Brewing Classic Styles
Jamil Zainasheff and John J. Palmer
A homebrewer, author, and now brewmaster Jamil Zainasheff has brewed and received awards for every style of beer described in the Beer Judge Certification Program Style Guidelines. In 2011 he launched a small 30 barrel brewery, Heretic Brewing Company, in the San Francisco Bay area. This is a wonderful book for both homebrewers who wish to elevate their game and beer lovers who want a deeper understanding of their passion. Beer author John Palmer starts the book with an introduction to beer styles, ingredients, and brewing methods. The bulk of the book belongs to Jamil. Each chapter covers a style category. He begins with a brief description of the style and then discusses the keys to brewing that particular style followed by recipes for each sub-style in the style category. He provides both extract and all grain recipes for each beer and provides important pointers on how to replicate his award winning success. The book provides invaluable insight into the focus and attention to detail that an award winning brewer applies to his craft. Very well done and a very worthwhile read.