[garc_mall]

Keep in mind that the recipe is probably the least important aspect of brewing.  10 people brewing the exact same recipe will come up with 10 different beers.
I like Designing Great Beers over any of the previously mentioned books(I have all of them).  It gives you insight on creating your own recipes that fit your system and brewing style.

Designing Great Beers is probably my favorite brewing book ever. It is the one book I am sure to consult whenever I consider brewing to style.

[tschmidlin]

Oops!  I know better. I'll blame it on only one cup of coffee so far!

Are you talking about all of those books garc mentioned, or just the last two?  I really like the few beers I've brewed from BCS, and Radical Brewing is probably my favorite brewing book and I think it is hands down the best resource for odd ingredients.

Damn, I AM asleep!  I meant only the last 2.  BCS and Radical Brewing are great books.

Looks like I was asleep too - I quoted the wrong post!

[jeffy]

Oops!  I know better. I'll blame it on only one cup of coffee so far!

Are you talking about all of those books garc mentioned, or just the last two?  I really like the few beers I've brewed from BCS, and Radical Brewing is probably my favorite brewing book and I think it is hands down the best resource for odd ingredients.

Damn, I AM asleep!  I meant only the last 2.  BCS and Radical Brewing are great books.

Looks like I was asleep too - I quoted the wrong post!

And here I thought I was sleeping because I had to reread all the posts to figure out what you guys are talking about.
I like to consult Brewing Classic Styles when designing a recipe.  Radical Brewing is a great book, but I never actually considered it a recipe book, more a resource.

[denny]

Keep in mind that the recipe is probably the least important aspect of brewing.  10 people brewing the exact same recipe will come up with 10 different beers.
I like Designing Great Beers over any of the previously mentioned books(I have all of them).  It gives you insight on creating your own recipes that fit your system and brewing style.

I completely agree with your comment about recipes.  At one NHC, I tried 10-12 different versions of my Rye IPA recipe.  All were good and not one of them tased like mine!

DGB is a great book, but it's getting dated.  When you look at the award winning recipes, there are a lot of them that wouldn't be formulated that way using ingredients we have available today.  As long as you recognize that and can compensate, there's a lot of great stuff there.

[corkybstewart]

Keep in mind that the recipe is probably the least important aspect of brewing.  10 people brewing the exact same recipe will come up with 10 different beers.
I like Designing Great Beers over any of the previously mentioned books(I have all of them).  It gives you insight on creating your own recipes that fit your system and brewing style.

DGB is a great book, but it's getting dated.  When you look at the award winning recipes, there are a lot of them that wouldn't be formulated that way using ingredients we have available today.  As long as you recognize that and can compensate, there's a lot of great stuff there.

I'd love to see an update, especially if he were to include some basic Belgian styles like wit and strong dark ales.

[dbeechum]

I'd love to see an update, especially if he were to include some basic Belgian styles like wit and strong dark ales.

Last I knew, Ray's at work on Designing Great Belgian Beers.

[hopfenundmalz]

Look into Brewing Better Beer by Gordon Strong. Not a beer recipe book, but how to approach brewing so that your finished beer is what you set out to make. Much like a a cooking instruction book with some recipes.

[garc_mall]

Keep in mind that the recipe is probably the least important aspect of brewing.  10 people brewing the exact same recipe will come up with 10 different beers.
I like Designing Great Beers over any of the previously mentioned books(I have all of them).  It gives you insight on creating your own recipes that fit your system and brewing style.

DGB is a great book, but it's getting dated.  When you look at the award winning recipes, there are a lot of them that wouldn't be formulated that way using ingredients we have available today.  As long as you recognize that and can compensate, there's a lot of great stuff there.

I'd love to see an update, especially if he were to include some basic Belgian styles like wit and strong dark ales.

Rumor at NHC was that he was working on an update. I haven't heard anything official.

I do think that Ray's talk at NHC this year (Drink what you think?) was like a mini DGB.

[ritko1]

I did see Designing Great Beers while doing a recipe search and thought it would make a great future purchase.  I don't think I ready for designing just yet tho as i'm still a new brewer.  I really just want to brew different types (of other people's beers,  lol) so I can get a feel of what the different ingredients will do for me. Definitely on my future purchase list.

Appreciate all the great input,
Ritko1

[Jimmy K]

Brewing Classic Styles: 80 Winning Recipes Anyone Can Brew

+1  The great thing is these recipes have all won gold at the National Homebrew Competition.  There are also pointers on key thing needed to get the style right. And it includes extract recipes with all-grain conversions.

[hopfenundmalz]

Brewing Classic Styles: 80 Winning Recipes Anyone Can Brew

+1  The great thing is these recipes have all won gold at the National Homebrew Competition.  There are also pointers on key thing needed to get the style right. And it includes extract recipes with all-grain conversions.

All? Those were all award winners, but 80 golds in the NHC???

[Jimmy K]

Brewing Classic Styles: 80 Winning Recipes Anyone Can Brew

+1  The great thing is these recipes have all won gold at the National Homebrew Competition.  There are also pointers on key thing needed to get the style right. And it includes extract recipes with all-grain conversions.

All? Those were all award winners, but 80 golds in the NHC???

Well I thought they were. Maybe I'm remembering wrong. They are not all Jamil's recipes and we're talking categories not BOS. Maybe they just medaled, but silver is not winning. It's first loser

[mmitchem]

I find the Classic Beer Styles Series awesome for getting a feel for the way beer was brewed for a particular style. Lots of insight into the history and all aspects of the classic brewing ingredients. Plus you only have to buy what styles are relavent to what you like brewing.

[denny]

I find the Classic Beer Styles Series awesome for getting a feel for the way beer was brewed for a particular style. Lots of insight into the history and all aspects of the classic brewing ingredients. Plus you only have to buy what styles are relavent to what you like brewing.

Again, though, you have to be careful about getting current info.  For example, Fix's VMO book is so outdated in terms of recipes and ingredients That I don't think it's worth having.

[hopfenundmalz]

I find the Classic Beer Styles Series awesome for getting a feel for the way beer was brewed for a particular style. Lots of insight into the history and all aspects of the classic brewing ingredients. Plus you only have to buy what styles are relavent to what you like brewing.

Again, though, you have to be careful about getting current info.  For example, Fix's VMO book is so outdated in terms of recipes and ingredients That I don't think it's worth having.

I will agree, and also say the Pils we book by Miller is outdated.