oldschool

Recipes 

I am not wanting to give up the brewsmith because it's bad or something, I just think that doing everything on paper will make me a better brewer in the long run. I've never asked any pro brewers but i would bet they do it by hand. What do you all think?

GilaMinumBeer

Recipes 

All of them I have talked to use software.

Revvy

Recipes 

I think most pro brewers use software. It's more convenient. Heck most pro-brewers these days use software that controls the entire brewing process, just like with herms and rims systems. They load them up, punch in the numbers on the micro-controller and hit the big red start button, and dump in the hops when the system beeps.

And whether or not you use software won't make you a better brewer, it's your technique, and your knowledge of ingredients and recipe creation that will make you a better brewer, not whether or not you can cipher in your head, on paper, with a calculator or with software. How you achieve the numbers is irrevelant, it's what goes into those numbers that matters.

That's just a preference.

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IrregularPulse

Recipes 

I couldn't imagine a pro brewer not using software. I'm sure they know how to do it on paper, but like anything, using software gives you better record keeping. Why take the time to long hand everything when you don't have to unless you just want to so you know how.

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oldschool

Recipes 

Okay, take "make me a better brewer" how you want. I guess i like doing things the "oldschool" way. When I took calculus in college, we graph problems on a TI or by hand. Yes, the graphing calc. was way easier but, plotting points by hand helped you grasp a deeper understanding and appreciate your outcome a little more.

oldschool

Recipes 

Also, I would bet that most of us can't create a recipe right now, and accurately calculate color, bitterness, and/or OG estimate/% efficiency. Well...kai can.

GilaMinumBeer

Recipes 

Nor would any of us need to. It's not like our welfare depends on it.

By all mean, if you want to learn it longhand more power to ya'. But it won't make you a better brewer.

shortyjacobs

Recipes 

So? I can't fly without an airplane.

The trick is that beersmith is a TOOL. It's not a means to an end, it won't improve your beer by itself. You could look up all the formulas and punch and crunch to your hearts content...but your beer won't change, since you'll get the same results. I don't think working the numbers by hand would give me any more insight into the process, as I'm watching things like color, bitterness, OG, etc, as I add and subtract ingredients.

In fact, I think beersmith HELPS my understanding. I can move hops additions around in seconds and watch the results. I can increase/decrease grains and watch the results. It's instant feedback, which to me provides the GREATEST learning opportunity.

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IrregularPulse

Recipes 

Sure I can, and I can do it in probably a tenth of the time that Kai does long hand. I do it by using software

Not saying it wouldn't be useful to to know how in case you wanted to be able to design a recipe sometime when you're not at your PC, but once you learn it, I see no point not using the software.

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Tap Room Hobo

I should have stuck to four fingers in Vegas. :o - marubozo

oldschool

Recipes 

You guys say all these things like you work for Brad Smith. Guess I just want to geek out more than you all.