The Complete Joy of Homebrewing Fourth Edition contains lots of good information about the brewing process and use of different sugars, ingredients such as berries, coriander, chocolate and when to add them.

There is also a useful description of different hops, basic guidelines of quantities of malts and hops to use for various styles of beer and a significant number of recipes. Unexpectedly there are also a number of different Mead recipes. There is even a section on growing hops.

The coverage of Brew In A Bag (BIAB) was quite light and I didn't see any coverage on how to scale a recipe (maybe I missed it). ( )

I purchased this book when I began my odyssey into homebrewing. There's great background information on beer making, as well as a good stock of recipes for malt-extract and all grain brewers. I consult it occasionally for inspiration or to read more about the profile of a hop variety. Papazian has a great tone and message; he constantly counsels the newbie brewer: relax, don't worry, have a homebrew. ( )

Charlie Papazian has created an indispensable handbook for everyone interested in brewing beer at home. 'The Complete Joy of Home Brewing' is packed with more than just guidance -- it includes history of brewing, exploration of beer in cultures, and explanations of how various parts of brewing works, from what the yeast do to how boiling converts starches to sugars. The book also includes an organized structure of each step in the brewing process and how to brew, as well as different ideas for brewing. There is a discussion on water sources and the affects of dopants (dissolved minerals) in water and how they affect on the brewing process and results of the final product. The author also talks at times about how one could make the process more fun by including friends and family in the hobby, having them help and contribute to the brewing. And, Papazian gives a nice list of various beer recipes for the hobbyist to try out. I must say that if you're interested in brewing, or just interested in beer, you should get a copy for yourself. ( )

So...this guy really knows his stuff. The Complete Joy of Home Brewing is bursting with helpful information. As a beginner-beginner, I really appreciate the level of detail, not just in the “Especially for the Beginner” section, but throughout the whole book. From history, to measurement and temperature charts, to the equipment needed, to breaking down each ingredient, to the variations on each type of beer. The only thing I didn’t like about this book is that I think it could be illustrated a bit better. Other than that it seems like a perfectly comprehensive guide to homebrewing. I’ve never brewed my own beer and picked this up on a whim. Having flipped through it a bit I feel like I could give it a go. Some of the recipes sound right up my alley -- I can’t wait to try that Jeepers Creepers Light Lager. ( )

It was a little disorganized, but got the point across. I liked that it had a dumbed-down "first brew" section for newbies. The second section got into more complicated types of beers, mainly focusing on the foundations of each beer type so you can develop your own, with a few recipes at the end. The final section was an advanced look at the chemistry behind the brewing process, as well as even more complex techniques.

The tone of the book was friendly and conversational, and while I found the incessant slogan ("Relax. Don't worry. Have a homebrew.") kinda stupid, it always seemed to crop up right when I was getting a little anxious.

The organization of information is a little unclear in places -- definitely written by an expert who knows all there is to know about home brewing, but has maybe forgotten what it's like to not know anything, if that makes sense. I'm still not sure how to ferment in plastic buckets vs. glass jars ("carboys"). But on the whole it made a lot of sense. ( )