This review is from: The Brewmaster’s Bible: The Gold Standard for Home Brewers (Paperback)
This book was exactly what I was looking for: a reference with a lot of recipes and descriptions of the different types of hops, malt, adjuncts, etc. Beer styles are presented in a table giving you an idea of what types of ingredients are used and options that are available. This is a handy quick reference if you want to “wing it” with a little bit of a safety net. Then, about half of the book is specific recipes of varying dificulty, also organized by style.
I gave this book four stars instead of 5 because on the back it says it’s the only book you’ll ever need. If you’re just starting out, I disagree. There are a few chapter’s on the basics, however, this book would have been a little confusing if I hadn’t first read Papazian’s Complete Joy of Homebrewing. The Complete Joy of Homebrewing will get you going. The Brewmaster’s Bible will keep you going. If you’re looking for a good reference, I highly recommend this book.
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This review is from: The Brewmaster’s Bible: The Gold Standard for Home Brewers (Paperback)
The book is somewhat misleading – if you’re a beginner homebrewer, I don’t necessarily suggest this book. I would suggest something more along the lines of The Complete Joy of Homebrewing, as this book does not go into great detail of beginning steps.
However, it is an excellent reference for recipies. Not only does it have hundreds (I’m not sure how many) of actual recipies, it also has great description of each type of beer and approximate starting and ending specific gravities.
I am a beginner and use the recipies to decide what kind of beer to make next. So I do use this book before I go to the brewstore to pick up supplies everytime. All in all, it’s a decent book.
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This review is from: The Brewmaster’s Bible: The Gold Standard for Home Brewers (Paperback)
I’d give it a 3 if the name weren’t so terribly misleading. Since it is, I feel the need to highlight how very much it is *not* what it purports to be. There’s some good information in here, as well as some great information. But in no way, shape or form is it “the bible” of homebrewing. That distinction still goes to Papazian’s (admittedly somewhat outdated) Complete Joy of Homebrewing.
That said, I have some specific issues with this text — even after reading user reviews here prior to getting it, I was still disappointed.
1. There are a few glaring technical errors. One recipe states, “Let a wyeast packet sit after smacking for 1 day for every month after the manufacturing date.” No. Seriously, 5 days is *way* too long, and smack-packs should be fine for 6 months from manufacture date easily. This is just one example of garbage info thrown into the book. New brewers beware — follow this bible at your own risk!
2. The author is neurotically nitpicky. This book is the *opposite* of Papazian’s “Relax, have a homebrew”. For example, most recipe boils are listed at 90-120 minutes. For those of us who just want *beer*, this is a tremendous waste of time and propane. There are plenty of other examples where he indicates to worry about something that, in my experience, really doesn’t warrant more than passing attention. Again, new brewers beware — Papazian is right, relax and have fun and ignore most of the warnings herein.
3. Being a bible-cum-recipe-book, this book has almost no all-grain recipes. I was *very* disappointed to find zero, count them, 0! all-grain recipes for porters or stouts.
I got this book used and for cheap, and I’m still disappointed. I was looking forward to a nifty reference, and I find it to be neither. It’s misleading to a new brewer, and disappointed to an experienced brewer.
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Great Homebrew Reference,
I gave this book four stars instead of 5 because on the back it says it’s the only book you’ll ever need. If you’re just starting out, I disagree. There are a few chapter’s on the basics, however, this book would have been a little confusing if I hadn’t first read Papazian’s Complete Joy of Homebrewing. The Complete Joy of Homebrewing will get you going. The Brewmaster’s Bible will keep you going. If you’re looking for a good reference, I highly recommend this book.
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|Great recipie reference,
However, it is an excellent reference for recipies. Not only does it have hundreds (I’m not sure how many) of actual recipies, it also has great description of each type of beer and approximate starting and ending specific gravities.
I am a beginner and use the recipies to decide what kind of beer to make next. So I do use this book before I go to the brewstore to pick up supplies everytime. All in all, it’s a decent book.
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|Poorly named, to say the least.,
That said, I have some specific issues with this text — even after reading user reviews here prior to getting it, I was still disappointed.
1. There are a few glaring technical errors. One recipe states, “Let a wyeast packet sit after smacking for 1 day for every month after the manufacturing date.” No. Seriously, 5 days is *way* too long, and smack-packs should be fine for 6 months from manufacture date easily. This is just one example of garbage info thrown into the book. New brewers beware — follow this bible at your own risk!
2. The author is neurotically nitpicky. This book is the *opposite* of Papazian’s “Relax, have a homebrew”. For example, most recipe boils are listed at 90-120 minutes. For those of us who just want *beer*, this is a tremendous waste of time and propane. There are plenty of other examples where he indicates to worry about something that, in my experience, really doesn’t warrant more than passing attention. Again, new brewers beware — Papazian is right, relax and have fun and ignore most of the warnings herein.
3. Being a bible-cum-recipe-book, this book has almost no all-grain recipes. I was *very* disappointed to find zero, count them, 0! all-grain recipes for porters or stouts.
I got this book used and for cheap, and I’m still disappointed. I was looking forward to a nifty reference, and I find it to be neither. It’s misleading to a new brewer, and disappointed to an experienced brewer.
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