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Booze for Free
Your bar tab doesn't have to break the bank. Learn how to grow, forage, and brew your way to good spirits with the same amount of helpful facts and fun that stirred the moonshine craze!
A single cocktail can cost you $15 in a bar or restaurant. But home brewer and self-sufficiency expert Andy Hamilton can show you how easy and economical it can be to make simple hop brews, exquisite wines, and delicious infused spirits--all from easily grown or foraged ingredients. Booze for Free shares a wealth of valuable information, including:
- Home-brewing 101
- How to turn your garden into a drinker's paradise
- Where and how to forage with success
- How to make more than 100 delicious drinks to your preferred taste and strength--quickly, cheaply and with minimum fuss
- And more!
For readers who love THE DRUNKEN BOTANIST, a guide to making delicious (and inexpensive!) beverages at home.
A single cocktail can cost you $15 in a bar or restaurant. But home brewer and self-sufficiency expert Andy Hamilton can show you how easy and economical it can be to make simple hop brews, exquisite wines, and delicious infused spirits--all from easily grown or foraged ingredients. Booze for Free shares a wealth of valuable information, including:
- Home-brewing 101
- How to turn your garden into a drinker's paradise
- Where and how to forage with success
- How to make more than 100 delicious drinks to your preferred taste and strength--quickly, cheaply and with minimum fuss
- And more!
For readers who love THE DRUNKEN BOTANIST, a guide to making delicious (and inexpensive!) beverages at home.
Unknown Binding
First published September 1, 2011
21 people are currently reading
372 people want to read
About the author
Andy Hamilton
9 books22 followersAndy Hamilton is an award-winning non-fiction author and all-round nice chap.
Andy's books reflect his joy of life. They include the best-selling The First Time Forager, Booze for Free; Fermenting Everything, The Perfect Pint, The Selfsufficientish Bible and his brave and thoroughly researched unique nature memoir meets popular science and self-help - New Wild Order. A book that profoundly and utterly changed his life (for the better).
Andy is currently writing acid house tunes, poetry, and he is collecting experiences in the natural world for a new book non-fiction book. He is also tinkering with a novel.
He also finds time to be a hands-on Dad to two young children and to potter about his hilltop area of Bristol drinking tea. He's also turning his small steep garden into a nature haven.
Andy's books reflect his joy of life. They include the best-selling The First Time Forager, Booze for Free; Fermenting Everything, The Perfect Pint, The Selfsufficientish Bible and his brave and thoroughly researched unique nature memoir meets popular science and self-help - New Wild Order. A book that profoundly and utterly changed his life (for the better).
Andy is currently writing acid house tunes, poetry, and he is collecting experiences in the natural world for a new book non-fiction book. He is also tinkering with a novel.
He also finds time to be a hands-on Dad to two young children and to potter about his hilltop area of Bristol drinking tea. He's also turning his small steep garden into a nature haven.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 27, 2019
If shtf, or if normies get the Zombie Apocalypse they so desperately desire, there won’t be any more commercial bottle shops, and this book will come in handy, provided you stock up on equipment in advance (airlocks, demijohns, cider press etc, as outlined in the book).
It contains over 100 recipes, including gorse flower wine, broad bean wine, birch sap wine, pumpkin beer, crab apple liqueur, nettle ale, and, for the real masochists, horse radish vodka (said to be good for colds).
Happy brewing...
It contains over 100 recipes, including gorse flower wine, broad bean wine, birch sap wine, pumpkin beer, crab apple liqueur, nettle ale, and, for the real masochists, horse radish vodka (said to be good for colds).
Happy brewing...
September 27, 2024
BOOZE FOR FREE-ANDY HAMILTON
✒️"This book is dedicated to all those people I have enjoyed a drink with, and to those I have yet to enjoy a drink with. Cheers!"
🥂Ova knjiga nije ono što sam očekivala. I to duplo nije. 😁
🥂Očekvala sam (na osnovu uvoda) da će nas autor naučiti kako da napravimo sve od otpada,poput zatvorenika ili pustinjaka
🥂Očekivala sam obuku kako da se napravi alkoholno piće koje je skuplje nego da ga kupiš u prodavnici,jer sve što je džabe to ispadne skuplje
🥂E,sad,šta ova knjiga jeste-jako zanimljiva i duhovita i sadrži najosnovnije osnovne informacije.
🥂Gde i kada (po godišnjim dobama) možete naći ili kako odgajiti biljke. Ovo se odnosi na Englesku,ali je primenljivo i na našu klimu.
🥂Kratak istorijat pića,anegdote-istorijske i sopstvene,poput ove
✒️"Chilli Vodka
Chilli vodka is one of those 'man' drinks where the word 'man' can be transposed to mean 'a little stupid'. The effects of a sip of chilli vodka - depending on its strength, of course - can last for a whole evening. It causes the same burning sensation as eating a raw chilli. A chilli vodka made with sixty chillies infused for three months is used for initiation purposes by our homebrewing circle in Bristol. As yet no one has drunk more than a mouthful, and no one has gone back for seconds. I guess this means none of us is a real man.)"
