The home brewer’s bible: The New Complete Joy to Home Brewing
So I’ve started reading this book, The New Complete Joy of Home Brewing, claimed by several reliable sources that this is the book to read when it comes to getting started with home brewing.
I’ve read the first few chapters, and so far at least one message is abundantly clear:
> Relax. Don’t worry. Have a homebrew!
This message does help me relax about it, as there’s a lot of information to absorb about brewing, and at times, it can seem somewhat intimidating. However, I’m not too worried about it, as I won’t be discouraged if my first few batches aren’t the greatest.
But it seems that a beginner can start with a brew kit, which is basically a mix of ingredients in which all the work has pretty much been done. Simply boil some water, add some powders, ferment, bottle, wait, and drink.
This type of brewing doesn’t seem all too daunting, but at the same time, I feel like it’s just a bit of a cop-out. Sure, I have no problem using pre-malted barley, but going with a full-on kit makes it feel more like I’m making Kool Aid. I’d rather not make Kool Beer…
Regardless, I’m digging this book. It’s written very well, it’s readable enough to sit and chill with like a fiction book, and it’s pretty comprehensive. The attitude is nice and light, also, and I’ve adopted Charlie’s mantra.
So check it out if you’re getting started with home brewing. If you know of any other books that are great resources for the beginner, please recommend some in the comments below!
And as always (in the words of Charlie), Relax. Don’t worry. Have a homebrew!
Brian
May 7, 2009 at 4:20 pm
I’ve been brewing for over two years now, and I still use The Complete Joy of Homebrewing. It’s a great reference book.
Even though it does feel somewhat like cheating, I recommend sticking to extract for the first four or five batches you brew. There are a lot of little details to figure out in the process, and staying simple is a good thing until you get the hang of it. It doesn’t take long and within a few batches you’ll feel a lot more comfortable.
Partial mash is a good way to get the experience of using grains without all the time and extra equipment needed to go all-grain.
One other thing, once you’re ready to spend a little more on equipment, the single best investment I made was to get a copper wort chiller. Did that make my life easier!
Good luck and happy brewing!
steve
May 8, 2009 at 8:22 am
Thanks for the very helpful info, Brian!
I think I will stick with a simple extract brew for my first go, something lighter. I’m sure you’re right, that I’ll be much better off getting the hang of the other details, without having to worry about my ingredients so much.
A copper wort chiller, huh? So my guess is that it quickly cools the wort so you can transfer to the fermenter a bit easier and more quickly. I wonder what other benefits there are from using a wort chiller. Does it possibly help maintain keep the flavors together, fresher even?