Kickstarter

Song in the video by Those Darn Accordions. See the credits for my official thank you!

THE BEER AND BREWING ALMANAC

The truth is there is more to beer than what's in the drink and I am telling that story in my new and upcoming book titled The Beer and Brewing Almanac. This guidebook teaches in detail everything one needs to know about beer. Beer in itself encompasses all major subjects each which can be explored by learners such as science, math, history, language, culinary arts, social studies, anthropology, art, law and many more. Don't believe me? Pledge for this book and I think I can change your mind.

Over the years I have read many books on beer each which only covered specific topics and also lacked education models. So I thought to myself, "Wouldn't it be nice to have an all-in-one guide that could actually teach everything there is to know about beer?"

HAVE FUN LEARNING ABOUT BEER FROM A TEACHER

As a teacher of four years, I believe in the presentation, practice and production model of learning. I am not simply creating a 'read through' beer book, but instead implementing fun educational exercises after each section that will motivate readers to learn about beer more effectively. This learning model is carried out in three stages to engage readers to become active in this very fun hobby. Information is presented in an interesting manner with beer lingo and strategies, practiced with activities provided in the book and after that readers are instructed to go out and produce what they have practiced. Be careful this could involve a lot of beer drinking!

As a home brewer and beer connoisseur of five years I have always been disappointed with the manner in which one has to learn about beer. I've read the books from the professionals and they are very good, but they don't teach the hobby in a linear fashion. Also, the books usually teach only one approach or method on the subject of beer. Thus I've been researching and experimenting everything there is to know about beer and keeping track of what I've learned. I am writing this book to help others learn this hobby in an easy and clear way through a proven teaching strategy.

Because I'm a teacher by trade, I believe that anything you wish to master in life requires a solid educational foundation. For the last four years, I have been teaching English as a second language and I have put to use effective teaching structures that will stick with readers in their goals to learn more about beer. Beer is a new language in and of itself and learning more about it takes motivation and a way to get engaged. I believe only an experienced teacher knows how to do that best.

THE BOOK'S STATUS

I've been working on the book now for about six months, and it is a quarter finished. Recently, circumstances have led me to be able to work on this book full-time and I'm on track to finish in July. Each chapter is massive and will cover all subjects comprehensively in a way never seen before.

Here is the Outline:

Chapter 1: Beer History: 9,000 BC - Present

Chapter 2: An Outline of Brewing: All-Grain vs. Malt Extract

Chapter 3: All About Malt

Chapter 4: All About Hops

Chapter 5: All About Yeast

Chapter 6: All About Water

Chapter 7: All About Adjuncts

Chapter 8: Beer Styles

Chapter 9: Brewing Equipment

Chapter 10: All Grain Brewing Steps

Chapter 11: Extract Brewing Steps

Chapter 12: Fermentation

Chapter 13: Testing Brewing Efficiencies

Chapter 14: Creating Your Own Recipes for Beer

Chapter 15: Off Flavors Detection and Descriptions

Chapter 16: Beer Tasting: Identifying Flavors and Aroma

Chapter 17: Beer Etiquette, Food Pairing & Glassware

Chapter 18: Beer Culture: Around the World

Chapter 19: Beer Festivals: Places You Shouldn't Miss

Chapter 20: Beer Games: Drinking Games With Beer

WHY YOU SHOULD PLEDGE

Your pledges not only offer great rewards such as beer brewing kits to practice your beer studies at home, but will also help fund paying for the book design, professional editing, book printing, typesetting, ISBN, writing and research. I'm asking for $10,000 because ideally I would like to create a textbook-size print at around 500-600 pages. A textbook-size print will allow room for the activities and exercises to be completed by the reader on the pages and space for them to jot down notes. If I go significantly over the goal I will use every penny to include color in the print.

I will also be offering this book as a course on my website for registered members with a donation button. Registered members will be able to donate any amount they can afford to access the course. All Kickstarter pledgers won't need to donate to access online material! The course be free to access for a lifetime because of your help with the launch.

Kickstarter, as many projects will remind you, is all or nothing which means that if I don't reach my fundraising goal then your credit card will not be charged for this pledge. However, I hope you all can help me in completing this project as I know it will be something like no other book that has been printed on the topic.

NOT CONVINCED? CHECK OUT THE REWARDS

Here are the specifics of the available rewards for pledges. There are big rewards because I want to give big thank yous for helping me with this project. Check out the beer brewing kits for high pledges!

$5 dollar pledge will get you a postcard featuring the book's cover art and a beer haiku as well as a thank you on my website.

If you like my project and its idea, but have a hole in your pocket from all that Christmas shopping then I hoping you can pledge a minimum of $5. You will not only be helping me complete the project, but in the future this information will be offered free to all those who pledged for this project on my website. A $5 contribution will make this project happen and there will be no need for donation to access the online course.