🥂Najjednostavniji recepti za alkoholna i bezalkoholna pića koja bukvalno u stanu možete da napravite
🥂Zakone i pravila šta se sme a šta ne brati ili odgajati (ponovo,odnosi se na Englesku,pa se mora proveriti)
🥂A za dalje istraživanje spisak korisne literature i adresa udruženja kojima se možete obratiti (Velika Britanija) i web adresa (prošireno,međunarodno)
🥂A ako imate nekoga u selu ko pravi svoje vino ili rakiju,ili i sami to radite-biće vam zanimljivo da saznate da ništa novo nećete naučiti ali ćete potvrditi ono što već znate.
🥂Sve u svemu,zabavno je i drago mi je što sam nakon glupog uvoda nastavila. Izgleda da autor bolje mućka pića nego što piše uvode. Što ne mora da bude mana 😂
#7sensesofabook #andyhamilton #boozeforfree
✒️"This book is dedicated to all those people I have enjoyed a drink with, and to those I have yet to enjoy a drink with. Cheers!"
🥂Ova knjiga nije ono što sam očekivala. I to duplo nije. 😁
🥂Očekvala sam (na osnovu uvoda) da će nas autor naučiti kako da napravimo sve od otpada,poput zatvorenika ili pustinjaka
🥂Očekivala sam obuku kako da se napravi alkoholno piće koje je skuplje nego da ga kupiš u prodavnici,jer sve što je džabe to ispadne skuplje
🥂E,sad,šta ova knjiga jeste-jako zanimljiva i duhovita i sadrži najosnovnije osnovne informacije.
🥂Gde i kada (po godišnjim dobama) možete naći ili kako odgajiti biljke. Ovo se odnosi na Englesku,ali je primenljivo i na našu klimu.
🥂Kratak istorijat pića,anegdote-istorijske i sopstvene,poput ove
✒️"Chilli Vodka
Chilli vodka is one of those 'man' drinks where the word 'man' can be transposed to mean 'a little stupid'. The effects of a sip of chilli vodka - depending on its strength, of course - can last for a whole evening. It causes the same burning sensation as eating a raw chilli. A chilli vodka made with sixty chillies infused for three months is used for initiation purposes by our homebrewing circle in Bristol. As yet no one has drunk more than a mouthful, and no one has gone back for seconds. I guess this means none of us is a real man.)"
🥂Najjednostavniji recepti za alkoholna i bezalkoholna pića koja bukvalno u stanu možete da napravite
🥂Zakone i pravila šta se sme a šta ne brati ili odgajati (ponovo,odnosi se na Englesku,pa se mora proveriti)
🥂A za dalje istraživanje spisak korisne literature i adresa udruženja kojima se možete obratiti (Velika Britanija) i web adresa (prošireno,međunarodno)
🥂A ako imate nekoga u selu ko pravi svoje vino ili rakiju,ili i sami to radite-biće vam zanimljivo da saznate da ništa novo nećete naučiti ali ćete potvrditi ono što već znate.
🥂Sve u svemu,zabavno je i drago mi je što sam nakon glupog uvoda nastavila. Izgleda da autor bolje mućka pića nego što piše uvode. Što ne mora da bude mana 😂
#7sensesofabook #andyhamilton #boozeforfree
May 25, 2020
An excellent resource for beginners and more experienced home brewers, I found a great deal of information that was well put together and easy to follow. This isn’t just about making alcoholic drinks but covers foraging, where to look for specific fruits and herbs, growing your own plants, vegetables etc. There are definitely some recipes I will be trying. I think the closest guide this comes to is an updated version of the Cottage Economy by Cobbett. There is also a good reference guide in the back if you want to go deeper.
October 19, 2011
Very inspiring, especially since many of the ingredients can be found within a mile of where you live for free...
December 1, 2017
A variety of information, broken down by season into plants, with hints for foraging and growing. Mostly focuses on beer/ale and non-grape wines, called country wines in the book. A bit on ciders and a couple of mead recipes. Felt very conversational in tone, like someone talking fermentation over a drink.
Gave me a few ideas to try, but I felt a bit underwhelmed, partially because beer isn't really my thing, partially from other reading on foraging and fermentation.
Did have some useful tidbits as to why various things are used in wine / beer / cider making processes, and what purpose they serve. Although, I was left wondering about the function of bananas in a bunch of the country wines, even in recipes that use grapes or raisins.
One frustration: the ebook version I was reading from, the index in app only had major sections as parts of the book I could skip to, rather than recipes. Index within the book at the end was not linked, but page numbers, which was not useful with ebook edition, as page numbers within app were relative to section of the book and text size.
