Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Eating and Drinking => Homebrew => Topic started by: wayne170534 on May 21, 2011, 21:06

Title: home brew books
Post by: wayne170534 on May 21, 2011, 21:06

Hi all,
have got a book about home brew wines circa 70's, just wondering is it still relevant or have current techniques/recipees supercedded it? if so anyonwe recomend a good beer/wine book
thanks for looking
wayne

Title: Re: home brew books
Post by: elrohana on May 21, 2011, 23:08

If its a CJJ Berry book, stick with it - he's still the best

Title: Re: home brew books
Post by: Growster... on May 23, 2011, 06:34

I was given (1973) - and always used - the Boots home wine making and brewing book by B.C.A.Turner.

It has all the old scribblings etc in it, and apart from them (Boots - back then) always wanting to sell you grape juice concentrate in most recipes (yes, I know why...), it is pretty good still!

Title: Re: home brew books
Post by: wayne170534 on May 23, 2011, 08:26

thanks thats the one i have growster

Title: Re: home brew books
Post by: Growster... on May 23, 2011, 11:11

Quote from: wayne170534 on May 23, 2011, 08:26

thanks thats the one i have growster

I was a good buy back then Wayne; we used it all the time, but it took a bit of nerve to get away from the hard and fast recipes back then, and also there wasn't as much choice in fruit juices then!

I started making beer then at 2p a pint, and it's still the best recipe I've ever used...

It's so basic it's not true, and if anyone wants it, I'll post it of course!

Title: Re: home brew books
Post by: Runwell-Steve on May 23, 2011, 11:49

I don't know about wine making, but Beer making has changed a bit over the last few years.  Not least of which the styles of beers people are attempting to make.

Equipment wise it has moved on as well, if you are into All Grain you can now build yourself a very nice Stainless Steel insulated Mash Tun using a few items purchased on fleabay. Along with the ability to accurately control fermentation temperatures at home, which is probably the one biggest hting that has improved both my ales and lagers that I make.

Their is also a much better understanding of Water treatment now which is essential if you are brewing from Grain.

The Home Brewed beer I make is much better than anything I can buy in the shops, and still only costs about 20p per pint, and that includes all the money I have spent on equipment.

As for some good books on Beer

Graham Wheelers 'Brew Your Own British Real Ale' is a good starter, also Palmers 'How to Brew' if you want to get a bit more technical.