Brew Books.

[Keith]

Mom asked me what I wanted for Christmas and well I'm planning on getting a few books. What books did you find most useful?


Water: A Comprehensive Guide for Brewers is definitely on my list.

[redoubt]

Any of the Style series are good. Two of Kirsten's favourites are Brewing Better Beer by Gordon Strong and Designing Great Beers by Ray Daniels.

-Keely.

[redoubt]

I think Mark started a good thread awhile ago about books as well, if you can find that...

-Keely.

[GuingesRock]

Keith, I think you better get "The Oxford Companion to Beer"

http://www.amazon.ca/Oxford-Companion-B ... on+to+beer" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Keith]

Sounds like a great resource from the blurb I read on Amazon Mark, however it seems to go more into the tasting, presentation and history and not so much into the brewing side that I'm ideally looking for at this point. However it does look like great reading material to enjoy a beer to.

[LeafMan66_67]

Brewing Better Beer by Gordon Strong is a great read.

[LiverDance]

Brewing Better Beer by Gordon Strong is a great read.

agreed. and IPA by Mitch Steele is one you would if you are into hoppy beers.

[Keith]

Brewing Better Beer by Gordon Strong is a great read.

agreed. and IPA by Mitch Steele is one you would if you are into hoppy beers.

Yea I was on the fence on that or "For the Love of Hops" by Stan Hieronymus, has anyone read both?

[GuingesRock]

Brewing Better Beer by Gordon Strong is a great read.

agreed. and IPA by Mitch Steele is one you would if you are into hoppy beers.

Yea I was on the fence on that or "For the Love of Hops" by Stan Hieronymus, has anyone read both?

Yes, not keen on for the love of hops. Loved IPA.

[Jimmy]

If anyone wants proper ebooks for many of the popular brewing books, check out the user hheyyouguys on piratebay..they've got just about everything..just sayin'

There is something better about paperback though. Typically I browse the ebooks, and if it looks good after taking a quick browse through it, I'll purchase the paperback version.

[Keith]

Just ordered these off Amazon, thanks for the advice. Now to flip my parents the bill.

Water: A Comprehensive Guide for Brewers: John Palmer
Brewing Better Beer: Master Lesson for Advanced Homebrewers: Gordon Strong
IPA: Brewing Techniques, Recipes and the Evolution of India Pale Ale: Mitch Steele

[Jimmy]

I haven't read through the water book yet, but reference it for almost all of my brews..it's worth it just for that.

I've read the yeast book from front to back. There are some sections that are over my head, but I learned quite a bit from that book. It really gives you an idea of how important yeast health is.

The hop book is good, talks about different hopping techniques, but probably not a whole lot of "new" information for anyone that's been brewing hoppy beers for a while.

[amartin]

I liked Brewing Better Beer. It had a lot of good ideas for techniques and ingredients, and there's a good section on competitions. However, most of the recipes in there seem incredibly complex, some with like 10 or 12 malt types. I can't taste that many types of malt.

[Jimmy]

I liked Brewing Better Beer. It had a lot of good ideas for techniques and ingredients, and there's a good section on competitions. However, most of the recipes in there seem incredibly complex, some with like 10 or 12 malt types. I can't taste that many types of malt.

I'd go crazy weighing out a recipe like that.

I especially hate brewing beers with a bunch of different types of hops. Opening 10 different vac pacs of hops and resealing them is a PITA, especially if you need to replace the bag because there isn't enough to reseal!

[jeffsmith]

I liked Brewing Better Beer. It had a lot of good ideas for techniques and ingredients, and there's a good section on competitions. However, most of the recipes in there seem incredibly complex, some with like 10 or 12 malt types. I can't taste that many types of malt.

I'd go crazy weighing out a recipe like that.

I especially hate brewing beers with a bunch of different types of hops. Opening 10 different vac pacs of hops and resealing them is a PITA, especially if you need to replace the bag because there isn't enough to reseal!

I switched to mason jars and jar sealing attachment for my foodsaver. Easier to store and less frustrating to deal with.

[Keith]

I switched to mason jars and jar sealing attachment for my foodsaver. Easier to store and less frustrating to deal with.

My sealer and attachment is on order from Amazon!

[Jimmy]

I liked Brewing Better Beer. It had a lot of good ideas for techniques and ingredients, and there's a good section on competitions. However, most of the recipes in there seem incredibly complex, some with like 10 or 12 malt types. I can't taste that many types of malt.

I'd go crazy weighing out a recipe like that.

I especially hate brewing beers with a bunch of different types of hops. Opening 10 different vac pacs of hops and resealing them is a PITA, especially if you need to replace the bag because there isn't enough to reseal!

I switched to mason jars and jar sealing attachment for my foodsaver. Easier to store and less frustrating to deal with.

You are my new love. I've never thought of this.

[Keith]

Jimmy,
I got this food saver, and Jar Sealer.
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0048B ... UTF8&psc=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0000C ... UTF8&psc=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[jeffsmith]

You are my new love. I've never thought of this.

Easy there tiger.

[Keith]

You are my new love. I've never thought of this.

Easy there tiger.

I'm all for it. He's been getting a little too friendly lately.

[LeafMan66_67]

Jimmy,
I got this food saver, and Jar Sealer.
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0048B ... UTF8&psc=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0000C ... UTF8&psc=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

FYI - the wide mouth jar sealer attachment is on walmart.ca, $9.99, free shipping.

[Jimmy]

Jimmy,
I got this food saver, and Jar Sealer.
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0048B ... UTF8&psc=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0000C ... UTF8&psc=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

FYI - the wide mouth jar sealer attachment is on walmart.ca, $9.99, free shipping.

Both the wide mouth, and regular list that they both fit "regular pint- and quart-size, Ball and Kerr Mason jars". Which one does what?

[jeffsmith]

Don't remember which one I got. Ordered it off eBay a few years ago.

[Keith]

Jimmy,
I got this food saver, and Jar Sealer.
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0048B ... UTF8&psc=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0000C ... UTF8&psc=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

FYI - the wide mouth jar sealer attachment is on walmart.ca, $9.99, free shipping.

Both the wide mouth, and regular list that they both fit "regular pint- and quart-size, Ball and Kerr Mason jars". Which one does what?

I get mine on the 11th. I'll let you know unless you are in a rush.

[mumblecrunch]

Jimmy,
I got this food saver, and Jar Sealer.
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0048B ... UTF8&psc=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0000C ... UTF8&psc=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

FYI - the wide mouth jar sealer attachment is on walmart.ca, $9.99, free shipping.

Both the wide mouth, and regular list that they both fit "regular pint- and quart-size, Ball and Kerr Mason jars". Which one does what?

It's possible that both the wide-mouth and the regular mouth fit regular pint- and quart-size jars but the wide-mouth unit then has the additional advantage of also being able to handle wide-mouth jars. It doesn't seem that way from the information on the FoodSaver site though. Unless you've got an existing collection of wide-mouth jars (or another reason to use wide-mouth) regular is probably the way to go.

One thing I have seen people talking about is using the FoodSaver Canisters for jars. This apparently has the advantage of letting you re-use non-mason jars (e.g., spaghetti sauce or salsa jars), the kind that come with a pop up seal. You apparently put the whole jar with lid into the canister and then vac-seal the canister. Note that this probably takes a little longer because you're evacuating a larger volume, but it does add some flexibility.