Brew UK Forum | General Brewing Discussions
Beer Software
Does anyone know the real benefits of subscribing to BeerTools (or another beer software)? From what I can see, the receipies are already on the website & it does not take rocket science to fill in the gaps. Is there a surprise for subscribers?
Conditioning: Witbier Mashkit & St Peters Ruby
Drinking: Tea
Planning: Rauchbier & German Pilsner Mashkit
Drinking: Tea
Planning: Rauchbier & German Pilsner Mashkit
Responses
Posted 1 year ago by Member
No surprises with Beersmith. Not sure if there's anything with Beertools.
When you have some software, you can create new recipes, adjust existing ones to suit your equipment, keep a record of your brews, etc. It takes all the guesswork out recipes. However, it does hinge on you setting it up to match the equipment you're brewing with, i.e. the mash tun and the boiler.
If you don't want to spend any money there's Qbrew which is free but not as comprehensive as Beersmith or Beertools.
Fermenting:
Condtioning:
Drinking: Twibute Clone, PJ Clone
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Thanks Simon, I don't think I am seasoned enough to try designing my own beer yet, but one day I hope to be.
Drinking: Tea
Planning: Rauchbier & German Pilsner Mashkit
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
Don't forget Beer Engine, its free!.
Fermenting: Marynka pseudo-lager
Maturing/Conditioning:
Drinking: Wheat beer, ESB, Vienna lager & shop bought stuff
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
Grab beer engine and add 5kg of pale malt, 30g of any hops and boil for 90 then 30g of any hops and boil for 10mins - hey presto! 5% pale ale!
Now thats a simplified version but beer is beer! There is a IBU counter in all software so if you can keep it to around 30-35 ibs by adding or subtracting the weight of hops I can definatly say the beer will be drinkabkle.
Plannin'-
Loads a beer after an upgrade!
nathbrew@gmail.com
Posted 1 year ago by Admin
I use Beersmith for all brewdays even if I'm following a recipe. Not only does it allow me to keep track of every detail (including yeast) but it also adjusts everything for my equipment and also give me a work sheet to brew to.
I can't brew without it. Well that's a lie as I can but don't and won't.
Posted 1 year ago by Member
I've never made a beer to a recipe.
Maybe that's why so may of my beers turn out awful.
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
I did a few which worked out but more than a few more that havn't! Ive gone back to the "roots" and mellowed the amount of hops and started with GW's and Dave Lines books again. Re-learning is helping my brews quite a bit!
Plannin'-
Loads a beer after an upgrade!
nathbrew@gmail.com
Posted 1 year ago by Member
aahh! Dave Line's, "The Big Book of Brewing". A great book, mine is well thumbed. One day I really will try a full mash.
I think I might have a try of some of the software mentioned here too. Very interesting.
Posted 1 year ago by Admin
Tried and tested recipes are always good especially for building confidence after a few bad experiments. I yet to do one from GW's book which has turned out badly. Then use them for a base to experiment.
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
I find The Beer Engine absolutely invaluable. 1) You enter a recipe from Graham Wheeler's book and then print it out. That way if you spill things you don't ruin the book. 2) Every time you buy ingredients they vary, especially hops from yera to year. In the Beer Engine you can edit things like EBU and EBC and get the figures GW recommends. 3) Not all recipes are accurate, and the Beer Engine shows it up when the figures are wildly out. 4) You learn about the process and start to recognise what ingredients give different effects. 5) It's easy to experiment. Say you have a recipe which calls for 50 gm of Fuggles and you want to experiemnt with a different hop. Change it for Northern Brewer without adjusting the quantity and it would be undrinkable. Start with GW's recipes before you make up your own. I learned the hard way and it all went down the toilet, but now, a year later, I can change the character of the beer more or less as I want. Still learning, though. Probably have that engraved on my tombstone!
Planning: - To get some more brews on now the weather's a bit cooler
Fermenting: - Ginger Beer experiment
Conditioning: - A normal bitter with Styrians
Drinking: - All of it!!
E-mail: arnyfris@gmail.com
Posted 1 year ago by Admin
The only problem I have with Beer Engine is that is too basic. You can't add yeasts or water treatments or equipment and its also does not cater for extract brewers very well. Its great to start with but beersmith is a lot more comprehensive.
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