Book Resources
This is where I keep the books I've found so far that I either want, have, or just thought helpful. I have both Amazon and Barnes and Noble links because I have loyalty to B&N 'cause I love their cafe (Best god-damn Chai Tea evar).Mead Books
- The Compleat Meadmaker : By Ken Schramm (B&N, Amazon) An indispensible resource for the meadmaker. The compleat title is something like "From your first mead to award winning variations" or whatever. The point is, it's true. He's extremely helpful, very thorough, and this book will get you from 0 to 60 in about the time it takes to read it (TAKE THAT CLICHES).
- Brewing Mead : By Robert Gayre (B&N, Amazon) Another out of print book, but looks like a good one and has been recommended to me. Don't have it yet.
- Mad About Mead : By Pamela Spence (B&N, Amazon) Another out of print book, but looks like a good one and has been recommended to me. Don't have it yet.
Wine Books
- Making Wild Wines and Meads: 125 Unusual Recipes Using Herbs, Fruits, Flowers and More : By Pattie Vargas (B&N, Amazon) Found it looking around, seems interesting and might be worth checking out just for new ideas for recipes and inspiration. I ordered it and should be coming in soon.
- Joy of Home Wine Making : By Terry Garey (B&N, Amazon) Very nice book. Focuses more on country (fruit/vegetable/etc) wines than grape wines. Tons of recipes and thorough directions listed therefor. Also contains very basic directions, ingredient descriptions, processes, equipment descriptions, and all the other necessary info to get you started.
Beer Books
- The Complete Joy of Homebrewing : By Charles Papazian (B&N, Amazon) Some call it the "Brewer's Bible", but it's an extremely good guide to home brewing beer. It covers pretty much everything, and gives really nice, thorough discussions on those subjects. My only complaint is that he doesn't directly explain some meanings, so that you have to keep referring to the appendix. Also, he overuses his catch phrase "Relax, have a homebrew" far too much.
Cider Books
- The Art of Cidermaking : By Paul Correnty (B&N, Amazon) Don't have it, but Ken Schramm recommends it, and it looks like something to keep an eye out for. Out of print, but used copies available.
- Cider: Making, Using & Enjoying Sweet and Hard : By Annie Proulx (B&N, Amazon) Don't have it, stumbled across it on the interweb. Looks to have a lot of good info and looks like something to grab.
Esoterica
- Alcoholica Esoterica: A Collection of Useful and Useless Information As It Relates to the History and Consumption of All Manner of Booze : By Ian Lendler (B&N, Amazon) An extremely light and entertaining book detailing the rise, fall, and rerise of alcoholic beverages in the history of man. Fascinating, amusing, and informative, it's small in size, perfect to pull out of a back pocket at a bar stool. But Lendler recognizes the danger: He warns readers they could turn into Cliff Clavin, the trivia-spouting mailman of TV's "Cheers." "I learned tons of interesting anecdotes and facts" while researching the book, Lendler writes. "I was the nightmare of every party."
