Gardening for the Homebrewer: Grow and Process Plants for Making Beer, Wine, Gruit, Cider, Perry, and More Paperback – September 15, 2015

…because this beautifully photographed book has no recipes and, except for the cider and perry section (that does have some information I hadn't seen in the Cider books I've read), little or nothing on brewing/fermentation. Pumpkin or Butternut Squash beer might sound interesting but you're on your own, no help here.Take good clear notes as you read- there's no index or resources section for any of it.A good idea book, but you'll have to read more books if you want to go beyond the gardening part.

Very informative, readable and entertaining,

Homebrewing is a work of both science and art. Those new to the craft are usually content to learn the ropes and perfect a simple batch of brew using a homebrewing kit. But more advanced homebrewers want more, and one way to impress is by growing your own ingredients. Gardening for the Homebrewer is designed to aid the homebrewer in this important task.I have homebrewed beer in my day and I know that it can be a challenge to get everything just right. The addition of fresh ingredients is important and what could be fresher than growing your own? That’s what this book is all about. It steps the gardener through the process, from planting seeds, to harvest, to storage and beyond, with useful side tips and other advice to make your homebrew the best it can possibly be.One surprise with Gardening for the Homebrewer is that it isn’t just about growing hops, barley, wheat, and other grains. It also has sections that cover growing grapes, apples, pears, and herbs. These sections are useful for those who wish to expand their horizons and produce their own wine and cider, or who would like to grow these ingredients to add to their own beer. There is even a section on making your own flavored liqueurs- something that, in turns out, is actually easier than it first sounds.I like how this book is written. I like the side tips that cover everything from pruning to cleaning and more. I also like the humor- you don’t usually find humor in a gardening book, and it adds a nice touch. About the only thing this book could use is a conclusion. There is nothing to tie everything together at the end- the book just closes with a section on growing herbs.Homebrewing is a rewarding hobby. A great batch of homemade beer can be made even better with fresh ingredients and what could be fresher than growing your own? Gardening for the Homebrewer fulfills this purpose, showing homebrewers how to plant a garden of plenty to make the freshest, most natural beer possible. Even if you don’t want to brew beer or make wine or cider, this is still a useful book that makes a great addition to the do-it-yourself person’s library

When I received this book, I didn't really think it would be for me. While I love to garden and grow food, making beer, wine, or cider never interested me. I do enjoy a bit of wine on occasion and my husband enjoys beer. But making it? Nah! In my mind, the process required a lot of produce (either expensive to buy or time consuming & tricky to grow), specialized equipment, and a LOT of patience since it seemed to be a process of trial and error (with more failures than successes). So I opened the book with little hope of finding something of benefit.What I found was surprising. Most of the fruits, vegetables, and herbs that I grow can also be used to make adult beverages. For example, did you know that cucumbers and butternut squash make excellent beer (something to think about when you've got a bumper crop). Lavender can be used to make gin, beer, and liqueur. Even dandelions can be turned into a medium sweet, white wine. And, even more surprising, was that huge quantities of plants weren't necessarily required to make a decent amount of "brew". As for equipment, the authors point out that fermenting has been around for ages and while one can invest in a lot of expensive equipment, it isn't really necessary ... we typically have many of the items required in our homes.So let's say that you like to garden but you're not at all interested in home brewing. Does this book offer you something? Absolutely!! Each ingredient comes with a lot of information about how to grow, where to grow, when to harvest, pruning, soil conditions, solar orientations, and even how to store the harvest. The information is presented well and easy to understand.I finished this book feeling enthused about the possibilities. Since I hate food waste, it offered me an alternative to canning, freezing, giving away, or wasting the bounty in my garden. It also gave me great advice for growing things ... whether I use the plants for food, libations, or simply as a colorful accent in my yard.I received a copy of this book in order to write this review. I received no other compensation. All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone and reflect my honest opinion of the material reviewed.

What is your passion? Gardening? Brewing? Fantastic photos? Home decorating? Unusual words and phrases? Gardening for the Homebrewer: Grow and Process Plants for Making Beer, Wine, Gruit, Cider, Perry, and More is so much more than the title suggests. The book is filled with information for anyone interested in a wide variety of garden related topics. Chapter 1 by itself will get my meager garden off to a wondrous start this spring. The text boxes throughout explaining specific plants, their needs, growing habits and uses are informative. And the photos are spectacular! I was fascinated to see a section on horehound and read about its properties. My mid-west grandfather burned this plant back in the day to improve his breathing. As a child, all I remember is the smell! Horehound aside, this book truly has something for every gardener and homebrewer.

Great read lots of info and ideas