# Books for noobs **URL:** \ **Category:** General Homebrew Discussion\ **Created:** [March 16, 2015, 9:51pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/books-for-noobs/19473 "2015-03-16T21:51:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/original/1X/f1a2211dcb353b921ed70873794a31db2031eccc.png) [@system](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/system)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2015, 9:51pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/books-for-noobs/19473/1 "2015-03-16T21:51:46Z")
What are the best books for noob Brewers? I’m looking for something that breaks down in more detail the reasons for each step/method and how each ingredient works towards building a beer as well as how to develop your own recipes. Any suggestions? “When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.” ---
**Author:** ![TMX](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/tmx/32/10834_2.png) [@TMX](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/TMX)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2015, 10:13pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/books-for-noobs/19473/2 "2015-03-16T22:13:47Z")
My personal fav is “Designing Great Beers” ---
**Author:** ![skatz](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/skatz/32/6982_2.png) [@skatz](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/skatz)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2015, 10:14pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/books-for-noobs/19473/3 "2015-03-16T22:14:45Z")
> [@TMX](#): > > My personal fav is “Designing Great Beers” This plus How To Brew for the basics. ---
**Author:** ![duboman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/duboman/32/5890_2.png) [@duboman](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/duboman)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2015, 10:34pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/books-for-noobs/19473/4 "2015-03-16T22:34:09Z")
I’d recommend the the brewer’s series as well as what’s already been mentioned: “Yeast” Hops" " Water" and “Malt”. Each book breaks down the principal ingredients of beer in detail and will help you understand each element ---
**Author:** ![jonhughey\_att.net](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/jonhughey_att.net/32/6277_2.png) [@jonhughey\_att.net](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/jonhughey_att.net)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2015, 11:39pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/books-for-noobs/19473/5 "2015-03-16T23:39:20Z")
> [@](#): > > > [@TMX](#): > > > > My personal fav is “Designing Great Beers” > > This plus How To Brew for the basics. +2.  Love Charlie P for the RDWHAHB vibe, too. ---
**Author:** ![skatz](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/skatz/32/6982_2.png) [@skatz](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/skatz)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 12:07am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/books-for-noobs/19473/6 "2015-03-17T00:07:31Z")
> [@](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > > [@TMX](#): > > > > > > My personal fav is “Designing Great Beers” > > > > This plus How To Brew for the basics. > > +2.  Love Charlie P for the RDWHAHB vibe, too. I just noticed that he released a new revision sometime last year. Same old early 90’s photos from what I saw on Amazon. ---
**Author:** ![jonhughey\_att.net](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/jonhughey_att.net/32/6277_2.png) [@jonhughey\_att.net](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/jonhughey_att.net)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 12:14am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/books-for-noobs/19473/7 "2015-03-17T00:14:37Z")
> [@](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > > [@](#): > > > > > > > [@TMX](#): > > > > > > > > My personal fav is “Designing Great Beers” > > > > > > This plus How To Brew for the basics. > > > > +2.  Love Charlie P for the RDWHAHB vibe, too. > > I just noticed that he released a new revision sometime last year. Same old early 90’s photos from what I saw on Amazon. Yeah, saw it in a bookstore.  Looked pretty similar to the 2nd revision. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/original/1X/f1a2211dcb353b921ed70873794a31db2031eccc.png) [@system](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/system)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 3:18am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/books-for-noobs/19473/8 "2015-03-17T03:18:49Z")
What is RDWHAHB? “When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.” ---
**Author:** ![skatz](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/skatz/32/6982_2.png) [@skatz](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/skatz)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 3:31am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/books-for-noobs/19473/9 "2015-03-17T03:31:48Z")
Relax, don’t worry, have a home brew. Charlie papazian catch phrase. It’s pretty much true. ---
**Author:** ![cassa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@cassa](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/cassa)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 3:48am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/books-for-noobs/19473/10 "2015-03-17T03:48:15Z")
Along with the others already mentioned, I think Randy Mosher’s new Mastering Homebrew is worth a look.  It has the basic process description for the new brewer as well some nice discussion of recipe formulation, with some nicely designed charts and graphs. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/original/1X/f1a2211dcb353b921ed70873794a31db2031eccc.png) [@system](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/system)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 5:08am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/books-for-noobs/19473/11 "2015-03-17T05:08:04Z")
