alan@unisoft.UUCP (04/26/84)
There's an interesting new home brewing book just now on the
market (publication date April 26):
Making Beer
by William Mares
Alfred A. Knopf
$7.95
The book is well-written, useful and full of reasonably
accurate brewing information. What makes it noteworthy is
its personal, semi-autobiographical style. Mares manages to
use his own experience -- both positive and negative -- to
teach good brewing habits in a wonderfully amusing and
informative way. Here's an excerpt (from his early brewing
days) to give some flavor:
"I decided I had to get the beer outside. So I bundled
up in a heavy winter parka and put on Chris's ski gog-
gles and a plastic helmet. Thick mittens and hiking
boots completed my armor. While I was dressing,
another bottle blew. I found a piece of half-inch ply-
wood about the dimensions of a beer case. With this
shield, I sallied down into the basement. The air was
thick with the sweetish smell of spilt beer. I sneaked
around an oil tank and quickly placed my shield on top
of the first case. Gently, I wiggled my fingers under
it and made my way upstairs. Only then did I realize I
had no protection under my chin. Another explosion
might send a cap flying up through the wood to
penetrate my lower jaw. Too late for such worries now.
"I carried the case out to the barn and put it down
in a stall. Mission half accomplished. I was sweating
like a pig as I went back for the second case."
This is a rewarding book for all present and would-be home
brewers: enough good advice for the experienced, and lots of
encouragement and hand-holding for the neophyte. Reading it
makes you thirsty!
Alan Tobey
MT XINU, Berkeley
ucbvax!mtxinu!alan