Description
Book SynopsisHow to Brew is the definitive guide to making quality beers at home. Whether you want simple, sure-fire instructions for making your first beer, or you're a seasoned homebrewer working with all-grain batches, this book has something for you. John Palmer adeptly covers the full range of brewing possibilities—accurately, clearly and simply. From ingredients and methods to recipes and equipment for brewing beer at home, How to Brew is loaded with valuable information on brewing techniques and recipe formulation.
A perennial best seller since the release of the third edition in 2006, How to Brew, is a must-have to update every new and seasoned brewer's library.
This completely revised and updated edition includes:
- More emphasis on the “top six priorities”: sanitation, fermentation temperature control, yeast management, the boil, good recipes, and water.
- Five new chapters covering malting and brewing, strong beers, fruit beers, sour beers, and adjusting water for style.
- All other chapters revised and expanded:
- Expanded and updated charts, graphs, equations, and visuals.
- Expanded information on using beer kits.
- Thorough revision of mashing and lautering chapters:
- Expanded tables of recommended times and temperatures for single-infusion, multiple-step, and decoction mashing.
- Complete discussion of first wort gravity as a function of water to grist ratio.
- Complete revision of infusion and decoction equations.
- Revised and updated information on managing your fermentation:
- Yeast pitching and starters.
- Yeast starter growth factors.
- Yeast and the maturation cycle.
- And much more!
Trade ReviewIf a homebrewer were to have only one brewing book, it would have to be How to Brew by John Palmer. How to Brew covers it all—from beginner to advanced brewing and everything in between. For the beginner, the first chapter has you covered with all you need to know to start brewing. From there, you can read on to gain further knowledge at whatever pace you choose. For more experienced brewers, How to Brew is a reference book for just about everything you want to know about brewing beer at home, covering ingredients, equipment and brewing techniques. No homebrewer should be without this book. -- Gary Glass, Director, American Homebrewers Association
How deep do you want to go?Congratulations, with How to Brew you hold in your hands a unique body of brewing knowledge. Some books are like a puddle, perfect for splashing through in your intellectual rain boots; others are like a well, deep, but hard to get in and out of. This book is more like a veritable lake. If you want to dip your toe in, you can comfortably do that. If you are interested in swimming for the deep water, that is here too. John Palmer's clear and approachable style when writing on the theory and technique of brewing is as simple or complex as you desire. It will give you the confidence to quickly fire off your first batch, and provide comprehensive insights for when you are well into your brewing journey. This is a great resource. Come on in, the water is fine! -- John Mallett, Director of Operation, Bell's Brewery, Inc. and author of Malt: A Practical Guide from Field to Brewhouse
I have always considered How to Brew the best complete resource for both new and experienced brewers. In this new edition, John has made a great resource even better and up to date with the latest information and techniques. How to Brew has all you need to go from complete novice to expert brewer. If you brew, you should own this book. -- Jamil Zainasheff, Author of Brewing Classic Styles and Chief Heretic of Heretic Brewing Company
Not only is How to Brew one of the most critical and comprehensive DIY homebrewing books available today, I have even seen it on the bookshelves at many great craft breweries. -- Sam Calagione, CEO and Founder, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Owning How to Brew is like having a brewmaster as your best friend. In the 30-plus years since the American craft beer revolution got its start, countless brewing books have appeared. None, however, has achieved the status of How to Brew, which is thorough, comprehensive, and beautifully organized. And now, this new expanded and enhanced edition improves on the original. It's a considerable feat to create a book that is invaluable both to first-time brewers and professional brewmasters, but John has done it with a book that is essential for everyone who is serious about brewing. -- Jim Koch, Founder & Brewer of Samuel Adams
Whenever I'm asked about what books I'd recommend to a brewer, I always recommend John Palmer's How to Brew. It is jam-packed with information that will help beginning brewers get started, and the more advanced technical brewing chemistry and science details that experienced brewers need to become great brewers. It works at all levels. -- Mitch Steele, COO and Brewmaster, New Realm Brewing Company
John Palmer's How to Brew has been a great resource for homebrewers ever since he self-published the first edition in 2000. As the former owner of a homebrew supply store myself, I appreciate John's focus on how to avoid some common pitfalls that many aspiring brewers stumble over with his wise emphasis on “the top five priorities.” From the basics (equipment and raw materials), to the critical (cleanliness), to the fun part (making your own beer recipes), this book covers the brewing process from start to finish. This new edition offers more information with an updated layout and expanded table of contents, which make it even easier to use. Anyone contemplating homebrewing, or looking to step up their homebrewing game, should start here. -- Ken Grossman, Founder and Brewmaster, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
John Palmer has established himself not only as an authoritative homebrewing author and teacher, but also as a valued contributor and instructor in the professional brewing world. In this updated edition of How to Brew, John presents the most important brewing rules, along with the proven science that professional brewers and homebrewers alike must know to make great beer. The result is a book that is incredibly approachable while being steeped in brewing wisdom. -- Matt Brynildson, Brewmaster, Firestone Walker Brewing Co.
