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The Complete Joy of Homebrewing
The homebrewer's bible—everything you need to know to brew beer at home from start to finish, including new recipes, updated charts on hop varieties, secrets to fermentation, beer kit tips, and more—from the master of homebrewing
The Complete Joy of Homebrewing is the essential guide to understanding and making a full range of beer styles, including ales, lagers, stouts, pilseners, dubbels, tripels, and homerun specialty beers and meads. Everything to get started is here: the basics of building a home brewery, world-class proven recipes, easy-to-follow brewing instructions, and the latest insights in the art and science of brewing. Master brewer Charlie Papazian also explains the history and lore of beer, reveals the technology behind brewing, and shares countless tips on how to create your own original ales and lagers.
This completely revised and updated edition includes:
An expanded and updated Beer Styles and Homebrew Recipe Formulation chart with easy-to-understand descriptions of key flavor and aroma characters Ingredient information for fifty-three beer styles A list of more than seventy-five beer types describing strength, hop aroma, bitterness, flavor, color, sweetness, and alcohol percentage Expanded chart on sixty-eight hop varieties, descriptions, and uses Eighty brand-new and revised favorite beer and mead recipes Beer kit tips Key information about using and understanding hops Revealing reasons why homebrew is the best . . . and much more!
Paired with the newly revised Homebrewer's Companion, Second Edition, this book will transform you from beginning brewer to homebrewing expert.
The Complete Joy of Homebrewing is the essential guide to understanding and making a full range of beer styles, including ales, lagers, stouts, pilseners, dubbels, tripels, and homerun specialty beers and meads. Everything to get started is here: the basics of building a home brewery, world-class proven recipes, easy-to-follow brewing instructions, and the latest insights in the art and science of brewing. Master brewer Charlie Papazian also explains the history and lore of beer, reveals the technology behind brewing, and shares countless tips on how to create your own original ales and lagers.
This completely revised and updated edition includes:
An expanded and updated Beer Styles and Homebrew Recipe Formulation chart with easy-to-understand descriptions of key flavor and aroma characters Ingredient information for fifty-three beer styles A list of more than seventy-five beer types describing strength, hop aroma, bitterness, flavor, color, sweetness, and alcohol percentage Expanded chart on sixty-eight hop varieties, descriptions, and uses Eighty brand-new and revised favorite beer and mead recipes Beer kit tips Key information about using and understanding hops Revealing reasons why homebrew is the best . . . and much more!
Paired with the newly revised Homebrewer's Companion, Second Edition, this book will transform you from beginning brewer to homebrewing expert.
496 pages, Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 1980
483 people are currently reading
1478 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 227 reviews
August 12, 2022
This is a good comprehensive guide on the art of brewing. I recommend this book to all beginners of brewing.
May 12, 2010
For the record, I am giving this book 4 stars not because the author is a literary genius, but on the technical merits there in... The author is actually really obnoxious. I assume this is because he is drunk.
Again, great information if you can look past the personality of the author.
Again, great information if you can look past the personality of the author.
October 8, 2013
This is an informative and clear read on the subject. What's more, it's fun. Unlike a few of the other books on the subject that I've laid my hands on, the prose in this book is lively and entertaining... and you know what, given the subject matter, why not? It's about brewing in your home, man, it's not rocket science. It's supposed to be fun. If you're not enjoying it, just go buy something off the shelf (or consider a detox program) because going to the trouble might not be your thing.
The organization of the book isn't as logical as other--drier--homebrewing books might be, and many of the photos and graphics are definitely dated. There's a whole 70's esthetic going on here. But that shouldn't put you off. It's about making stuff to drink in the next few weeks (usually) and that method hasn't changed since the ancient Egyptians, so some bell bottoms shouldn't pop your cork either.
So, I'd recommend this one to anyone with an interest in the subject, particularly those considering their own homebrew project. It's a good introduction that is approachable enough to the newbie not to put him/her off.
The organization of the book isn't as logical as other--drier--homebrewing books might be, and many of the photos and graphics are definitely dated. There's a whole 70's esthetic going on here. But that shouldn't put you off. It's about making stuff to drink in the next few weeks (usually) and that method hasn't changed since the ancient Egyptians, so some bell bottoms shouldn't pop your cork either.
