I'd heard a lot of good stuff about this book, so I put it in with my last order. I did a quick read through of it last night, and (don't flame me) I didn't really come out of it with much new or useful information. The first 10 chapters or so of the book are focused on the methods of calculation of parameters in a recipe, which you should already have down pat from a first-time book like How to Brew. All of the style chapters were basically a discussion of the styles and some charts on how some 1993 and 1994 competition beers were formulated (although some styles lack these charts, like the section on wheat beers).
Perhaps what I found the most useful was the section on hop oils. There is a good discussion about what each of them do and taste like, and there are charts about the average content of each oil in each type of hop. However, he devotes only 2-3 sentences to actually figuring out how to dry hop (something like: use 1 or 2 oz, then if you don't like it, adjust accordingly).
But, maybe I got the wrong impression of the book since I just skimmed it since I was eager to read it. If you like the book, would you mind sharing your favorite chapters or concepts in the book?
Perhaps what I found the most useful was the section on hop oils. There is a good discussion about what each of them do and taste like, and there are charts about the average content of each oil in each type of hop. However, he devotes only 2-3 sentences to actually figuring out how to dry hop (something like: use 1 or 2 oz, then if you don't like it, adjust accordingly).
But, maybe I got the wrong impression of the book since I just skimmed it since I was eager to read it. If you like the book, would you mind sharing your favorite chapters or concepts in the book?