I'm in awe of John Palmer's book, How to Brew, and I'm jealous that I didn't have it when I first started brewing. For nearly 20 years now, Palmer has continued to revise and expand this text, improving it for the beginner and extending it so that, once you start, you don't have to leave to look for another resource to carry you past the basics. It now stands as an authoritative source of brewing knowledge that every brewer should read. Bravo, sir. Bravo! -- Ray Daniels, Founder and Director, Cicerone® Certification Program and author of Designing Great Beers: The Ultimate Guide to Brewing Classic Beer Styles
Table of ContentsTable of Contents
Acknowledgments
Table of Contents
List of Tips, Tables, & Significant Figures
Introduction
Section I—Brewing Beer Kits
Chapter 1 – A Crash Course in Brewing
What Do I Do?
Brew Day
Equipment Needed
Preparation
Making Wort
Fermentation Week(s)
Bottling Day
Serving Day
But Wait! There's More!
Chapter Two – Sanitation
The Road to Good Brewing
Preparation
Sanitation
Cleaning Products
Cleaning Your Equipment
Sanitizing Products
Heat
Cleaning and Sanitizing Final Thoughts
Record Keeping
Example Recipe Form
Chapter 3 – A Short Discourse on Malting and Brewing
A Brief Discussion of Barley and Malt
The Production of Malt Extract
Cooking the Wort
Full Boil vs. Partial Boil
Building a Beer
Chapter 4 – Malt Extract and Beer Kits
Choosing a Good Kit
Shopping for Extracts
How Much Extract to Use
Gravity vs. Fermentability
Steeping Specialty Grains
Chapter 5– Hops
What Are They?
Why Are Hops Bitter?
How Are They Used?
First Wort Hopping
Bittering
Flavoring
Finishing (Whirlpool Hops)
Dry Hopping
Hop Forms - Pellets, Plug and Whole
Hop Variety Types
Bittering Hop Varieties
Dual Purpose Hop Varieties
Aroma Hop Varieties
How to Measure Hops
Hop Bitterness (IBU) Calculations
Gravity of the Boil
Utilization
Hop IBU Nomograph
Chapter 6 – Yeast and Fermentation
How Yeast Work
Defining Fermentation ...................... 99
Lagtime or Adaptation Phase ..... 100
High growth or Attenuative Phase 101
Conditioning Phase...................... 102
Cold Conditioning / Lagering...... 103
Building a Better Fermentation ........ 104
Oxygen and Aeration ................. 105
Nitrogen ...................................... 106
Necessary Minerals...................... 107
Nutritional Supplements ............. 108
Open vs. Closed Fermentation ........ 109
Chapter 7 –Managing Your Yeast
Yeast Types
Yeast Forms
Yeast Strains
Dry Yeast Strains
Liquid Yeast Strains
Yeast Nutritional Needs
Nutritional Supplements
Oxygen
Aeration is Good, Oxidation is Bad
Preparing Yeast and Yeast Starters
Preparing Dry Yeast
Preparing Liquid Yeast
When Is My Yeast Starter Ready to Pitch?
Using Yeast From Commercial Beers
Support Your Local Micro
Simple Yeast Ranching
Chapter 8 – Water For Extract Brewing
Two Things
What is Good Brewing Water?
How to Read a Water Quality Report
Adding Brewing Salts
Chapter 9 – Brewing Your Second Batch
First Recipe
Beginning the Boil
The Hot Break
Hop Additions
Kettle Fining
Cooling the Wort
Water Bath
Ice
Copper Wort Chillers
Choosing Your Fermentor
Buckets vs. Carboys
Airlocks vs. Blowoffs
Transferring the Wort
Conducting Your Fermentation
Pitching the Yeast
Fermentation Location
Fermentation
Racking
Estimating the Alcohol Content
Chapter 10 – Priming, Bottling, and Kegging
When to Bottle
Bottle Cleaning
Fining
What Sugar Should I Prime With?
Commercial Priming Agents
Bottle Filling
Storage
Kegging
Chapter 11 – Brewing Lager Beer
Yeast Differences
Additional Time
Lower Temperatures
Autolysis
Lager Yeast Fermentation
When to Begin Lagering
Aagh!! It Froze!!
Should I Add More Yeast?
Maintaining Lager Temperature
Priming and Bottling of Lager Beer
Bottling
Brewing American Lager Beer
Recipe—Typical American Lager
Chapter 12 – Brewing Strong Beers
Chapter 13 – Brewing Fruit Beers
Chapter 14 – Brewing Sour Beers
Section II—All-Grain Brewing
Chapter 15 – Understanding Malted Barley & Adjuncts
What is Malting?
Maillard Reactions and Flavor Development
Malt Types and Usages
Base Malts
Kilned Malts
Caramel Malts
Roasted Malts
Other Grains and Adjuncts
How To Read a Malt Analysis Sheet
Chapter 16 – How the Mash Works
An Allegory
Defining the Mash
The Acid Rest
Doughing-In and Beta Glucanase
The Protein Rest and Modification
Starch Conversion/Saccharification Rest
Other Factors for Starch Conversion
Chapter 17 – Residual Alkalinity, Malt Acidity and Mash pH
The six concepts
Source Water
The Usual Suspects
Residual Alkalinity is the Cornerstone of Mash pH
Water Chemistry + Malt Chemistry = Mash Chemistry
Mash pH Sets up the Beer pH
Chapter 18 – Adjusting Water for Style
Famous Waters and their Beers
The dogma of Virgin Water
Adjusting water for Style
Sulfate to Chloride Ratio
Total Dissolved Solids
Adjustment Examples
Chapter 19 – The Methods of Mashing
Single Temperature Infusion
Multi-Rest Mashing
Infusion Calculations
Multiple Rest Infusion Example
Decoction Mashing
Summary
Chapter 20 – What to Expect When You are Extracting
Extraction and Maximum Yield
Efficiency and Typical Yield
Calculating Your Efficiency
Water to Grist Ratio and First Runnings
Planning Recipe Malt Quantities
Chapter 21 – Getting the Wort Out (Lautering)
A Good Crush Means Good Lautering
Lautering
What is Mashout?
What is Recirculation?
What is Sparging?
Rinsing Versus Draining
Water to Grist Ratio and First Runnings
Sparging Calculations
Chapter 22 – Your First All-Grain Batch
Additional Equipment
Suggested Recipe
Partial Mash Option
Brew In A Bag Option
Starting the Mash
Conducting the Mash
Conducting the Lauter
Variations on a Common Theme
Section III—Recipes, Experiment'g, and Troubleshoot'g
Chapter 23 – Some of My Favorite Styles and Recipes
Style Descriptions
The Ale Styles
Wheat
Pale Ales
English Special Bitter
India Pale Ale
American Pale Ale
American Amber Ale
Brown Ales
Oud Bruin
Porter
Stout
Barleywine
The Lager Styles
Pilsner
Classic American Pilsner
California Common (Steam-type)
Bock
Vienna
Oktoberfest
Chapter Summary
Chapter 24 – Developing Your Own Recipes
Developing Your Own Recipes
Discretion Is the Better Part of Flavor
Smash
Increasing the Body
Changing Flavors
Brewing Sugars
Toasting Your Own Malt
Chapter 25 – Is My Beer Ruined?
Common Problems
Common Off-Flavors
Section IV—Appendices
Appendix A
Using Hydrometers
Appendix B
Beer Color
Basis of Color Rating
Other Color Factors
Estimating Beer Color
Appendix C
Beer Clarity
What is Haze?
Fixing Haze in the Recipe
Fixing Haze With Clarifiers
Appendix D
Building Wort Chillers
Immersion Chillers
Counterflow Chillers
Plate Chillers
Appendix E
Lauter Tun Design For Batch Sparging
Choosing A Cooler
Rinsing vs. Draining—A Re-Cap
False Bottom, Manifold, Or Screen?
Siphon Or Bulkhead?
Building Copper Pipe Manifolds
Building A Stainless Steel Braided Ring
Home Mashing Setups
Appendix F
Lauter Tun Design for Continuous Sparging
Fluid Mechanics
Designing Pipe Manifolds
Designing Ring Manifolds
How To Continuous Sparge
Continuous Sparging Procedure
Appendix G
Brewing Metallurgy
General Information and Cleaning
Aluminum
Copper
Brass
Carbon Steel
Stainless Steel
Galvanic Corrosion
Soldering, Brazing, and Welding
Toxicity of Metals
Aluminum
Cadmium
Chromium
Copper
Iron
Lead
Zinc
Appendix H
Metric Conversions
References
Glossary
Index