Gave me a few ideas to try, but I felt a bit underwhelmed, partially because beer isn't really my thing, partially from other reading on foraging and fermentation.
Did have some useful tidbits as to why various things are used in wine / beer / cider making processes, and what purpose they serve. Although, I was left wondering about the function of bananas in a bunch of the country wines, even in recipes that use grapes or raisins.
One frustration: the ebook version I was reading from, the index in app only had major sections as parts of the book I could skip to, rather than recipes. Index within the book at the end was not linked, but page numbers, which was not useful with ebook edition, as page numbers within app were relative to section of the book and text size.
September 14, 2019
Hoped for more procedure information. Interesting and enlightening but lacking in “how to”.
April 23, 2023
One of my favourite non fiction books. Top tips for brewing and foraging. Well written and humourous. Worth your money.
November 29, 2025
Not as good as Strong Waters, but pretty good.
June 15, 2013
Ok I am not sure if I should put a condition on this rating or not - I love to cook and create from fruit and vegetables donated from family and friends gardens (and some times from the hedge row). its something I grew up with from my parents living out in the villages.
So back to the conditional rating - I have not made anything from this book as yet but I am great encouraged to do so and so feel that depending on my success should depend on what I do with the rating.
No joking aside this is a fun read with a light hearted approach to the subject - it does not just cover alcoholic drinks but all kinds of cordials and drinks. In contains many of the authors own creation, while others that have been shared with him over the years. Its a fascinating read and just goes to show what you can create out there - but the knowledge of which appears to be sadly slowly slipping away.
So back to the conditional rating - I have not made anything from this book as yet but I am great encouraged to do so and so feel that depending on my success should depend on what I do with the rating.
No joking aside this is a fun read with a light hearted approach to the subject - it does not just cover alcoholic drinks but all kinds of cordials and drinks. In contains many of the authors own creation, while others that have been shared with him over the years. Its a fascinating read and just goes to show what you can create out there - but the knowledge of which appears to be sadly slowly slipping away.
June 2, 2013
I really enjoyed reading this one, and was very excited to get an advanced copy through FirstReads. The style of writing was great and the recipes sounded phenomenal.
My husband has been wanting to brew his own beer for a while now but we didn't really know where to start. But after reading this I felt more comfortable choosing a brewing kit (or a least the items needed for brewing) and figuring out what kinds of beer to try.
I also love that it didn't focus on just beer! There were recipes for CHAMPAGNE!! Well Sparkling Wine (I won't be brewing it in Champagne...lol) and recipes for cider and wine. It was very comprehensive and I liked the history and health notes added in.
Overall a really great guide for beginners or a great recipe book for the advanced. I highly recommend it!
My husband has been wanting to brew his own beer for a while now but we didn't really know where to start. But after reading this I felt more comfortable choosing a brewing kit (or a least the items needed for brewing) and figuring out what kinds of beer to try.
I also love that it didn't focus on just beer! There were recipes for CHAMPAGNE!! Well Sparkling Wine (I won't be brewing it in Champagne...lol) and recipes for cider and wine. It was very comprehensive and I liked the history and health notes added in.
Overall a really great guide for beginners or a great recipe book for the advanced. I highly recommend it!
October 3, 2013
The recipes are arranged in seasons, suitable for foragers. They are simple, with not too many ingredients and the quantities are kept small, usually to one demi-john. I like the way the author provides ideas for cheap alternatives to some of the 'essential' equipment. I'm currently brewing up a 'sort of' cider, sloe gin and vodka and have made blackberry cordial very successfully. I can see this book becoming a well-thumbed favourite. My only criticism is with the index, for some reason I find it hard to locate the pages I'm looking for, and have numerous bookmarks sticking out of it.
January 23, 2015
Definitely feel like this book can get you into brewing, and indeed for cheap/free. I really wish I read this book before we went out and bought all brand-new, expensive equipment straight from the brew store!
Really looking forward to trying a few of the more esoteric 'foraging' recipes for alcohol- It's going to be an interesting summer!
Really looking forward to trying a few of the more esoteric 'foraging' recipes for alcohol- It's going to be an interesting summer!
February 20, 2013
Very interesting how the author tells you about the free ways to "forage" ingredients for the booze. Many of the ingredients i had never heard of but i can't wait to see how some of these ideas turn out.
Want to read
February 8, 2013Really hope to win this book. I have started to really get into homebrewing with my brother in law as a way to honor and remember my father in law.
December 30, 2013
A great fun read, with lots of great information!
June 8, 2013
Some really great info on foraging and gardening, and recipes that can be easily adapted.
Read
July 27, 2016Lots of interesting recipes, of which I'm not sure what I'll end up making. Surprisingly, does NOT have a recipe for mead (honey wine. Very odd.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews