Home Brewers Recipe Database - Les Howarth

[redbenson111]

I was looking for some hints on a clone recipe for Castle Eden Ale and came across this on Google.

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=6vbW ... pe&f=false

I dont know how accurate the information is, but if it is any good, it gives some useful pointers to some of the older and more obscure beers and lagers.

If nothing else, it makes interesting reading and it is nice to see that some of the long gone breweries are still remembered in print.

[Wezzel]

Thanks, what a good find.

I have just had a flick through and chanced upon an old favourite of mine that I haven't drank for twenty years - Brakespears Henley Mild.

I might just have to have a go

[Dennis King]

I've got the book, it's a good source of info.

[Dr. Dextrin]

That looks potentially interesting although I don't seem to be able to read anything except the index. Can anyone else read any sample recipes?

The crucial thing is how accurate is the information? I find it hard to believe there are accurate sources from which this can all be gleaned, but maybe the author is an investigative genius? Are there any hints about sources in the book itself?

[Dennis King]

He does give sources, if I remember he uses the Rodger Protz Real ale almanac amongst others. Some beers he will give you 2 or 3 lists for the same beers as the brewery has changed things. You do have to do some work yourself as he does not always give percentages.

[redbenson111]

Dr. D,
"That looks potentially interesting although I don't seem to be able to read anything except the index. Can anyone else read any sample recipes?"

As an alternative, google 'google books' and then in the search box enter 'Home Brewers Recipe Database' and it will direct you to the page. The introduction and index are quite long, but if you scroll down far enough you will come to the recipes.

Cheers!

[Dennis King]

When I click on your link it comes up on the ingredients for the Castle Eden beer.

[yanbupete]

Use the slide on the side to move to the cover page and then page down to the alphabetic index and highlight the selected beer. There is a delay while the page is selected. I've used it to view several different brews and have also read the procedure for adapting the listings into a recipe.

[Dr. Dextrin]

Well I couldn't get google books to show me any more pages. I guess they must hate me for blocking their cookies (I did try unblocking everything). But Amazon showed me a bit more and I also found a book review.

From what I can tell, it's a compendium of data from other sources, so probably no more accurate than any of them. I'm guessing it might be good for anyone who wants to clone lots of beers, but unlikely to contain any newly-discovered information for a beer you've already researched thoroughly. I could be wrong, but I think I'm going to hang fire until I find a copy to browse.

[Normski]

Looks like ALL the recipies are from either Roger Prost or Graham Wheeler or the European Beer Drinkers Almanac.
There doesn't seem to be anything that isn't already on the "1500 uk bEER" list which is already a free download.

[redbenson111]

A link to that download would be nice.

[Blackaddler]

A link to that download would be nice.

Presumably, this 1500ukbeers.doc file at http://kotmf.com/articles/

Appears to be fairly basic information only.

Useful, though.

[redbenson111]

Thanks Blackaddler. What a gent!

[Les_Howarth]

To set the record straight, the 1500ukbeers.doc appears to be a text copy of the database that was the basis of the first edition of the book. I supplied this to the Craft Brewing Association long before I had any thoughts of compiling it into a book and it appears to have "escaped" to the internet. It is very basic and does contain some errors.

The google link is to the first (2004) edition of the book which will soon cease to be available as a paperback and I don't recommend its purchase for the reasons mentioned above.

The second (2011) edition has a much wider range of sources and more beers with, as before, varying levels of detail. This is partly because I have deliberately tried not to reproduce recipe information from any published beer recipe books since I have no desire to reduce their sales (nor infringe copyright). For these recipes you will have to refer to the original source to find the full recipe and the database effectively acts as an index to these books so you'll know what recipes are available along with some indication of ingredients required.

For the rest of them, I'd hope that the information provides a useful starting point for designing your own recipes whether that is cloning or simple inspiration to use new ingredients.

I hope that this helps.

Cheers,

Les

[boingy]

Les, what's the score with that book being available on Google Books?
Is it legit?
Have you given permission?
Are you happy to see it there?