Brewing book suggestions

[von Vorlauf]

I'm currently studying for a brewing exam and using somewhat dated borrowed brewing books. I want to invest in some of my own but want to make sure they are up to date. I know how expensive these can be and want to make sure I make the right choice. Can anyone out there suggest any? My main focus is on materials and wort production.

[beertje46]

Malting and Brewing Science (http://books.google.com/books?id=bHuCdG5VSmUC&dq=malting+and+brewing+science+by+hough+briggs+ste vens+and+young&pg=PP1&ots=88-YmQ9Hr-&sig=1n3KriSiUOvXZnsC1HGXWi_PhQw&prev=http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Malting+and+Brewing+Science+by+Hough,+Briggs,+St evens,+and+Young&btnG=Google+Search&sa=X&oi=print&ct=title&cad=one-book-with-thumbnail) by Hough, Briggs, Stevens, and Young, Volumes 1 & 2.

[monkeybrewer]

The MBAA recently released "the Practical Handbook for the Specialty Brewer". It is there craft beer version of the classic "Practical Brewer". It is a three volume set that breaks up the brewery into #1 Raw Materials and Brewhouse Operations #2 Fermentation, Cellaring and Packaging Operations and #3 Brewing Engineering and Plant Operations (the most helpful one I think). The books are laid out in a question and answer based format that makes finding the answer to your question as easy to find as possible. I don't know what I would do with out them. You can purchase them on the MBAA website separately for $50 a piece or by all three for $99. I highly recommend it for any craft brewer.
Cheers

[DavidS]

reviving the thread if you don't mind. I am a assistant brewer and am considering the mbaa book "A Handbook of Basic Brewing Calculations". Does anyone have any pros or cons regarding this book?

Thanks,
DS

[sbradt]

I highly recommend the Handbook of Brewing Calculations. It is the single most complete coverage of the basic, day to day, calculations needed for all aspects of practical brewing. Stephen did a remarkable amount of research. (disclosure - I was one of several technical editors, but as soon as I started working on the editing, I saw immediately that this was going to be an invaluable resource.)

[Wag]

The MBAA recently released "the Practical Handbook for the Specialty Brewer". It is there craft beer version of the classic "Practical Brewer". It is a three volume set that breaks up the brewery into #1 Raw Materials and Brewhouse Operations #2 Fermentation, Cellaring and Packaging Operations and #3 Brewing Engineering and Plant Operations (the most helpful one I think). The books are laid out in a question and answer based format that makes finding the answer to your question as easy to find as possible. I don't know what I would do with out them. You can purchase them on the MBAA website separately for $50 a piece or by all three for $99. I highly recommend it for any craft brewer.
Cheers

Hey there. Sorry to revive an older thread.

Would this "trilogy" be too advanced reading for a practical homebrewer looking for a resource to help him ease into the larger world of commercial brewing? If it is too advanced, is there another resource that would be a better start?

Thanks

[GeorgeJ]

i'm winding through 'technology brewing and malting' by Wolfgang Kunze

its good. not too stiff. but with what you need to know in there too. its quite an expensive book. but i didnt buy it myself, and its helping my knowledge of brewing vastly.

theres a book by lewis and young thats good. but not as in depth as the Kunze book

[monkeybrewer]

I would say that the three mbaa books are definitely something that would be easy to understand as long as you are a proficient homebrewer to start. The books are setup in such a way that I have haven't found any other books that explain things so simply or make it so easy to refer to for random questions. I got the books after being in the brewing industry for 4 years as a brewer/cellarman to prepare myself for being a head brewer. They have been great. Just my two cents.
Cheers