[Drewch]

So I renewed my AHA membership & got my book code.

But I'm having a little decision paralysis: which book should I use the code on?

I have a lot of the usual suspects already (Palmer 4th Ed., Denny & Drew, the four ingredient books ...).

Help. 😕🤔⁉️

[Megary]

So the book comes free with renewal?  Is this something new?  I don't ever remember getting offered a book for re-upping but then again, I'm on automatic renewal.  Maybe I should uncheck that box in my account and see if they offer me a book or a pack of hops or something.   

Anyway, what are the book choices?

[Drewch]

So the book comes free with renewal?  Is this something new?  I don't ever remember getting offered a book for re-upping but then again, I'm on automatic renewal.  Maybe I should uncheck that box in my account and see if they offer me a book or a pack of hops or something.   

Anyway, what are the book choices?

I had to email customer service because you're supposed to get an email with the discount code when your membership autorenews, but I never got it. Same thing happened last year with the free hops.

The code works in the Brewer's Publications store.

https://www.brewerspublications.com/collections/aha-1yr-book-promo

[Megary]

Interesting.  Never heard of this "discount code" for renewing.   
My membership is up in August so I'll keep an eye out for it.

That's a lot of books to choose from...no wonder you are having a hard time deciding.  I wish I can help you there, but I've only ever read a few of those and I'm sure you have read them as well (Palmer, Designing Great Beers).

I would probably base my decision on the author first and my interest in the subject second.

Cheers!

[pete b]

If you don't feel like you need a standard "how to" book I can recommend Buhner's "Sacred and Healing Beers". It's just a good read if you are interested in plants generally, and medicinals specifically. It's sort of a mix of natural history, brewing and brewing history, and medicine. Lots of historical recipes as well as more modern ones. But really I like it for information about medicinal plants and their history alongside humans.

[jeffy]

I have most of those books. I recommend staying away from the single style books, because they become dated with time. I still reference Noonan, Brewing Lager Beer and Stan Heronimous Brew Like a Monk more than the others.
If you want something to put you to sleep at night, get Water.

[denny]

I have most of those books. I recommend staying away from the single style books, because they become dated with time. I still reference Noonan, Brewing Lager Beer and Stan Heronimous Brew Like a Monk more than the others.
If you want something to put you to sleep at night, get Water.

Second on water.

[BrewnWKopperKat]

So I renewed my AHA membership & got my book code.

But I'm having a little decision paralysis: which book should I use the code on?

I have a lot of the usual suspects already (Palmer 4th Ed., Denny & Drew, the four ingredient books ...).

Help. 😕🤔⁉️

Beyond "the usual suspects", consider focusing on specific authors (where ever they publish or talk).

Based on the books available, consider:

• Mosher: (Radical Brewing + Mastering Homebrew + HomeBrew Con presentations + CB&B articles)
• Strong (Brewing Better Beer + Modern Home Brew Recipes + HomeBrew Con presentations + BYO articles)

I have all four books.  After reading them, I continue to reference them at various times for various reasons.

For those who prefer to read, there are other expert brewers worthy of following (Weikert, Colby, Janish, ...) as well.

For those who prefer videos, I'll defer to others who can point out 'the experts of video presentations'.

Also, /u/chino_brews over in /r/homebrewing has offered (IMO) solid advice on home brewing books for almost a decade.

[dbeechum]

Also, /u/chino_brews over in /r/homebrewing has offered (IMO) solid advice on home brewing books for almost a decade.

Chino is definitely well and roundly read - I don't just say this because he continues to offer up my Everything Homebrewing Book as a dark horse recommendation.

[allenhuerta]

So the book comes free with renewal?  Is this something new?  I don't ever remember getting offered a book for re-upping but then again, I'm on automatic renewal.  Maybe I should uncheck that box in my account and see if they offer me a book or a pack of hops or something.   

Anyway, what are the book choices?

I had to email customer service because you're supposed to get an email with the discount code when your membership autorenews, but I never got it. Same thing happened last year with the free hops.