So, I'd recommend this one to anyone with an interest in the subject, particularly those considering their own homebrew project. It's a good introduction that is approachable enough to the newbie not to put him/her off.
August 3, 2011
Amazing utterly amazing is how I would describe the Charlie Papizan's The Complete Joy of Home Brewing. I have home brewed with a friend and we refer to it as "the bible" as it provides all the information one would need to know in order to start making their own beer at home. The book is structured excellently as it begins with the history of beer (which is quite old) and then transitions to explaining how to home brew and the materials required to home brew. The Joy of Home Brewing also contains various beer recipes such as Barley wines, bocks, and ales, even what is known as cock ale. There is also a guides to hops and yeast. The charts for hops also contain information on a hops alpha acid content. This book contains everything one would want to known about home brewing.
July 13, 2020
Classical book on subject. There are others probably more useful, but this has its charm. Especially pictures :-) Don't worry! Relax! Have a homebrew!
December 26, 2010
"Relax, don't worry, have a home brew."
If you're interested in learning how to home brew, this book is perfect.
As a newbie homebrewer, I found this book to be enormously helpful. Papazian is laid back, humorous, and incredibly knowledgeable. He stresses that fledgling homebrewers shouldn't worry overmuch about their beer, and offers a ton of great tips and some tasty recipes. Some home brew books tend to be pedantic or overly prescriptive ("you must not let the hot wort sit for more than a few minutes before cooling, or you will create off flavors" and "if you don't use exactly 2.3 gallons of water you will ruin the alpha acid concentration in your wort")...Papazian's book says none of this nonsense, which I appreciated.
If you're interested in learning how to home brew, this book is perfect.
As a newbie homebrewer, I found this book to be enormously helpful. Papazian is laid back, humorous, and incredibly knowledgeable. He stresses that fledgling homebrewers shouldn't worry overmuch about their beer, and offers a ton of great tips and some tasty recipes. Some home brew books tend to be pedantic or overly prescriptive ("you must not let the hot wort sit for more than a few minutes before cooling, or you will create off flavors" and "if you don't use exactly 2.3 gallons of water you will ruin the alpha acid concentration in your wort")...Papazian's book says none of this nonsense, which I appreciated.
April 9, 2021
I’ve had quite a journey with this book. Found a version of it in an AirBnb over New Years 2019/2020, and enjoyed the first few pages so much I bought one for myself. And I’ve been homebrewing pretty much ever since, but I’m counting it “read” right now because I think I made it through the sections I’ll complete.
Papazian is phenomenal. He’s so enthusiastic and knowledgeable but also calm and relatable. After brewing from several brewing kits, I’ve started experimenting on my own with good results because I feel like I understand how brewing works. I highly recommend this for anyone interested in homebrewing.
Papazian is phenomenal. He’s so enthusiastic and knowledgeable but also calm and relatable. After brewing from several brewing kits, I’ve started experimenting on my own with good results because I feel like I understand how brewing works. I highly recommend this for anyone interested in homebrewing.
February 29, 2020
I am sure any home brewer would gain something from reading this, an updated version of Papazian's classic book on homebrewing. He was the originator and leader, or one of them anyway, of the homebrewing movement in the USA, and this book helped spread the word. Papazian brewed, spoke, and wrote extensively on the subject, and this is his most famous book. It is an enjoyable and informative read all the way thru, and is worth checking out whether you are thinking of giving the hobby a shot or if you have been brewing for a while.
Relax and have a homebrew, Charlie regularly reminds us in these pages. Brewing has its technical side, but it is also fun and a pleasure to do. He gives us a lot of useful information in a way that goes down easily, and provides a bunch of recipes too. Much of the information in this book is available elsewhere, but as every homebrewer knows, it never hurts to go over the basics again. Personally I learned some new stuff about malts, additives, and water pH. Some of the information here is a little out of date (the version I read was last updated in 2014, perhaps?), but that is nothing terrible. For example, almost all malts are fully modified now, and a number of the ones Papazian talks about are hardly available anymore.
