Customer Reviews
Lots of great information in this detailed book 
2008-08-04
If you have ever considered growing hops, barely, or herbs this is a wealth of information. The book also contains 29 recipes that call for some of these exotic and historical ingredients. Very useful if you want to brew beer without hops or brew in styles from centuries ago.
I feel confident setting up my hop yard based on the information contained here. Contains details on everything about growing hops, from planting, stringing, watering, feeding, eliminating pests, and treating disease, to harvesting and drying. In terms of growing your own grains, you will need a lot of space and time. This book also covers how to malt, which is a detailed and time intensive process.
Topics unique to this book.
* Profile of 40 herbs used in historical brewing processes: (Alecost, Anise Hyssop, Basil, Bee Balm, Betony, Birch, Blackberry, Blessed Thistle, Borage, Chamomile, Clary Sage, Coriander, Dandelion, Elder, Elecampane, Gentian, Ginger, Ginseng, Greek Oregano, Heather, Horehound, Hyssop, Juniper, Lavender, Lemon Balm, Licorice, Milk Thistle, Mint, Nasturtium, Nettles, Raspberry, Rhubarb, Rose Hips, Rosemary, Sage, Savory, Spruce, Sweet Woodruff, Thyme, Valerian, Wintergreen, Yarrow)
* 29 Recipes containing specialty herbs, including: (Dandelion bitter, Quinoa Bitter, Chica De Jora, Chili Beer, Rhubarb Ale, Gingered Ale, Gotlandsdrika, Pumpkin Ale, Oregano Pale, Sorghum Ale)
* Growing and malting your own grain
larry 'at' brewersfriend 'dot' com
http://www.brewersfriend.com
Rounded Garden 
2008-07-28
This book did not have as much in depth information about hops as I had wished for, but, it did have lots of other information that a brewer would appreciate and use. The discription of different herbs and there uses would be helpful to all, but the most knowledgible brewers.
Good Stuff 
2008-06-16
Great book. Lots of useful info. Seller got it to me in a quick mannor and in great condition.
a book straight to the point 2008-05-12
I bought this book for the Hop part I am a home brewer and the Hop shortage worried me, I bought a house last summer, and I have a spot that I can use for growing hops, I bought this book and others, this one has the layout well wrote, it is a clear cut information book, I have no gardening experience, and this book helped me in setting up my hops, and maintain then they are about a foot long now and healthy, the other parts of the book grain, and herb is also nice , it makes me want to grow my herb and grain... this book is the only one you need to grow hops....and I sure other product in it.
Clear and Inspiring How-To 2008-02-16
I bought this book looking for a guide to grow hops... It is certainly that, and more. It covers varieties and where they grow, how to treat the soil, where to plant, what how to build an effective trellis etc... AND it covers how to dry the fresh hops in preparation for use in a brew... how to build an oast (which is the drying structure)... And it does all of this in a very approachable way.
Bonus for me - was that it covers the same for the cultivation, harvest, and treatment (malting and drying) of barley ... And has a nice run-down of brewing herbs and their uses (how much of what herb to use in the brew - and when to add it)...
Just noticed - the cover says:
How to easily grow prepare, and use your own Hops, Malts, and Brewing Herbs
yeah ... that's about right. ;)
Inspiring.
HOMEBREWERS GARDEN 2008-01-26
Grow Your Own...Brew Your Own! If you have a backyard, or even a sun-facing porch, you can greatly enhance the flavor, aroma, and uniqueness of your homebrew by growing your own hops, brewing herbs, and malt grains. Easy instructions will help you put the "home" into your homebrew from setting up your first hop trellis, to malting grain at home, to brewing recipes specially formulated for homegrown ingredients. When you grow your own organic ingredients, you can be sure they are the freshest and purest available. "The Homebrewer's Garden is a natural marriage of two great hobbies..." (Craig Bystrynski, Editor of Brew Your Own magazine)
HMMMMMM 2007-05-12
I thought this book would give me resources to purchasing seeds to grow. It just tells you how to grow them. If you are a gardener you dont need this book.
Great info on herbs 2007-04-19
The first section on growing hops is decent, but it's nothing you can't find online.
But the section on herbs is great. Not only does it give a list of brewing herbs but, more importantly, how much to use and how. I've researched gruits and know what types of herbs were used, but I never knew how much to add.
There's also a section on grain. While I'd like to grow some grain, I'm not keen on malting. I may stick with unmalted wheat as that seems the easiest. Rye and Oats would have been nice, but they strongly advise against malting those items.
Overall, a good book- mainly if you have the land and time to grow your own ingredients. With the large amounts and quantities I brew, it doesn't make sense for me to go this route. Especially when I can get grain delivered for about 30 cents a pound.
An Indispensable Guide for Homebrewers of All Levels of Experience 2006-05-23
The Homebrewer's Garden is an expertly written guide which will teach you how to take your homebrewing to a whole new level. Whether you are a newcomer to the hobby or a seasoned veteran brewer, Homebrewer's Garden will be a book that you'll go back to again and again. The book repeats little if any information found in a homebrewing primer, so advance knowledge of the brewing process and terminology will be helpful. However, little (if any) experience is needed in actual brewing to take advantage of this book.
The book is broken up into four main sections. The first teaches you everything you need to know about how to grow your own hops, the differences between the varieties, and how to use them. Included in this section are instructions that will take you from planting your first hops plants to drying and storing your hops with your home-built oast, or hops dryer.
The second section is a comprehensive list of herbs that can be used in brewing. This section includes information on which varieties to use, how to grow them, which parts of the plant to use, when to add them, how much to use, and expected resulting flavors and aromas. Also includes a section on herbs that are poisonous or should otherwise not be used.
The third section covers growing, harvesting, malting, and using your own grains. There's far more than just barley covered in this section! Also covered are amaranth, corn, oat, quinoa, rye, sorghum, spelt, and wheat. Each grain has a breakdown of different varieties and how to grow and use them.
The fourth section is the obligatory recipes section. Many traditional herbal beers are here, as well as some more innovative beverages that I'd never heard of--Gotlandsdrika, anyone? Where applicable, both extract and all-grain recipes are listed.
Even if you never expect to grow your own hops, grains, or herbs, The Homebrewer's Garden will make you a better brewer. Also recommended is the book Clone Brews, which feature recipes adapted from popular beers of different styles from around the world.
Inspirational Book 2004-09-14
I hadn't tried making home made beer or wine in years - this book rekindled the interest (plus emigrating from the UK to the US, where the beers, to put it nicely, are fairly bland -although local micro breweries are helping to address this).
I am also a very keen herb gardener, and learnt alot from the plant descriptions that have some great suggestions for additives. I planted some hop runners, but my back yard is too small for a decent crop.
The cautions in the book are important - it is best not to take a chance with some plants. I have some old recipes that will result in the production of wood alcohol, if followed to the letter (e.g. potato - fermented for wine, distilled into Poteen and some ciders will make you understand the term blind drunk. OK, they aren't the herbs in the book, but the old ways aren't always the best). That said, I'm all in favor of experimentation - nettle is a great additive.
Excellent interesting book.