The code works in the Brewer's Publications store.

https://www.brewerspublications.com/collections/aha-1yr-book-promo

I should email them. I thought I just always got screwed from the offers for auto renewing.. I could use a new book lol

Sent from my Pixel 6a using Tapatalk

[Drewch]

I have most of those books. I recommend staying away from the single style books, because they become dated with time. I still reference Noonan, Brewing Lager Beer and Stan Heronimous Brew Like a Monk more than the others.
If you want something to put you to sleep at night, get Water.

Second on water.

Unfortunately, it's too late for me to avoid that one.  I already have it.

Also, /u/chino_brews over in /r/homebrewing has offered (IMO) solid advice on home brewing books for almost a decade.

Chino is definitely well and roundly read - I don't just say this because he continues to offer up my Everything Homebrewing Book as a dark horse recommendation.

That one's not Brewer's Publications, but I've added it to my brewing books wishlist.

I created a value function based on the difference between the book price and the credit (why spend a $25 credit on a $10 book?), whether I own the book or not (0=don't own it; 0.5=own the ebook; 1=own the hardcopy), and my degree of interest in the book (0.00-1.00).

According to the model, I should pick Stan Hieronymus' Brewing Local: American-Grown Beer.

BOOK	PRICE	% PRICE DELTA	OWN IT?	% INTEREST	VALUE
Brewing Local: American-Grown Beer	$19.95	0.80	0	1	0.800
Wood & Beer: A Brewer's Guide	$19.95	0.80	0	0.9	0.720
Wild Brews: Beer Beyond the Influence of Brewer’s Yeast	$17.95	0.72	0	1	0.719
Brewing with Wheat: The Wit and Weizen of Wheat Beer Styles	$17.95	0.72	0	1	0.719
Gose: Brewing a Classic German Beer for the Modern Era	$19.95	0.80	0	0.85	0.680
Beer in America: The Early Years — 1587-1840	$16.95	0.68	0	1	0.679
The Fermentation Kitchen: Recipes for the Craft Beer Lover's Pantry	$19.95	0.80	0	0.8	0.640
Modern Homebrew Recipes: Exploring Styles and Contemporary Techniques	$19.95	0.80	0	0.75	0.600
Sacred and Herbal Healing Beers: The Secrets of Ancient Fermentation	$19.95	0.80	0	0.75	0.600
For The Love of Hops: The Practical Guide to Aroma Bitterness and the Culture of Hops	$19.95	0.80	0	0.75	0.600
Designing Great Beers: The Ultimate Guide to Brewing Classic Beer Styles	$24.95	1.00	0.5	1	0.500
American Sour Beers: Innovative Techniques for Mixed Fermentations	$19.95	0.80	0.5	1	0.400
New Brewing Lager Beer: The Most Comprehensive Book for Home and Microbrewers	$19.95	0.80	0	0.5	0.400
"Radical Brewing: Recipes Tales and World-Altering Meditations in a Glass"	$19.95	0.80	0	0.5	0.400
Brewing Better Beer: Master Lessons for Advanced Homebrewers	$17.95	0.72	0	0.5	0.360
Farmhouse Ales: Culture and Craftsmanship in the Belgian Tradition	$17.95	0.72	0.5	1	0.360
"Smoked Beers: History Brewing Techniques Recipes"	$14.95	0.60	0	0.5	0.300
The Guide to Craft Beer	$12.95	0.52	0	0.5	0.260
"IPA: Brewing Techniques Recipes and the Evolution of India Pale Ale"	$24.95	1.00	0	0.25	0.250
The Best of American Beer and Food: Pairing & Cooking with Craft Beer	$22.95	0.92	0	0.25	0.230
Brewing Eclectic IPA: Pushing the Boundaries of India Pale Ale	$19.95	0.80	0	0.25	0.200
"Gluten-Free Brewing: Techniques Processes and Ingredients for Crafting Flavorful Beer"	$19.95	0.80	0	0.25	0.200
