In the wonderful world of brewing, there is a plethora of amazing written resources in print to date. In this post, we highlight ten of our favorites.
How to Brew
This is the first brewing book I’ve read. If I could go back in time, I wouldn’t change that fact. has proven to be an invaluable foundation of brewing knowledge.
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every homebrewer (and I mean everyone) should read it at least once. if that happened, it would be the end of the homebrew subreddit.
how to brew is also extremely useful as a quick reference for just about anything you’re brewing. From water profiles to fermentation temperatures, the John Palmer Classic won’t lead you astray. If you don’t know the basics of brewing, it’s time to read how to brew.
American bitter beers
written by michael tonsmeire aka the mad fermenter. Michael is now one of the founders and brewers of Sapwood Cellars. In my early days of brewing I spent a lot of time reading Mike’s blog and my brewing definitely benefited. he has a cool vibe and no-nonsense style.
American sours are to sours what brewing has been to homebrewing. It’s fundamental. the pages are packed with excellent information on wild yeasts, acidification, fruit, barrels and blends.
If you’re looking for solid information on sour brewing, read American Sour Beers. you will be educated, inspired and elevated as a brewer.
for the love of hops: the practical guide to hop aroma, bitterness and cultivation
stan heironymus has a gift for storytelling. his skill brings boring science to life in a memorable and humorous way. In “For The Love Of Hops,” Stan tells us how our noses and palates work. he also passes on tons of useful information on how to evaluate and use hops in brewing.
This is one of the leading books on the four main ingredients in beer from the Brewers Association. it’s my favourite… but i’m a big fan of stan’s writing style.
I consider this book to be a “must read” for any serious homebrewer and an absolute must for any hop aficionado. Because the science of hops is expanding at such a rapid rate, I would start here with Stan’s book on hops and continue with Scott Janish’s new book discussed below.
water: a complete guide for brewers
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If you want to brew the best possible beer, read this book. water has to be one of the most feared and overlooked ingredients in brewing. Under “water” you’ll find everything you need to understand everything from brewing water profiles to wastewater treatment and disposal options.
There is no doubt that this book is a difficult read, unless you are a chemist. That said, everyone should have it handy, at least for reference.
get it. read it, you don’t have to understand everything to apply the basics and start making better beer!
yeast: the practical guide to beer fermentation
I’ve said this in almost every book so far… but I’ll say it again. everyone should read this. Have you ever wondered what the difference is between viability and vitality? you will find out. and you will know which one is more important for a healthy fermentation.
Understand pitching rates, yeast starters, yeast health and everything else about yeast! yeast is one of the most critical ingredients in your beer. this book is one of the most critical books to add to your homebrew repertoire.
Most off-flavors result from mediocre fermentations. get what you need to know about yeast. read “yeast”!
malt: a practical guide from the field to the brewhouse
This book will clear up all those old debates and misinformation about the differences between crystal malt and caramel malt. will help you understand how to analyze the specifications of any malt.
Dive deep into malt and understand diastatic power and degrees of modification. you may even realize that you may not have to worry about dms as much if you read “malt”.
At the end of the book there is an excellent “how to” on homemade malting. following this has to be one of the most fun and practical ways to learn about malt. read it and try the malt for yourself…it will make you a better brewer.
the new ipa: scientific guide to hop aroma and flavor
scott janish has outdone himself. Has he ever wanted all the scientific facts about all things hops explained to him in plain language? look no further. you’ll find the latest and greatest ideas for maximizing hop aromas and flavors in your beer.
scott himself has admitted that this is a bit dry reading. he has done the heavy lifting by distilling and “translating” hundreds of hops research papers into a language that you and I (a mere layman) can understand. There is so much information to process in this book that I recommend taking it in small doses.
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My favorite feature is the key points at the end of each chapter. they simplify the science even further and give you exactly what you need now to make a better beer.
if possible, be tempted to try the amazing tips and techniques found in the book. you’ll be paving your way to hoppy, foggy beer nirvana in no time.
Historic Brewing Techniques: The Lost Art of Farm Brewing
lars garshol has been prattling on and on (in a good way) about farm brewing for a long time. and finally we have an authoritative book on the subject from the expert himself. As the title indicates, this book is an effort to preserve historic brewing traditions and techniques. especially those methods found in the Scandinavian region of the world.
Dive into history and brew authentic farmhouse beers! Go beyond the “Americanization” of kveik yeast and learn how to prepare it as it has been used for a hundred years before your last voss neipa was even a wink in your eye.
if you’re struggling to understand the rich history of beer, this is an absolutely exciting book.
the homebrewer’s almanac: a seasonal guide to making your own beer from scratch
This book is brought to you by the kind folks who brew from scratch. They’re a weird group of GABF (Great American Beer Festival) gold winning brewers who bring you things like beers made from tree bark! this book is interesting, inspiring and strange.
tired of hops? try the mushrooms or nettles! The “Home Brewer’s Almanac” will show you the light and lead you to brewing truly delicious and unique beers. mind you, these guys are weird for the simple fact of being weird. the recipes in the book are very well balanced and subtle.
know what to look for at each station. find out what you can grow in your backyard and use in brewing. join in the celebration of beer that reflects a specific season and place.
Classic Crafting Styles: 80 Winning Recipes Anyone Can Make
If you’re eager to work your way through beer styles, this is the book for you. it’s packed with style descriptions and has recipes for both extractors and whole grain brewers.
I personally enjoyed using the recipes found in this book as a starting point when setting out to craft a certain style. Whether you love winning homebrewing contests or just brewing great tasting beer, these recipes will take your brewing to the next level.
The fact that each recipe is a “winner” lends credence to the idea that you’re going to end up with a great beer. Speaking from experience, I can honestly say that I have never been disappointed in a beer made using these recipes. As a bonus, the stories associated with many of the recipes are hilarious.
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