Janson, Lee W. Brew Chem 101. 1996.

Understand the science that goes into making your favorite beverage. This crash course in brewing chemistry makes it easy for every homebrewer to make better beer. Using simple language and helpful diagrams, Lee W. Janson guides you through every chemical reaction in the brewing process and explains how you can avoid potential problems. Steer away from common mistakes in taste, fermentation, and alcohol content, and use your newfound knowledge to successfully brew your most delicious beer yet.

Although Janson claims this course in chemistry for the nonchemist is for "the homebrewer whether beginner or expert," it likely will be of most help to the intermediate or advanced home-brewer eager to fine-tune and standardize output. Janson tries to keep the hard science to a minimum and explains terms and processes fully and clearly. Still, he charts a lot of molecular structures, but his explanations are so comprehensive and his perception of common home-brewing problems so canny that the technical material won't drive readers away. The chapter on avoiding "off" flavors alone is worth the price of the book, and the chapter on evaluating beer and the insightful glossary just make it better. So if you are concerned about flocculation and avoiding that "baby diaper" or "skunky" taste and aroma, make this required reading. Mike Tribby