Independence Days: Still Just Boys and Other Stories	$18.95	0.76	0	0.25	0.190
Dictionary of Beer & Brewing	$15.95	0.64	0	0.25	0.160
"Altbier: History Brewing Techniques Recipes"	$14.95	0.60	0	0.25	0.150
"Brown Ale: History Brewing Techniques Recipes"	$14.95	0.60	0	0.25	0.150
"Kölsch: History Brewing Techniques Recipes"	$14.95	0.60	0	0.25	0.150
Prost!: Story of German Brewing	$14.95	0.60	0	0.25	0.150
"Barley Wine: History Brewing Techniques Recipes"	$14.95	0.60	0	0.25	0.150
Belgian Ale	$11.95	0.48	0	0.25	0.120
Bock	$11.95	0.48	0	0.25	0.120
German Wheat Beer	$11.95	0.48	0	0.25	0.120
"Oktoberfest Vienna Marzen"	$11.95	0.48	0	0.25	0.120
Scotch Ale	$11.95	0.48	0	0.25	0.120
Victory Beer Recipes	$11.95	0.48	0	0.25	0.120
Porter	$11.95	0.48	0	0.25	0.120
Stout	$11.95	0.48	0	0.25	0.120
Lambic	$10.90	0.44	0	0.25	0.109
American Craft Beer and Food Guide	$0.60	0.02	0	0.25	0.006
Historical Brewing Techniques: The Lost Art of Farmhouse Brewing	$24.95	1.00	1	1	0.000
How To Brew: Everything You Need to Know to Brew Great Beer Every Time	$24.95	1.00	1	1	0.000
Malt: A Practical Guide from Field to Brewhouse	$19.95	0.80	1	1	0.000
"Simple Homebrewing: Great Beer Less Work More Fun"	$19.95	0.80	1	1	0.000
Hooray for Craft Beer! An Illustrated Guide to Beer	$19.95	0.80	1	1	0.000
Brewing Classic Styles: 80 Winning Recipes Anyone Can Brew	$19.95	0.80	1	1	0.000
The Compleat Meadmaker: Home Production of Honey Wine From Your First Batch to Award-winning...	$19.95	0.80	1	1	0.000
Water: A Comprehensive Guide for Brewers	$19.95	0.80	1	1	0.000
Yeast: The Practical Guide to Beer Fermentation	$19.95	0.80	1	1	0.000
Session Beers: Brewing for Flavor and Balance	$19.95	0.80	1	1	0.000
How to Make Hard Seltzer: Refreshing Recipes for Sparkling Libations	$19.95	0.80	0	0	0.000
Brewing with Cannabis: Using THC and CBD in Beer	$19.95	0.80	0	0	0.000
Brewing with Hemp: The Essential Guide	$19.95	0.80	0	0	0.000
Stephen Beaumonts Brewpub Cookbook: 100 Great Recipes from 30 Great North American Brewpubs	$18.95	0.76	0	0	0.000
"Brew Like A Monk: Trappist Abbey and Strong Belgian Ales and How to Brew Them"	$17.95	0.72	1	1	0.000
"Bavarian Helles: History Brewing Techniques Recipes"	$14.95	0.60	0	0	0.000
Beer for Pete's Sake: The Wicked Adventures of a Brewing Maverick	$14.95	0.60	0	0	0.000
"Pale Ale Revised: History Brewing Techniques Recipes"	$14.95	0.60	0	0	0.000
"Mild Ale: History Brewing Techniques Recipes"	$14.95	0.60	1	0.5	0.000
Continental Pilsener	$11.95	0.48	0	0	0.000

[Megary]

I have most of those books. I recommend staying away from the single style books, because they become dated with time. I still reference Noonan, Brewing Lager Beer and Stan Heronimous Brew Like a Monk more than the others.
If you want something to put you to sleep at night, get Water.

Second on water.

Unfortunately, it's too late for me to avoid that one.  I already have it.

Also, /u/chino_brews over in /r/homebrewing has offered (IMO) solid advice on home brewing books for almost a decade.

Chino is definitely well and roundly read - I don't just say this because he continues to offer up my Everything Homebrewing Book as a dark horse recommendation.

That one's not Brewer's Publications, but I've added it to my brewing books wishlist.

