The Complete Homebrew Beer Book

How to brew, ferment and enjoy world-class beers at home.

Making beer at home is as easy as making soup! George Hummel smoothly guides the reader through the process of creating a base to which the homebrewer can apply a myriad of intriguing flavorings, such as fruits, spices and even smoke. There are also outstanding and easy recipes for delicious meads, tasty ciders and great sodas -- all of which can be made in a home kitchen and with minimal equipment.

Using Hummel's easy-to-follow instructions and thorough analysis of the flavor components of beer, a novice homebrewer can design recipes and make beers to suit any taste or craving. Knowing exactly what's in a beer has additional benefits -- homebrewers can easily avoid the chemical additives traditionally found in mass-produced commercial beers. As an added bonus, the recipes are categorized according to their degree of difficulty, so new brewers can find the recipes that match their comfort level and then easily progress onto new skills.

These 200 tantalizing beer recipes draw their inspiration from the Americas and around the world. They include:

• Irish amber
• American/Texas brown
• California blonde
• Bavarian hefeweizen
• Multi-grain stout
• Imperial pilsner
• Pre-Prohibition lager
• Golden ale
• Scottish 60 shilling
• Belgium dubble
• German bock
• Raspberry weizen
• Vanilla cream stout
• Flemish red & brown
• Standard dry sparkling mead

There is also a comprehensive glossary that virtually guarantees readers will find answers to every question about ingredients and equipment. Packed with practical advice and effectively designed, The Complete Homebrew Beer Book is like having a personal brewmaster overseeing and guiding each creation.

George Hummel is an award-winning homebrewer who conducts tasting seminars, is a key contributor to beer festivals and writes a regular column for Mid-Atlantic Brewing News. His store, Home Sweet Homebrew, is a popular destination for locals and tourists alike. He lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.