Brew Books.
- Keith
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Brew Books.
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.
Water: A Comprehensive Guide for Brewers is definitely on my list.
Brewer, Owner & Operator @ Ol' Biddy's Brew House


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Re: Brew Books.
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.
-Keely.
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Re: Brew Books.
I think Mark started a good thread awhile ago about books as well, if you can find that...
-Keely.
-Keely.
- GuingesRock
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Re: Brew Books.
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;
http://www.amazon.ca/Oxford-Companion-B ... on+to+beer" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
-Mark
2nd place, Canadian Brewer of the Year, 2015
101 awards won for beers designed and brewed.
Cicerone Program - Certified Beer Server
2nd place, Canadian Brewer of the Year, 2015
101 awards won for beers designed and brewed.
Cicerone Program - Certified Beer Server
- Keith
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Re: Brew Books.
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.
Brewer, Owner & Operator @ Ol' Biddy's Brew House


- LeafMan66_67
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Re: Brew Books.
Brewing Better Beer by Gordon Strong is a great read.
"He was a wise man who invented beer." - Plato
- LiverDance
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Re: Brew Books.
agreed. and IPA by Mitch Steele is one you would if you are into hoppy beers.LeafMan66_67 wrote:Brewing Better Beer by Gordon Strong is a great read.
"Twenty years ago — a time, by the way, that hops such as Simcoe and Citra were already being developed, but weren’t about to find immediate popularity — there wasn’t a brewer on earth who would have gone to the annual Hop Growers of American convention and said, “I’m going to have a beer that we make 4,000 barrels of, one time a year. It flies off the shelf at damn near $20 a six-pack, and you know what it smells like? It smells like your cat ate your weed and then pissed in the Christmas tree.” - Bell’s Brewery Director of Operations John Mallet on the scent of their popular Hopslam.
- Keith
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Re: Brew Books.
Yea I was on the fence on that or "For the Love of Hops" by Stan Hieronymus, has anyone read both?LiverDance wrote:agreed. and IPA by Mitch Steele is one you would if you are into hoppy beers.LeafMan66_67 wrote:Brewing Better Beer by Gordon Strong is a great read.
Brewer, Owner & Operator @ Ol' Biddy's Brew House


- GuingesRock
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Re: Brew Books.
Yes, not keen on for the love of hops. Loved IPA.Keith wrote:Yea I was on the fence on that or "For the Love of Hops" by Stan Hieronymus, has anyone read both?LiverDance wrote:agreed. and IPA by Mitch Steele is one you would if you are into hoppy beers.LeafMan66_67 wrote:Brewing Better Beer by Gordon Strong is a great read.
-Mark
2nd place, Canadian Brewer of the Year, 2015
101 awards won for beers designed and brewed.
Cicerone Program - Certified Beer Server
2nd place, Canadian Brewer of the Year, 2015
101 awards won for beers designed and brewed.
Cicerone Program - Certified Beer Server
- Jimmy
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Re: Brew Books.
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.

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
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Re: Brew Books.
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

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
Brewer, Owner & Operator @ Ol' Biddy's Brew House


- Jimmy
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Re: Brew Books.
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.
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
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Re: Brew Books.
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
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Re: Brew Books.
I'd go crazy weighing out a recipe like that.amartin wrote: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 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
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Re: Brew Books.
I switched to mason jars and jar sealing attachment for my foodsaver. Easier to store and less frustrating to deal with.Jimmy wrote:I'd go crazy weighing out a recipe like that.amartin wrote: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 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!
- Keith
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Re: Brew Books.
My sealer and attachment is on order from Amazon!jeffsmith wrote:
I switched to mason jars and jar sealing attachment for my foodsaver. Easier to store and less frustrating to deal with.
Brewer, Owner & Operator @ Ol' Biddy's Brew House


- Jimmy
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Re: Brew Books.
You are my new love. I've never thought of this.jeffsmith wrote:I switched to mason jars and jar sealing attachment for my foodsaver. Easier to store and less frustrating to deal with.Jimmy wrote:I'd go crazy weighing out a recipe like that.amartin wrote: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 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!
- Keith
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Re: Brew Books.
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;
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;
Brewer, Owner & Operator @ Ol' Biddy's Brew House


- jeffsmith
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Brew Books.
Easy there tiger.Jimmy wrote:You are my new love. I've never thought of this.

- Keith
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Re: Brew Books.
I'm all for it. He's been getting a little too friendly lately.jeffsmith wrote:Easy there tiger.Jimmy wrote:You are my new love. I've never thought of this.



Brewer, Owner & Operator @ Ol' Biddy's Brew House


- LeafMan66_67
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Re: Brew Books.
FYI - the wide mouth jar sealer attachment is on walmart.ca, $9.99, free shipping.Keith wrote: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;
"He was a wise man who invented beer." - Plato
- Jimmy
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Re: Brew Books.
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?LeafMan66_67 wrote:FYI - the wide mouth jar sealer attachment is on walmart.ca, $9.99, free shipping.Keith wrote: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
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Re: Brew Books.
Don't remember which one I got. Ordered it off eBay a few years ago.
- Keith
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Re: Brew Books.
I get mine on the 11th. I'll let you know unless you are in a rush.Jimmy wrote: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?LeafMan66_67 wrote:FYI - the wide mouth jar sealer attachment is on walmart.ca, $9.99, free shipping.Keith wrote: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;
Brewer, Owner & Operator @ Ol' Biddy's Brew House


- mumblecrunch
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Re: Brew Books.
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.Jimmy wrote: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?LeafMan66_67 wrote:FYI - the wide mouth jar sealer attachment is on walmart.ca, $9.99, free shipping.Keith wrote: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;
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.
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