This book is an original and comprehensive examination of brewing from the perspective of a real brewer. It incorporates the latest ideas from published research and from conversations with researchers and practical brewers alike. The book departs from the traditional sequential approach to pursue brewing in the manner a brew master would approach the process. It is structured to look down the length of the process for causes and effects. Each essay discusses a problem, a beer component, or a flavor, by following how this one item arises and how it changes along the way. This is a crucial feature to bear in mind when reading the book because this organization brings together information and ideas that are not usually presented side-by-side. The essay format allows the reader to understand how the raw materials of brewing and the way they are handled impact on process performance and product quality.