Farmhouse Ales: Culture and Craftsmanship in the Belgian Tradition (Paperback)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: original gravity, tasting notes, bittering hops, Brasserie Dupont, Suggested Variety, Apparent Degree of Attenuation (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Farmhouse Ales defines the results of years of evolution, refinement, of simple rustic ales in modern and historical terms, while guiding today's brewers toward credible--and enjoyable--reproductions of these old world classics.

About the Author

Phil Markowski

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Brewers Publications (December 25, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0937381845
• ISBN-13: 978-0937381847
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #29,917 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Farmhouse Ales, April 23, 2005

By	Jeff Stearns - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Farmhouse Ales focuses on the Biere de Garde of northern France and the Saison ales of Belgium. Neither of these styles is a single type of beer, but rather a category of ales made locally with various brewing methods and array of ingredients, including spices. The brewing methods in these areas continue to evolve and do not necessarily relate to the styles of the past. Although the styles have an amorphous nature, this book provided me with a clear understanding of Biere de Garde and Saison.

Experienced brewers will discover plenty of information in this book, especially ideas that go against the common convictions about brewing. What about fermenting at high temperatures? Mixing yeasts? Red wine type yeasts? Warm storage? Markowski takes the view that brewing is a process of experimentation, rather than following set recipes. Obviously this book is not for a beginning home brewer.

Markowski argues that though the classification of beer styles is useful, the classifications should not be used to inhibit the brewer from coming up with something much different. I agree with this. What is the use of always imitating commercial beers? Our fascination with brewing is to discover a new taste through experimentation.

This book covers the past and present styles of Biere de Garde and Saison (including an informative essay by Yvan De Baets on how Saison evolved), and provides a list of the breweries producing the styles, detailing grains, hops, temperatures and other brewing details, along with tasting notes on the beers they produce.

In sections on brewing the styles, the sample recipes are just guidelines (in the spirit of experimentation) rather than set formulas. You must decide what overall weight of grains you will use and then calculate percentages of the grain types. You also must calculate the amount of hops you will use to achieve the target IBU. The brewing notes about the styles are highly instructive, providing the parameters of grains that can be added, even the ranges of various spices for Saison. Such details must come from a lot of labor in the brewery.

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars worth reading, July 28, 2005

By	maltdog - See all my reviews

This book contains a wealth of practical information for the experienced homebrewer, without being dry or stuffy. Thankfully, there are no pages wasted on "brewing for beginners" or "equipment you'll need to get started"; it is assumed the reader already has a basic knowledge of all-grain brewing procedures, and beer appreciation in general.

Discussion of historical and geographic influences on saison and biere de garde are interesting and kept to a minumum. Of particular interest is the text devoted to paragons of both styles- describing their evolutions, specific malts and hops used, abv and attenuation, yeasts, gravities, fermentation temperatures, aging, water profiles, and so on... everything one would need to reverse-engineer a clone beer, if one chose to do so.

It is not, however, a collection of clone recipes. The samples recipes for variations of both styles are intended as guidelines, easily adaptable to individual brewhouse procedures and efficiencies. Also, the parameters are so diverse that it is difficult, if not impossible, to define style guidelines, a fact that the author acknowledges. This loose end can be frustrating to the reader.

Overall, a useful book; solid information, and nothing irrelevant or overtechnical.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended for the homebrewer, January 9, 2007

By	Christopher W. Mitchell (Memphis, TN USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As a homebrewer, it's hard to read this book and not immediately want to brew. What's great about this title (and all of the others in this series) is that it can inspire anyone who's brewed before. For the less-adventurous among us, there's plenty of information here to credibly recreate a "typical" saison or biere-de-garde even if you've never tasted one before. For the more seasoned brewer, however, the frank discussions of the intricate history of these beers and the vageries of style inspire you to create your own unique farmhouse ale.