Make Your Own Beer: A Guide to All Things Beer and How to Brew it Yourself

by John Shepherd

Accessible to all home brewers, from beginners to experienced, and practical as a guide to the process of brewing beer.

Make Your Own Beer is an accessible and practical guide to home brewing, covering all aspects of the process, including equipment and the cost versus benefit of different types, beer styles and flavors, and an understanding of key, quality ingredients. Readers will gain the skills to brew a number of different styles of beers, taking satisfaction not only from the activity, but also from the end result.

Not just a dry step-by-step manual, Make Your Own Beer is a lighthearted, engaging guide for readers interested in brewing their own beer, and those simply interested in learning about the process. Illustrated with 120 photographs beautifully documenting the process in full color.

104 pages, Paperback

Published January 18, 2021

About the author

This is the disambiguation profile for otherwise unseparated authors publishing as John Shepherd

Reviews

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Make Your Own Beer is a layman accessible introduction to homebrewing beer by John Shepherd. Due out 30th Nov 2020 from Pen & Sword, it's a compact 104 pages and will be available in paperback format.
The book has a logical and accessible layout. The introduction provides a capsule history of modern zymurgy, changing beer styles, and the renaissance of craft beers. The following chapters provide an overview of the scope and reasonable possibilities for home-brewing through a very well written tutorial through the process: equipment, ingredients, preparation, mash & sparge (don't worry, understandable definitions are provided), hopping, transfer, fermentation, packaging, storage, and further exploration/experimentation. There are several appendices which give examples of record keeping brew sheets and brew-kit equipment. There is no index in the eARC I was provided for review (but it's a short and streamlined book).

This would make a great gift for a keen beginner or intermediate hobbyist. Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This seems to be slanted to the British market more than American, but I found it pretty informative. I don't brew beer, but have family members and neighbors who do. Most do an admirable job of it, too! This book should be an interesting read for homebrewers in a person's life! I didn't understand a lot of the book, though I did think the chapter on the difference between cask and keg beers interesting. I think I heard some American brewers were beginning to use casks. They sound intriguing and worth seeking out if you enjoy trying a variety of beers.
I think the step by step of equiptment and ingredients was helpful. So much stuff! I though beer brewing was so much easier! My grandmother would brew beer for her family, a dunkel, I believe, and can't imagine her going through all these steps. Well, what do I know. Someone dropped the ball after WW2 and the family beer recipe was lost. No luck asking various branches either, no one has it.
Anywat, this book maybe a good starter for anyone learning to brew, or someone wanting to read about new /old techniques and a bit of history.
I received a Kindle arc from Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.

[Tove R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very thoroughly written book about home brewing. There is a lot of in-depth knowledge, and it’s easy to spot that the author has a lot of experience regarding the subject. There are clear instructions about what you need, what you need to do and when, with pictures. The guidance through the process of brewing beer at home is excellent.

There are great explanations about the ingredients, but not too much so that it would confuse a keen newbie. Extra points for pointing out the importance of cleaning! It can never be emphasized enough. In fact, I believe that is were many go wrong. It is naturally the least exciting bit about brewing. However, if you’re not going to give it the attention it needs I don’t see a point in brewing your own beer. By following the instructions in this book you should be able to brew yourself some tasty beers!

I find that quite a few of the photos could be better, and they are not really balanced. It is easy to spot the difference between amateur and professional shots.

[John Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written, interesting guide on the brewing process.