For anyone who has considered brewing a batch of beer or mead at home, or making a custom barrel of wine with local fruit, this thorough guide will clear a path to the bottle. It demystifies the process: from planting hops and fruits to pruning, harvesting, fermenting, flavoring, and bottling one-of-a-kind drinks from your own backyard. It serves as a starting point not only for wines and beers, but also hard ciders, meads, and infusions, and even...

"Amelia Slayton Loftus shares her expert knowledge in this comprehensive guide that includes everything homebrewers of all levels need to know to brew delicious, organic beer. She covers the whys and hows of organic brewing, things to consider when buying equipment, and everything you need to know about organic ingredients (what makes them different, how to get them, and how to make substitutions). She also offers more than 30 irresistible recipes....

"Beginners will find the basics laid out clearly, with an emphasis on flavor at every turn. Creativity is encouraged right from the start. While most books offer a single dumbed-down starter recipe, Mastering Homebrew presents "The Amazing Shape-Shifting Recipe," which can morph into any of a hundred different beers depending on the choices made by the brewer. Advanced brewers will find a wealth of information and ideas to increase their understanding...