Price: $15.00
Pros: Thorough, great charts and reference material
Cons: Old
Recommended? Yes

Comments: Yeah, it has been revised a couple times, but this book could definitely use at least some new pics. I'm sure most of the information hasn't exactly changed, but the pics sure are outdated.

Price: $16.99
Pros: Great for an into to brewing, easy to read, plenty of pictures
Cons: Not quite technical enough, I'd prefer it to have a bit more of the science of brewing.
Recommended? Yes

Comments: Great introductory text for the novice brewer. Plenty of information to keep you learning for the first year or so. Good variety of recipies and ideas to try out. Sound methodology (if a little traditional). Definitely worth the cover price.

Price: $0.01
Pros: -easy to access info -step by step instructions -your basic guide
Cons: -the people modeling the brewing equipment look like serial killers
Recommended? Yes

Comments: If you're going to brew then you need this book. When you pick up you first brewing equipment make sure you pick this up too. If the LHBS you're at doesn't carry it, go somewhere else.

Price: $15.00
Pros: A must
Cons: none
Recommended? Yes

Comments: "Homebrewer's Bible"

Price: $15.00
Pros: Easy to read, tons of information, essential to all homebrewers arsenal.
Cons: Wishing we where as cool as Papazian.
Recommended? Yes

Comments: I'm not bias when it comes to much, except this book. I'll truly defend it with a large stick until I no longer can breath. Charlie taught me how to brew, and that's saying something. The book's easy to read, FUN to read, and constructed for the beginner, and expert alike. It's loaded with charts for us geeks. TCJOHB is set up to teach, so you remember, and can teach some more. If you're going to homebrew, or already do, this piece of literature should be your bible. It's a must buy.

Price: $14.99
Pros: easy to read, lots of info
Cons: none
Recommended? Yes

Comments: "The Homebrewer's Bible".....enough info to make your head spin. I love resources like this that are comprehensive and make sense to someone new to brewing. It also has a bunch of recipes to try out when you master the basics! I can't wait to try them all!

Price: $15.00
Pros: Easy to read Not Intimidating Candid Great place to start
Cons: Lots of text and little pictures
Recommended? Yes

Comments: Check my site for a complete no bull review.

Review of The Complete Joy of Homebrewing

Price: $20.00
Pros: Accessible for the beginner Easy reading and enjoyable
Cons: Not as technical as How to Brew Could be updated
Recommended? Yes

Comments: I own the 3nd edition of this book, and skimmed through the 3rd edition. I like Charlie's approach to brewing. He offers the hobby in a way that is approachable to beginners and gives the confidence that people need to succeed. His attitude and enthusiasm is infectious.

For me it's the best first book for people starting out, and the recipes are great. How to Brew is also a good book, and a bit more technical and in-depth. However, after reading it, I think that I would have been overwhelmed with information, and underwhelmed with enthusiasm.

Papazian does it right for the beginner IMO. It's a must-have book in my book!

Price: $11.00
Pros: Great introductory text, that will bring you from your first kit to your first adventurous in all grain.
Cons: While I have not read the third edition, I have the "new" complete joy, it does appear a bit dated and possibly surpassed by John Palmer's How to Brew as the new must have introduction book. Still a great addition to any library.
Recommended? Yes

Comments: This was the first book that I ever read on brewing and I picked up my copy in 1996 and it has been/and still is indispensable to me. My copy is filled with highlighter and underlines, sticky notes and paperclips marking important sections.

It will take you from your first steps in hombrewing with kits, to all grain brewing giving as much or as little information as you would want when getting started. If you just want a "how-to", or if you want some of the science behind it, this book has got you covered.

While my copy is getting a bit old, and I haven't looked at the newest edition, I believe that John Palmer's How to Brew has taken the title of must have introductory book. That being said, this book is priced at about 1/2 the price of How to Brew and you will not have gone wrong picking this up.

Price: $15.00
Pros: - Lots of great information - Easy to Read
Cons: - Not as good as modern choices like "How to Brew"
Recommended? Yes

Comments: As I'll preface all of my book reviews: I've read just about every major homebrewing book and have enjoyed them all.

This was my first homebrew book and I've actually read it cover to cover three times. But after reading other books, I don't believe this is the best homebrew book anymore. It's really dated and a lot of the explanations could use a little more support.

I'd love to see an updated version of this book that brought it up to par with "How to Brew" by Palmer -- but for now, it's definitely a distant second to "How to Brew" as a versatile homebrewing guide.

Price: $15.00
Recommended? Yes

Comments: Great book, I have it sitting next to me right now at work, I hope I have the chance to meet this guy

Recommended? Yes

Comments: Great resource. Absolutely a must-own for all homebrewers everywhere - from beginners to pros.

Price: $15.00
Recommended? Yes

Comments: Absolutely can't live without. It was great when I did my first extract brew, and even more useful for my first AG. I feel this is more valuable than Papazian's Companion book, even for all grain.

Price: $12.00
Recommended? Yes

Comments: I think this is a fantastic book to have on hand. I was a complete n00b when I bought this book, and in only about an hour I was well on my way to knowing the ropes. Covers the basics as well as advanced stuff.

In some cases, the info I gleaned from forums was better than the book (ie: leave in the primary for 3-4 weeks, as opposed to 1-2), but by and large I'd consider this an essential item in any brewer's household.

Price: $1.00
Recommended? Yes

Comments: Excellent book that keeps my interests.

Price: $15.00
Recommended? Yes

Comments: Great book, heard it referred to as the "Old Testament" of homebrew books. Gets you started out with malt extracts, moves onto more intermediate brewing (extracts + adjucts) and then all grain. Overall excellent book.