Papazian does seem like a devoted, but pretty easy going home brewer, e.g. he seems perfectly comfortable with brewing up a lager recipe and then not lagering it - no big deal, he says. Relax and have a homebrew. Also, I did not realize Charlie created his own yeast strain which one can buy from White Labs! He called it Cry Havoc, but it has been renamed Charlie's Fist Bump for some reason. He describes it as an all-purpose yeast that can work well with lagers or ales. Very interesting. Thank you, Charlie Papazian, for all of your good work.
Relax and have a homebrew, Charlie regularly reminds us in these pages. Brewing has its technical side, but it is also fun and a pleasure to do. He gives us a lot of useful information in a way that goes down easily, and provides a bunch of recipes too. Much of the information in this book is available elsewhere, but as every homebrewer knows, it never hurts to go over the basics again. Personally I learned some new stuff about malts, additives, and water pH. Some of the information here is a little out of date (the version I read was last updated in 2014, perhaps?), but that is nothing terrible. For example, almost all malts are fully modified now, and a number of the ones Papazian talks about are hardly available anymore.
Papazian does seem like a devoted, but pretty easy going home brewer, e.g. he seems perfectly comfortable with brewing up a lager recipe and then not lagering it - no big deal, he says. Relax and have a homebrew. Also, I did not realize Charlie created his own yeast strain which one can buy from White Labs! He called it Cry Havoc, but it has been renamed Charlie's Fist Bump for some reason. He describes it as an all-purpose yeast that can work well with lagers or ales. Very interesting. Thank you, Charlie Papazian, for all of your good work.
February 8, 2022
A pretty complete guide for budding homebrewers. If you are more experienced you probably won't find a lot of new info here, but it's still a nice read. Be aware that there is a big emphasis on malt extract, all-grain brewing is hardly touched upon.
Relax. Don't worry. Have a homebrew.
Relax. Don't worry. Have a homebrew.
February 2, 2021
Simply put: THE home brewing bible
April 30, 2011
This, on the other hand, is an example of great nonfiction. It wasn't even telling a story, just teaching you things, but it was really really interesting. The tone is great, and the way Papazian presents information makes it easily understandable even when he's presenting math- and chemistry-related concepts. (And we all know those are my least-strong suits.) It's a great book because it covers pretty much everything you'd ever need to know to brew your own beer, but it'd even be a good book for anyone who likes to drink beer. Because really, how much do you actually know about beer besides that it's tasty? *grin*
August 1, 2014
If there is a better book on homebrew, I've never heard of it. Papazian's book has something for everyone, from the beginner to the master brewer. The first section gets the newbie off the ground, going through the basics and encouraging people to get a batch going NOW!
The next section, for the intermediate brewer, goes into insane detail about all the ingredients that go into beer, and how they effect the end product.
Papazian's attitude is laid back and encouraging. Because of the vast possibilities when it comes to brew, there is no one way to make a good beer, and he encourages experimentation, and drinking beer. He's constantly imploring the reader to relax and have a homebrew.
The next section, for the intermediate brewer, goes into insane detail about all the ingredients that go into beer, and how they effect the end product.
Papazian's attitude is laid back and encouraging. Because of the vast possibilities when it comes to brew, there is no one way to make a good beer, and he encourages experimentation, and drinking beer. He's constantly imploring the reader to relax and have a homebrew.
December 3, 2018
How to Brew: Everything You Need to Know to Brew Beer Right the First Time by John J. Palmer is a much better book. Papazian seems to gloss over many aspects of brewing that I find important. It may be ok if you're just brewing with kits and extracts. This method soon bored me and when I moved to all grain brewing, I found this book useless.
March 4, 2013
Awesome beginner to intermediate guide on the art of home brewing beer. Though I haven't used any of the recipes (you can find better ones online or at your local beer supply store), it will help you understand the process and the method behind the madness.
January 27, 2014
Compared to How to Brew, this was less dry and made brewing beer sound even MORE fun. Looking forward to reading the Homebrewer's Companion to try to learn little tidbits.
March 12, 2008
This was helpful. However: the pictures and the constant reminders from the author to "Have fun!" were a bit much.
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July 29, 2011This is the bible of homebrewing for beginner beer brewers.