I created a value function based on the difference between the book price and the credit (why spend a $25 credit on a $10 book?), whether I own the book or not (0=don't own it; 0.5=own the ebook; 1=own the hardcopy), and my degree of interest in the book (0.00-1.00).

According to the model, I should pick Stan Hieronymus' Brewing Local: American-Grown Beer.

BOOK	PRICE	% PRICE DELTA	OWN IT?	% INTEREST	VALUE
Brewing Local: American-Grown Beer	$19.95	0.80	0	1	0.800
Wood & Beer: A Brewer's Guide	$19.95	0.80	0	0.9	0.720
Wild Brews: Beer Beyond the Influence of Brewer’s Yeast	$17.95	0.72	0	1	0.719
Brewing with Wheat: The Wit and Weizen of Wheat Beer Styles	$17.95	0.72	0	1	0.719
Gose: Brewing a Classic German Beer for the Modern Era	$19.95	0.80	0	0.85	0.680
Beer in America: The Early Years — 1587-1840	$16.95	0.68	0	1	0.679
The Fermentation Kitchen: Recipes for the Craft Beer Lover's Pantry	$19.95	0.80	0	0.8	0.640
Modern Homebrew Recipes: Exploring Styles and Contemporary Techniques	$19.95	0.80	0	0.75	0.600
Sacred and Herbal Healing Beers: The Secrets of Ancient Fermentation	$19.95	0.80	0	0.75	0.600
For The Love of Hops: The Practical Guide to Aroma Bitterness and the Culture of Hops	$19.95	0.80	0	0.75	0.600
Designing Great Beers: The Ultimate Guide to Brewing Classic Beer Styles	$24.95	1.00	0.5	1	0.500
American Sour Beers: Innovative Techniques for Mixed Fermentations	$19.95	0.80	0.5	1	0.400
New Brewing Lager Beer: The Most Comprehensive Book for Home and Microbrewers	$19.95	0.80	0	0.5	0.400
"Radical Brewing: Recipes Tales and World-Altering Meditations in a Glass"	$19.95	0.80	0	0.5	0.400
Brewing Better Beer: Master Lessons for Advanced Homebrewers	$17.95	0.72	0	0.5	0.360
Farmhouse Ales: Culture and Craftsmanship in the Belgian Tradition	$17.95	0.72	0.5	1	0.360
"Smoked Beers: History Brewing Techniques Recipes"	$14.95	0.60	0	0.5	0.300
The Guide to Craft Beer	$12.95	0.52	0	0.5	0.260
"IPA: Brewing Techniques Recipes and the Evolution of India Pale Ale"	$24.95	1.00	0	0.25	0.250
The Best of American Beer and Food: Pairing & Cooking with Craft Beer	$22.95	0.92	0	0.25	0.230
Brewing Eclectic IPA: Pushing the Boundaries of India Pale Ale	$19.95	0.80	0	0.25	0.200
"Gluten-Free Brewing: Techniques Processes and Ingredients for Crafting Flavorful Beer"	$19.95	0.80	0	0.25	0.200
Independence Days: Still Just Boys and Other Stories	$18.95	0.76	0	0.25	0.190
Dictionary of Beer & Brewing	$15.95	0.64	0	0.25	0.160
"Altbier: History Brewing Techniques Recipes"	$14.95	0.60	0	0.25	0.150
"Brown Ale: History Brewing Techniques Recipes"	$14.95	0.60	0	0.25	0.150
"Kölsch: History Brewing Techniques Recipes"	$14.95	0.60	0	0.25	0.150
Prost!: Story of German Brewing	$14.95	0.60	0	0.25	0.150
"Barley Wine: History Brewing Techniques Recipes"	$14.95	0.60	0	0.25	0.150
Belgian Ale	$11.95	0.48	0	0.25	0.120
Bock	$11.95	0.48	0	0.25	0.120
German Wheat Beer	$11.95	0.48	0	0.25	0.120
"Oktoberfest Vienna Marzen"	$11.95	0.48	0	0.25	0.120
Scotch Ale	$11.95	0.48	0	0.25	0.120
Victory Beer Recipes	$11.95	0.48	0	0.25	0.120
Porter	$11.95	0.48	0	0.25	0.120
Stout	$11.95	0.48	0	0.25	0.120
Lambic	$10.90	0.44	0	0.25	0.109
American Craft Beer and Food Guide	$0.60	0.02	0	0.25	0.006
Historical Brewing Techniques: The Lost Art of Farmhouse Brewing	$24.95	1.00	1	1	0.000
How To Brew: Everything You Need to Know to Brew Great Beer Every Time	$24.95	1.00	1	1	0.000
Malt: A Practical Guide from Field to Brewhouse	$19.95	0.80	1	1	0.000
"Simple Homebrewing: Great Beer Less Work More Fun"	$19.95	0.80	1	1	0.000
Hooray for Craft Beer! An Illustrated Guide to Beer	$19.95	0.80	1	1	0.000
Brewing Classic Styles: 80 Winning Recipes Anyone Can Brew	$19.95	0.80	1	1	0.000
The Compleat Meadmaker: Home Production of Honey Wine From Your First Batch to Award-winning...	$19.95	0.80	1	1	0.000
Water: A Comprehensive Guide for Brewers	$19.95	0.80	1	1	0.000
Yeast: The Practical Guide to Beer Fermentation	$19.95	0.80	1	1	0.000
Session Beers: Brewing for Flavor and Balance	$19.95	0.80	1	1	0.000
How to Make Hard Seltzer: Refreshing Recipes for Sparkling Libations	$19.95	0.80	0	0	0.000
Brewing with Cannabis: Using THC and CBD in Beer	$19.95	0.80	0	0	0.000
Brewing with Hemp: The Essential Guide	$19.95	0.80	0	0	0.000
Stephen Beaumonts Brewpub Cookbook: 100 Great Recipes from 30 Great North American Brewpubs	$18.95	0.76	0	0	0.000
"Brew Like A Monk: Trappist Abbey and Strong Belgian Ales and How to Brew Them"	$17.95	0.72	1	1	0.000
"Bavarian Helles: History Brewing Techniques Recipes"	$14.95	0.60	0	0	0.000
Beer for Pete's Sake: The Wicked Adventures of a Brewing Maverick	$14.95	0.60	0	0	0.000
"Pale Ale Revised: History Brewing Techniques Recipes"	$14.95	0.60	0	0	0.000
"Mild Ale: History Brewing Techniques Recipes"	$14.95	0.60	1	0.5	0.000
Continental Pilsener	$11.95	0.48	0	0	0.000

