scorpien222

Recipes 

John Palmer best guide for a beginner or over rated ??

broadbill

Recipes 

I don't own the book, but based on the number of threads that get referenced over to his online version, I would say its a pretty solid choice.

scorpien222

Recipes 

How long have you been brewing ?? And any pointers or tips ?

louie0202

Recipes 

Read the book, thats my tip....that way you have a core foundation of knowledge.

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On Tap: American Cream Ale (AG), Random Beer (AG)
Primary #1: French Saison (AG), Orval Clone (AG), The Number Eight (AG), Argentine Malbec, Belgian Blonde (AG)

static

Recipes 

Seriously, read him and Papazian. This will give you a good foundation and you will have good reference material for when you need to double check something. I break out my Palmer almost every time i brew.

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The yeast knows what it's doing.

frazier

Recipes 

The book will answer questions you haven't thought of yet.

Edit: I don't quite get the "what's the BEST book?" approach, which is a question often asked. What's wrong with multiple information streams? I think I've read 5 or 6 brewing books, and I'd really hate to have to narrow it down to one. I learned something from each of them. I'm sure I'll be reading more too.

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~
"Anything worth doing, is worth doing slowly." ~~ Mae West

passedpawn

Recipes 

How to Brew is the real deal. Joy of Homebrewing is "interesting".

__________________
Now there's some take delight in the carriages a rolling
and others take delight in the hurling and the bowling
but I take delight in the juice of the barley
and courting pretty fair maids in the morning bright and early

pfgonzo

Recipes 

I've read and reread Palmer a dozen times. It's one of the best books out there, and successfully blends beginner instruction with advanced techniques, science, and the "why/how" of brewing, rather than just a recitation of steps.

I will say that, if you read Palmer a few times (do it... you will not absorb everything you need to on the first read), going to Papazian's book will seem like a step backward.

duboman

Recipes 

How to brew is on my shelf and is easily the one I go back to repeatedly. I am also a big fan of "Yeast" by Jamil Z and Chris White. Since yeast is an incredibly huge component of making beer I find this book very worthwhile.

amandabab

Recipes 

His book has some good info, but he's not the final say in homebrewing.
He does have a cult following though, almost a true worshipping.