October 29, 2012
This book is somewhat dated and really does not offer a very good introduction to homebrewing for the novice. John Palmer's "How To Brew" is a far better book.
February 9, 2017
I read this before, but it was about 20 - 25 years ago. In the meantime I managed to get too busy to continue homebrewing, and then all of my equipment disappeared when I guy "borrowing" the stuff moved and took it with him.
So, I'm getting back into homebrewing. I have new equipment, and wanted to read this book again to refresh my memory of the steps to turning ingredients into beer. This book does a great of job of explaining the process, and some of the science the produces of magic of beer. The book has a great section for beginner, or for those who just need a refresher. It also has information for more advanced homebrewers, but techniques for turning grain into malt extract need to be learned from other sources.
Ok, I'm thirsty now, so I'm moving onto a store bought beer until my batch currently in fermentation is ready to drink.
So, I'm getting back into homebrewing. I have new equipment, and wanted to read this book again to refresh my memory of the steps to turning ingredients into beer. This book does a great of job of explaining the process, and some of the science the produces of magic of beer. The book has a great section for beginner, or for those who just need a refresher. It also has information for more advanced homebrewers, but techniques for turning grain into malt extract need to be learned from other sources.
Ok, I'm thirsty now, so I'm moving onto a store bought beer until my batch currently in fermentation is ready to drink.
August 15, 2021
First, it's a great homebrewing resource. I've been brewing for a while, and it's nice to see so much of the info that I picked up piecemeal all in one place. Second, it was a fun time capsule experience for me so see how the beer landscape has changed since the book was printed in 1991. The book describes a landscape where breweries are making light lagers (and there are no craft breweries yet). And today, 30 years later, the craft breweries seem to have landed on hazy ales and sours, still leaving so many styles unexplored. Also, I love how the book warns readers that 7% alcohols is a boozy beer, when most craft beers today are in that range. Like I said, a really interesting look into what beer was like before the craft beer explosion. While some readers might see it as being outdated, I saw it as a really cool bonus to the practical brewing info in the book.
August 9, 2019
While somewhat dated, this book remains an essential book for homebrewers whose primary language is English. I'm not sure what's around in other languages or if this has been translated.
Everything in here is usable, even if the growth of homebrewing has created some easier ways of doing things and wider availability of products and ingredients than is reflected in the text. Honestly, it comes down to this or How To Brew as the best first homebrewing book, and that really comes down to which author's writing style and personality suit you better.
Also, if you own the copy of this book you're using, go right ahead and write in the margins and take notes. This is book is meant to be scrawled in and meant to have wort spilled on it. Just try not to let in fall into your kettle.
Everything in here is usable, even if the growth of homebrewing has created some easier ways of doing things and wider availability of products and ingredients than is reflected in the text. Honestly, it comes down to this or How To Brew as the best first homebrewing book, and that really comes down to which author's writing style and personality suit you better.
Also, if you own the copy of this book you're using, go right ahead and write in the margins and take notes. This is book is meant to be scrawled in and meant to have wort spilled on it. Just try not to let in fall into your kettle.
July 11, 2020
I normally try to provide fairly in-depth reviews of books, but this one is pretty simple: want to learn about home-brewing or improve your technique? This book is a solid resource.
I suppose part of my rating should also involve the quality of recipes therein (the book has a good balance of being a majority of content with enough recipes to get you started, without becoming a recipe book)... but I need to actually brew enough of them first before I can factor that in.
I do appreciate Papazian's approach to making the content relatively low-stakes ("Relax. Have a homebrew."), even if there are a few points where the science could be explained a hint more clearly/engagingly. All that said, still a very useful resource, and one I expect to return to repeatedly.
I suppose part of my rating should also involve the quality of recipes therein (the book has a good balance of being a majority of content with enough recipes to get you started, without becoming a recipe book)... but I need to actually brew enough of them first before I can factor that in.
I do appreciate Papazian's approach to making the content relatively low-stakes ("Relax. Have a homebrew."), even if there are a few points where the science could be explained a hint more clearly/engagingly. All that said, still a very useful resource, and one I expect to return to repeatedly.
