Cookbooks: The Complete Homebrew Beer Book: 200 Easy Recipes, from Ales and Lagers to Extreme Beers and International Favorites by George Humm
In The Complete Homebrew Beer Book (Robert Rose) author George Hummel brings up a very good point early on. In fact, it may be the most important point of all when con
sidering whether or not to brew your own beer. “Unlike home winemaking,” Hummel tells us, “you’ll be making a beverage that is generally preferred fresh.” And that’s not all: “Also unlike home winemaking, which relies on the quality of the grapes available, beer is process-driven.” And in a food and beverage world increasingly fueled by what is more local and what is most fresh, there would seem to me to be no stronger argument than any of that.
Hummel, who is an award-winning homebrewer and a columnist with Mid-Atlantic Brewing News knows this beat pretty well. In fact, as owner of Philadelphia’s homebrew mecca Home Sweet Homebrew, Hummel has come to know what questions a would-be homebrewer will ask and in The Complete Homebrew Beer Book, he answers them. I won’t go so far as to say Hummel makes it look easy, but he does make it look simple: carefully follow these instructions and -- voila! -- you’ll have beer.
The book includes 200 recipes for everything from favorite Ales, IPAs to Spruce Beer, Licorice Porter and even a whole bouquet of meads.
Obviously, homebrewing will not be for everyone. But if it’s for you, The Complete Homebrew Beer Book is a great place to start. ◊
Aaron Blanton is a contributing editor to January Magazine. He’s currently working on a book based on his experiences as an American living abroad.
sidering whether or not to brew your own beer. “Unlike home winemaking,” Hummel tells us, “you’ll be making a beverage that is generally preferred fresh.” And that’s not all: “Also unlike home winemaking, which relies on the quality of the grapes available, beer is process-driven.” And in a food and beverage world increasingly fueled by what is more local and what is most fresh, there would seem to me to be no stronger argument than any of that.
Hummel, who is an award-winning homebrewer and a columnist with Mid-Atlantic Brewing News knows this beat pretty well. In fact, as owner of Philadelphia’s homebrew mecca Home Sweet Homebrew, Hummel has come to know what questions a would-be homebrewer will ask and in The Complete Homebrew Beer Book, he answers them. I won’t go so far as to say Hummel makes it look easy, but he does make it look simple: carefully follow these instructions and -- voila! -- you’ll have beer.
The book includes 200 recipes for everything from favorite Ales, IPAs to Spruce Beer, Licorice Porter and even a whole bouquet of meads.
Obviously, homebrewing will not be for everyone. But if it’s for you, The Complete Homebrew Beer Book is a great place to start. ◊
Aaron Blanton is a contributing editor to January Magazine. He’s currently working on a book based on his experiences as an American living abroad.
Labels: Cookbooks, non-fiction
posted by Aaron Blanton at 1:00 PM
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