This is just beautiful. How can anyone argue with this model?  My compliments. 

[Megary]

Now I'm in the same boat and have it down to these 3 (that somehow have avoided me):

Radical Brewing - Mosher, 2004
Brew Like a Monk - Hieronymous, 2005
Modern Homebrew Recipes - Strong, 2015

I'm a bit concerned that the first two are starting to get a bit dated, though admittedly, having never read them, how would I know?  Even Strong's book is not that "Modern" anymore I suppose.

Thoughts on which of the above will be the most valuable go-to for years to come?

[denny]

Now I'm in the same boat and have it down to these 3 (that somehow have avoided me):

Radical Brewing - Mosher, 2004
Brew Like a Monk - Hieronymous, 2005
Modern Homebrew Recipes - Strong, 2015

I'm a bit concerned that the first two are starting to get a bit dated, though admittedly, having never read them, how would I know?  Even Strong's book is not that "Modern" anymore I suppose.

Thoughts on which of the above will be the most valuable go-to for years to come?

BLAM is timeless.  If you like making beer with unusual ingredients, Radical will serve you well.  If not, not so much. Gordon's book is good if you subscribe to his method of brewing.

[allenhuerta]

Never heard anyone call it BLAM but I like it

Also, I agree with Denny. You'll make some great beers brewing like Gordon Strong but it's what works for you and your set up. I definitely stole things from him and I think it improved my beers but I don't follow everything exactly how he does it.

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