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

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.

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!

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.

I very much enjoyed this book. It was the one book I read before I started homebrewing. One reviewer said that this book has "too much information at once" for the beginner. I would agree if you try to implement the entire book first time out. The thing I really liked about this book is that if you were so inclined you could read just the first three chapters and brew your first bacth. The early chapters describe the brewing process in its simplest form and can enable the most novice brewer to make some darn good beer. It's the remaining chapters which dive into the details of the topics outlined at the beginning of the book. If your intimidated about homebrewing I suggest you buy this book, read only the first three chapters, brew a batch and then start reading the rest. With one batch under your belt the subsequent chapters will read much easier and be more helpful.

Knowledgeably and expertly written by the winner of a lifetime achievement award from the American Homebrewers Association, Dave Miller's Homebrewing Guide is an all-encompassing and up-to-date 358-page instructional and reference guide to brewing great-tasting beer in the privacy of one's home. Covering malts, water and water treatment, mash methods, hops, necessary equipment -- including kettles and wort coolers, methodical directions, practical and safety tips, and more, Dave Miller's Homebrewing Guide is a "must-have" for anyone seeking to brew their own beer at home whether as an simple pastime or as an approach to acquiring a professional microbrewery expertise.