Brewing beers like the ones you buy Dave Lines

[dennisking]

This was the book that changed my life around 1978-79 and became my bible for many years, I know it looks a bit dated now but was the best of its time.

 

[RobWalker]

I agree, there's a lot of assumption that you already know some things, and it does dumb some stuff down - steeping grains, water treatment - which could get you into bad habits. I also outgrew it very quickly because almost every recipe seem to be a basic lager or an ale with fuggles and goldings. Great if you want typical pub beers though!

 

[critty]

I have just bought this book. It looks to have some solid info and I doubt many of the methods and rcepies have changed very much over the years Can't wait to try some of them. :)

 

[BIGJIM72]

Dave Line was a pioneer & did so much to make home brewing credible.Yes,some of the methods/theories/recipes are outdated but reading his books inspired me to go AG.If only someone would update his books,there are a few beers I would have a go at again....

 

[bobsbeer]

I still have my battered copy which I got when I first started brewing in about 1980. I suppose the ingredients, probably especially the hops were those available to home brewers in those days. It seems so long ago I can't remember.

 

[dennisking]

I still have my battered copy which I got when I first started brewing in about 1980. I suppose the ingredients, probably especially the hops were those available to home brewers in those days. It seems so long ago I can't remember.

That's right for the English beers it was goldings, fuggles or if you went really exotic northern brewer.

 

[bobsbeer]

Just noticed the price on the front. £1.25 Those were the days.

 

[critty]

The version I have is a reprint. The guy who did the reprint has said he has put notes in with updated methods and techs. Just finished reading the first few chapters. Wow this book was a labor of love. So many recepies in it.

My dad came to visit and said he owned a copy of the book in the 80's when he tried homebrew. He seemed chuffed that I had got a copy and was giving it a bash myself.

 

[evanvine]

I couldn't agree more with the above comments, if it hadn't been for Dave, I would never have got into brewing.
There were no home computers then!

 

[rich27500]

I still use the recipes but scale up the grain bill to use less sugar. However for old hooky I went exactly to book even the sweeteners. My dad swears it's like the beer used to be.

 

[Chris_1984]

Is it worth picking up Line's book on the cheap via Amazon? Or is there another tome you guys can recommend?

 

[johnluc]

I have just bought this book. It looks to have some solid info and I doubt many of the methods and rcepies have changed very much over the years Can't wait to try some of them. :)

critty, when i first started ag i was told on here that if using dave lines recipes up the grain bill by 20%-25% and reduce the hop bill by 10%
as to reach the gravities he says you would have to hit around 100% efficiency.
johnluc

 

[soupdragon]

The version I have is a reprint. The guy who did the reprint has said he has put notes in with updated methods and techs.

Do you have a link to somewhere selling the updated version? My copy got lost when I stopped brewing many many years ago, there are many beers I'd like to try again from it :thumb:

Cheers Tom

 

[critty]

Amazon have one but it's a 1998 print.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Brewing-Beers-T ... 704&sr=1-1

My local home brew shop has some in too. But I dunno the print date. But if you want I can grab you one the next time I am in and you can just paypal me the money when I send it.

 

[soupdragon]

Amazon have one but it's a 1998 print.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Brewing-Beers-T ... 704&sr=1-1

My local home brew shop has some in too. But I dunno the print date. But if you want I can grab you one the next time I am in and you can just paypal me the money when I send it.

Hi critty

Thanks for the link and the offer. I've been having a look around and actually found that one myself so I've just ordered it :) Is that the exact one that you have?

Cheers Tom

 

[Lawrence]

Just noticed the price on the front. £1.25 Those were the days.

Thats what I paid for mine, I made loads of great beer from this book.
Guinness was 40p a pint back then, so the value today is three pints of Guinness!

I must look out for the reprint,

 

[Kinleycat]

The lady who served me in the homebrew shop in Wakefield (M & D Homebrew) recommended this book so I bought it.
I will deffo be trying some of the recipes when I sharpen my skills, any other recommendations would be most welcome.
KC. :

 

[bobsbeer]

Not wanting to change the subject but another book to look at is Wheelers book brew Your own British Real Ale. A bit more up to date and probably the present day bible. I have both and both are really good, but if I were to buy just one it would be the Wheeler book. Another alternative, not common over here, are the books by Charlie Papazain, but a really good read. He is well respected and read in the USA.

 

[Bobw]

"when i first started ag i was told on here that if using dave lines recipes up the grain bill by 20%-25% and reduce the hop bill by 10%
as to reach the gravities he says you would have to hit around 100% efficiency."

In his Big Book of Brewing Dave Lines says that he assumes 100% efficiency in his recipes and mentions the trend towards higher alpha acid levels among hop producers.

A mate of mine did his London Pride straight from the book, came out quite bitter (crap scales might have been a factor). It all got drunk quick enough though!

Enjoying a GW London Porter at the moment...
bob

 

[Clint Eastwood]

I bought this book in the early 80's too. It was the only real information I had to go on back then.
I wish the internet came about 20 years sooner. I've learned more in the last couple of weeks reading the old posts on here than anything I have come across before.
I think you guys are great but my wife hates you already. :lol: