Overall, this is a really good book; it is very complete. The author even gives results from fluid dynamics experiments he ran with a mash tun. The only reason I gave it 4 stars is because I felt that the all-grain brewing section ("Your First All-Grain Beer") could have been a little more detailed. I got lost at times when brewing it. Aside from that, though, the book helped me build a mash/lauter tun and get a good idea of how to successfuly all-grain brew. It also gives recipes and methods for inventing your own beers.

I bought this book on the recommendation of a friend, because he felt that it was the best book for novice brewers (which I was, and still am to some degree). Unfortunately, I got it AFTER I brewed my first beer, but Palmer's book helped make my second and third beers come out extremely well.

Palmer's overview of the brewing process was presented in a straightforward and engaging manner, with useful information about how and why to perform each step. I found that he added just the right level of more advanced info as well, particularly as I worked on the next couple of beers, I went back to the book several times to recheck what to do in each step, particularly with bottling and racking.

Now I'm looking at trying some all-grain brewing (after 4 batches of extract and partial mashing) and going back to Palmer again for info on how to start mashing and sparging. I think this is a book I'll use again and again, and would definately recommend it.

This second edition is the most comprehensive homebrewing book available. It expands on the information provided by an already excellent first edition and offers more up to date information, charts and pictures to help a beginning brewer produce fantastic beers. I have about 5 other how-to brewing books and none hold a candle to this one.

Well organized, well written, and plenty of technical detail written in understandable language. Palmer is a metallurgist by profession and it is apparent that all those years of practice writing technical reports for a non-technical audience (which metallurgists do a lot of), were put to good use here. As good as it gets in my opinion.