Sounds good. Do any of these also go into why specific ingredients work best for certain styles? “When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.” ---
**Author:** ![homoeccentricus](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/homoeccentricus/32/11858_2.png) [@homoeccentricus](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/homoeccentricus)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 10:14am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/books-for-noobs/19473/12 "2015-03-17T10:14:01Z")
> [@](#): > > Sounds good. Do any of these also go into why specific ingredients work best for certain styles? Yes, that’s exactly what Designing Great Beers does. ---
**Author:** ![ynotbrusum](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/ynotbrusum/32/10316_2.png) [@ynotbrusum](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/ynotbrusum)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 11:44am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/books-for-noobs/19473/13 "2015-03-17T11:44:12Z")
Brewing Classic Styles works well as a guide to each of the 2008 BJCP styles.  There are specific recipes for each style.  Try them with good water and you should be in good shape. ---
**Author:** ![stevo155](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@stevo155](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/stevo155)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 12:04pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/books-for-noobs/19473/14 "2015-03-17T12:04:52Z")
> [@duboman](#): > > I’d recommend the the brewer’s series as well as what’s already been mentioned: “Yeast” Hops" " Water" and “Malt”. Each book breaks down the principal ingredients of beer in detail and will help you understand each element Brewing Association Publications needs to make this a box set and just call it “Beer”. I would definitely read through some of the others mentioned before hitting these.  They can get technical very fast. ---
**Author:** ![braufessor](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/braufessor/32/21101_2.png) [@braufessor](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/braufessor)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 12:25pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/books-for-noobs/19473/15 "2015-03-17T12:25:48Z")
I have always thought “How to Brew” was a great intro book.  I just got Mosher’s new book (Mastering Homebrew) in the mail a couple days ago.  I have only had a chance to flip through it, but it looks like it is going to be an excellent book. ---
**Author:** ![duboman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/duboman/32/5890_2.png) [@duboman](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/duboman)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 2:29pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/books-for-noobs/19473/16 "2015-03-17T14:29:06Z")
> [@](#): > > > [@duboman](#): > > > > I’d recommend the the brewer’s series as well as what’s already been mentioned: “Yeast” Hops" " Water" and “Malt”. Each book breaks down the principal ingredients of beer in detail and will help you understand each element > > Brewing Association Publications needs to make this a box set and just call it “Beer”. > > I would definitely read through some of the others mentioned before hitting these.  They can get technical very fast. True and a box set is a great idea! I threw these out there just because the other great books were already mentioned. Some of these are definitely more technical but valuable resources ---
**Author:** ![chumley](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/chumley/32/12153_2.png) [@chumley](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/chumley)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 3:04pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/books-for-noobs/19473/17 "2015-03-17T15:04:33Z")
For someone just starting out brewing, I would recommend Homebrewing Vol. I by Al Korzonas. ---
**Author:** ![denny](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/denny/32/13092_2.png) [@denny](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/denny)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 3:23pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/books-for-noobs/19473/18 "2015-03-17T15:23:16Z")
> [@TMX](#): > > My personal fav is “Designing Great Beers” As great a book as that it, it’d getting long om the tooth.  While there’s some great info there, like the concept of BU:GU, most of the recipe ideas are based on the unavailability of ingredients back then.  There are substitutions for ingredients that are readily available these days. ---
**Author:** ![denny](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/denny/32/13092_2.png) [@denny](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/denny)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 3:24pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/books-for-noobs/19473/19 "2015-03-17T15:24:02Z")
> [@duboman](#): > > I’d recommend the the brewer’s series as well as what’s already been mentioned: “Yeast” Hops" " Water" and “Malt”. Each book breaks down the principal ingredients of beer in detail and will help you understand each element He’s a new brewer.  Why would he want to saddle himself with that? ---
**Author:** ![denny](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/denny/32/13092_2.png) [@denny](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/denny)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2015, 3:25pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/books-for-noobs/19473/20 "2015-03-17T15:25:19Z")
> [@homoeccentricus](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > Sounds good. Do any of these also go into why specific ingredients work best for certain styles? > > Yes, that’s exactly what Designing Great Beers does. But as I mentioned, due to the lack of many ingredients years back, there are work arounds you wouldn’t have to make today. [Next page](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/books-for-noobs/19473.md?page=2)