$10 dollar pledge will get you a digital PDF file on THE HISTORY OF BEER as well as all the lesser rewards.

You will get a 16 page PDF file discussing the history of beer. This synopsis of beer history starts in the Neolithic times and brings you all the way to the present. Learn about the history of beer quickly in a concise manner! Also, the postcard with the book's cover art and a beer haiku for you! You will get lifetime access to the book on my website. Not to mention a big thank you on my website!

$20 dollar pledge will get you a digital copy of the book in a format of your choosing as well as all the lesser rewards.

You will receive a digital copy of The Beer and Brewing Almanac for your ebook reader in any format of your choosing. If you do not have an ebook reader a PDF copy can be sent for you to download to your computer. You also get your name in the acknowledgments of both the digital and hardcover book. You will get lifetime access to the book on my website. Also, the postcard with the book's cover art and a beer haiku for you! Not to mention a big thank you on my website!

$50 dollar pledge will get you a COPY OF THE SIGNED HARDCOVER COPY of the book as well as all the lesser rewards.

This book will be your bible of beer knowledge and  you can use it to not only learn how to brew, but also to learn everything else there is to know about beer. Be the beer guru (or geek) in your hometown and impress your friends with all you have learned. You will be listed in the acknowledgments as a contributor that helped make this project a reality. You will also get the digital copy in the format of your choosing to fit your ebook reader or computer program. You will get lifetime access to the book on my website. Also, the postcard with the book's cover art and beer haiku. Not to mention a big thank you on my webpage!

$100 dollar pledge will get you TWO COPIES OF THE SIGNED HARDCOVER BOOK as well as all the lesser rewards.

Why not start your hobby with a friend? I have found as a teacher that people are more motivated to learn when they have a friend with them. Plan your 'study' days together whether it is in the garage brewing or at the bar talking shop. Both you and your friend will be listed in the acknowledgements, you will get a digital copy for your ebook reader or computer in a format of your choosing, a postcard with a friendly beer haiku and thank you mention on my webpage. Don't forget! Also, lifetime access to the book on my website!

$500 dollar pledge will get you an NOVICE BEER BREWING KIT and all the other lesser pledge rewards.

Your brewing kit can be shipped to the US for free or otherwise you will need to cover the shipping costs these kits are heavy! If you find a similar kit within your home country for a similar value I will be more than willing to get that one for your generous pledge. The kit I will be sending for this pledge will include:

Bottle of Star San Sanitizer (4oz)
3/8” Plastic Bottle Filler
Bag of Bottle Caps (1/4lb)
Bottle Capper
Reusable Mesh Steeping Bag
Reusable Mesh Hop Bags
Plastic Spoon
Funnel
Bottle Brush
Plastic Carboy
Package of Powdered Brewery Wash (PBW)
Plastic Bottling/Sanitation Bucket with Spigot
Airlock
Rubber Stopper with Hole
Hydrometer
Hydrometer Jar
5ft Vinyl Transfer Tubing
Sterile Siphon Starter (Contains Racking Cane with Tubing, Air Filter and Carboy Hood)
5 inch long dial thermometer

$1,000 pledge will get you an ADVANCED BEER BREWING KIT and all the other rewards except the other less advanced brewing kits.

Your brewing kit can be shipped to the US for free or otherwise you will need to cover the shipping costs these kits are heavy! If you find a similar kit within your home country for a similar value I will be more than willing to get that one for your generous pledge. The kit I will be sending for this pledge will include:

Bottle of Star San Sanitizer (4oz)
Plastic Bottle Filler
Bag of Bottle Caps (1/4lb)
Bottle Capper
Reusable Mesh Steeping Bag
Reusable Mesh Hop Bag
Plastic Spoon
Funnel
Bottle Brush
Plastic Carboy
Package of Powdered Brewery Wash (PBW)
Plastic Bottling/Sanitation Bucket with Spigot
Airlock
Rubber Stopper with Hole
Hydrometer
Hydrometer Jar
5ft Vinyl Transfer Tubing
Sterile Siphon Starter (Contains Racking Cane with Tubing, Air Filter and Carboy Hood)
5 inch long dial thermometer
Light Ale Ingredient Kit with Brewing Instructions
Dry Brewers Ale Yeast
2 Cases of (12) 22oz Bottles
8-Gallon Heavy Duty Kettle with Ball Valve, Barb and Notched Lid
Copper Wort Chiller with Tubing

CREDITS

Making a video is tough work I realized, so I thought I would spice it up a bit with some intro music. I would like to give credit to the first few seconds of my video which features a song called "Glass of Beer Polka" by Those Darn Accordions. If you're a lover of the squeezebox, please check them out!