scale a recipe (maybe I missed it). ( )

I purchased this book when I began my odyssey into homebrewing. There's great background information on beer making, as well as a good stock of recipes for malt-extract and all grain brewers. I consult it occasionally for inspiration or to read more about the profile of a hop variety. Papazian has a great tone and message; he constantly counsels the newbie brewer: relax, don't worry, have a homebrew. ( )

Charlie Papazian has created an indispensable handbook for everyone interested in brewing beer at home. 'The Complete Joy of Home Brewing' is packed with more than just guidance -- it includes history of brewing, exploration of beer in cultures, and explanations of how various parts of brewing works, from what the yeast do to how boiling converts starches to sugars. The book also includes an organized structure of each step in the brewing process and how to brew, as well as different ideas for brewing. There is a discussion on water sources and the affects of dopants (dissolved minerals) in water and how they affect on the brewing process and results of the final product. The author also talks at times about how one could make the process more fun by including friends and family in the hobby, having them help and contribute to the brewing. And, Papazian gives a nice list of various beer recipes for the hobbyist to try out. I must say that if you're interested in brewing, or just interested in beer, you should get a copy for yourself. ( )