April 3, 2018
I inherited this book from my Father in Law. It was a dog eared copy from the early 90s. I have brewed two batches of beer following one of the numerous recipes online and thought that this would be a glorified paper weight. Not so! Even if you don't brew a single recipe within, the information on the history of, science behind and excellent tips relating to home brewing is indispensable. If you get the newer edition I'm sure there won't be as many anachronistic ticks like him telling you to clean your carboys with bleach but this book is a handy reference guide for anyone interested in or far along in a home brewing hobby!
June 17, 2018
I found this book an amusing and approachable introduction to the subject.
The prose occasionally waxes poetic. Does this mean there is a lot of text that isn't strictly necessary? Yes, but I also feel that it makes the book more readable overall.
Some commenters found the language condescending. I suppose reflecting on the book I can see how someone could get that impression, but I suspect a person's attitude going into the book determines how they receive it. I went in as a novice to (beer) brewing, wanting to learn, and the author filled the roll as good natured expert very well.
The prose occasionally waxes poetic. Does this mean there is a lot of text that isn't strictly necessary? Yes, but I also feel that it makes the book more readable overall.
Some commenters found the language condescending. I suppose reflecting on the book I can see how someone could get that impression, but I suspect a person's attitude going into the book determines how they receive it. I went in as a novice to (beer) brewing, wanting to learn, and the author filled the roll as good natured expert very well.
January 22, 2019
The absolutely essential reference for anyone interested in making ales, beers, lagers, and meads. Charlie Papazian will guide you thru every step and point out the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes that you're likely to encounter on your journey. His love for brewing is plainly evident in every chapter, clearly written with humor and wit, absolutely unpretentious. (This may be somewhat off-putting, even obnoxious, to beer snobs.) Brewing beer isn't rocket science. If you can bake a loaf of bread, you can certainly make a good Ale. So, throw out all your wooden spoons and get brewing!
April 17, 2019
Five stars as this should be in any home-brewers library, however there is this thing called the internet now. Any of the information provided in this book can be found quite quickly online.
Charlie Papazian does a great job of walking a home brewer through baby steps of brewing from kits to All-Grain. Papazian is able to lower the intimidation factor of brewing throughout the book with the reminder to : relax don’t worry have a home brew.
Charlie Papazian does a great job of walking a home brewer through baby steps of brewing from kits to All-Grain. Papazian is able to lower the intimidation factor of brewing throughout the book with the reminder to : relax don’t worry have a home brew.
May 26, 2020
I order to truly appreciate art, one must know the depths of the subject. Thus, The Home Brewers Guide... 4th Edition!! I have an extra copy I purchased when I got into home brewing. So, if you want a copy, I got a spare. Because, you know, you can never have enough home brew.
Beer! The gift of the gods!! Proof, indeed, that god loves us. And damned good. This gives detailed info to help people transition from grasshoppers to wise beer sages. And if not, relax. Have a home brew.
Beer! The gift of the gods!! Proof, indeed, that god loves us. And damned good. This gives detailed info to help people transition from grasshoppers to wise beer sages. And if not, relax. Have a home brew.
June 15, 2019
Relax, don't worry, have a homebrew. Wise words, and a tone followed very pleasantly throughout the book. If it seems like brewing your own beers is a daunting task, it's not, and Papazian breaks it down quite nicely. I've now brewed several of the beers in this book, and a handful of others, and can heartily recommend this book to anyone interested in doing the same.
May 24, 2020
First off. I've never done extract brewing only allgrain.
Second I got this 2-3 years into brewing at home, after reading 5 other books + countless stuff online, this book just didn't have anything to offer me. When that's said. It's probably fine as a starter book for someone who's fine with extract brewing.
Second I got this 2-3 years into brewing at home, after reading 5 other books + countless stuff online, this book just didn't have anything to offer me. When that's said. It's probably fine as a starter book for someone who's fine with extract brewing.
May 26, 2020
Un libro que debe ser acompañado con la práctica para comprender mejor lo que esta mencionando sobre los procesos de elaboración de cerveza. Teoria acompañada de anecdotas que ayudan a ver el proceso como algo donde la paciencia y la limpieza son los elementos que deben destacar. Ideal para quienes gustan de la cerveza.
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