New book from Brewers Association:
http://members.brewersassociation.org/store/detail.aspx?id=504
I have the previous edition, which I found to be pretty helpful during my initial exploration into starting a brewery. My only complaint with the previous version is that it’s a bit dated. I’m hoping the new version will have a lot of updated info. No reason it shouldn’t, as the BA has a ton of useful survey data that they publish annually.
I’ve pre-ordered my copy. BA/AHA members can get 25% off until it actually starts shipping. I only wish the new edition had come out a year ago.
Does anyone know if this is the same item that is available pre-order on Amazon?
It is and it’s actually available for substantially less. (55$) Also, if you have amazon prime, free shipping. Great deal on a book that’s MSRP is 90$
I tried to stomach this and tell myself that “Oh well, it’s for an organization I support” but this really chaps my ass. I bought through brewers publications for the discounted price of 70$ due to my AHA membership, and to think I could have just bought it through amazon for 55 pisses me off. I am really beginning to wonder if my dues are worth it.
I wonder if the first edition is the cheap one on Amazon not the latest edition. Don’t know but it would explain the cost issue
Edit… I looked. The Amazon one is a 2006 edition
Amazon has both. The newer version, available for pre-order is $55.
Cool. The one I saw on Amazon was $55, on back order, and of you click details it said it was 2006 version. I must not have been able to find the new one.
I was curious and asked the AHA the same question when the IPA book was pre-released at a 46% discount on B&N vs. 40% discount at AHA. They responded that they have no control over those retailer’s prices. And they pointed out that the AHA ships the book 4-5 weeks before other retailers. Thus giving members the first opportunity to read the book. So the decision becomes how much do you value the exclusivity and the support of the AHA. I bought the IPA book from the AHA since the price difference was literally only a few dollars and it felt like the right thing to do.
I think the real question is why this pre-release is only a 25% discount vs. 40% discount we have see on the last several books. That makes the gap between the AHA’s 25% and the retailers 43% a lot harder to justify.
I’m not planning buy this book from any retailer at the moment so the price difference doesn’t bother me in any way.
That said, the dues we pay to the AHA are used for far more than discounts on books. I pay my dues because doing so supports a team of people who have our backs as home brewers. Without them many of us would be brewing illegally in our home state. We would not have access to the resources we currently do to improve our craft. The book discounts are nice but not the reason we all joined the AHA. Please keep in mind that in the grand scheme of things the AHA is a tiny organization with limited resources doing a very good job on executing on their charter.
Paul
+1
Well said.
+1…agree with all of your points!
I should say that I too will never start a pro brewery of any kind or size. There are less than 50k people within a 50 mile radius of my house, but at least six breweries including a little place called Full Sail. Odds of success would be limited.
Couldn’t have put it better. I ordered the book through the BA Store and although I don’t foresee myself going commercial anytime, it should be interesting to find out what all goes into the process of opening a brewery.
I thought about ordering it until I saw the price!! :o 75 bucks!! And that’s the member’s price! I have a lot of brewing books and I don’t think I have ever paid over 25 dollars. I wonder why it’s so expensive? I can’t imagine any more research went to that vs. Daniel’s excellent “Designing Great Beers”.
Here’s the book the guys on probrewer.com rave about, and it’s only $20: Brewery Operations Manual
I have that book!! Very good…especially for small (under 7bbl) breweries.
Thanks for that link! Just ordered.