Dave Miller's Homebrewing Guide: Everything You Need to Know to Make Great-Tasting Beer,   ISBN:9780882669052

Customer Rating: 

With what I would call a fairly educated background, some of the biochem discussion was a little more than I can imagine is needed for the average home brewer. None the less those discussions were very informative for myself. I was in my 2nd year of brewing when I bought the book. I did end up reading the book cover to cover and constantly refer back to information in it.
Not the quickest reference book as it bounces between theory and practice through out.
I especially enjoyed the section on identifying off flavors in your beer, it was a great list of what not to do while brewing. I found it very pointed and concequential in nature. I mean what more does a book need to say than "Rack beer promptly; minimize bottle yeast; store beer cool" or your beer will taste like sulfur. That is just about how blatant the table format is for off flavors. Sometimes those are the types a statements novices need in brewing which is considered more of an art than a process.

I recommend this book...I actually bought a copy for a friend who is a home brewer.

Customer Rating: 

If your just getting started in homebrewing, this is a great book. Easy to read, doesn't use technical terms you don't understand yet, and helps your understanding as you progress. Must have for homebrewers!

Customer Rating: 

Buy this book if you want to have another beer book to read or you are an advanced brewer who whats to learn more about chemistry. Don't buy it if you want to get useful informations on how to actually "do things". He talks a lot about the general aspects of brewing but without giving you any practical advice or formulas.
This book definitely aims to the advanced home brewers who really already know what they are doing and specially the equipment section and recipe section might scare the beginner away.

Customer Rating: 

A very informative book. However, the information presented was not organized in an easy-to-skim format. It does present lots of useful information and I would recommend it for anyone interested in homebrewing.

Customer Rating: 

While this books starts with the basics for beginners, it also covers advanced topics, and in my opinion the best all-around homebrew guide.

Miller's explinations of the mashing process is one of the best I've seen, and even non-chemist readers will understand what's happening in the mash tun. He also clearly explains what happens during the fermentation process, as well as covering the types of yeasts and how they work. Most homebrewers don't need to understand brewing science to mix yeast with wort, but Miller makes it easy to understand the big picture, helping turn recipe mixers into homebrewers.

On that note, this book is NOT filled with hundreds of pages of monkey see monkey do recipes. Miller teaches readers how to brew, and then gives recipe guidelines for popular styles (giving parameters, but leaving the brewing up to the homebrewer).

I think this book is best read from beginning to end, but it's also an excellent reference with charts and tables.

Regarding brew books in general, all homebrewers should have one of Charlie Papazian's books, since he's the pioneer that started it all. However, I find Dave Miller's book the best up-to-date guide on homebrewing.