Are all of John Palmer's step necessary?

[jkarp]

BluegrassyBrewer,

The steps all depend on your process and what you're brewing. As you've seen in How To Brew, all-grain brewing is more complex than extract. For the simplest start into home brewing, consider pre-hopped extracts, a la Cooper's or Mr. Beer. Brewing them is as simple as boiling water, stirring in the extract, cooling and pitching in the yeast. Do note good brew is an exercise in patience however. Even if you get your beer in the fermenter fast, you've still got 1-2 weeks of fermentation, a couple weeks to carbonate after bottling, and 2-3 more weeks conditioning before it's ready.

 

[JVD_X]

Me thinks there is some confusion in the book itself... when I first read the book it appeared to me that he was repeating himself, but I wasn't confused because I already knew how to make beer. However, for a new brewer the layout of the book makes it appear as though the steps are being done repeatedly. At least, that is my opinion.

 

[olllllo]

It has been hypothesized that beer was discovered when someone left some grain out in the rain. They found the effects of the beverage to be enjoyable.

This accident contains none of Palmer's steps.

It doesn't get any easier than that, but it sure tastes better the Palmer way.

 

[wheeliechicken]

I also noticed Palmer boils water to be used for rinse water when sanitizing with chlorine. This of course would not be necessary if using a no-rinse sanitizer (and he did explain that). Also he boils water that is to be added to the wort after partial boils. I have seen other sources that do not mention using boiled water for either of these two purposes. Based on my limited experience (see here), I would follow Palmer's advice.

 

[BluegrassyBrewer]

Yeah, now that I re-read it, it makes more sense to me. I was still stuck in mead making mode hah.