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So, what is the best brew app for the iPad?
Beer Tools Pro vs. Beer Alchemy
- Thread starter Ketchepillar
- Start date
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reddskinnfan
Well-Known Member
BeerAlchemy or iBrewmaster
mistercameron
Well-Known Member
I think Beer Alchemy is probably the best app for the Mac at this point. I briefly tired BeerSmith, but couldn't get over how bad the UI looked and it seemed like it might be overly complex for my relatively simple needs.
For me, the killer feature is being able to sync with the iPhone and iPad versions of the app. It's nice to take the whole thing with you on a portable device but still be able to make edits on a computer - where I find data entry much easier and faster.
For me, the killer feature is being able to sync with the iPhone and iPad versions of the app. It's nice to take the whole thing with you on a portable device but still be able to make edits on a computer - where I find data entry much easier and faster.
Fully agree about BeerAlchemy being a very nice and flexible program for the mac and fully functional on the iPhone (and presumably iPad). The synch over wifi is great. I found that I can export as an .xml file and import it into a free app called Brewing Alarm and it will set up a timer for all of my additions. Fun, helpful, and very nerdy 
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I hadn't realized that Beer Alchemy now has sync. I will have to check that out. Thanks!
Yeah, I tried the Mac version of BeerSmith and couldn't get passed that hideous interface. The biggest annoyance was that no matter what I did, I couldn't turn off those help tags which always appeared in front of a control that you were trying to read. Look, feel and operation is just not like a Mac.
I'll be staying with BeerAlchemy and I'm very happy with the way it works. There are some things which I would like to add and/or change but usually I can work around those.
![Craft A Brew - Safale BE-256 Yeast - Fermentis - Belgian Ale Dry Yeast - For Belgian & Strong Ales - Ingredients for Home Brewing - Beer Making Supplies - [3 Pack]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51bcKEwQmWL._SL500_.jpg)
It's under Calculators (find it on the toolbar), find "Mash Calcs" and you get three calculators in the one window.
The left most one: Strike Temperature answers the first part of your question.
Assuming that you batch sparged, use the middle calculator "Step Addition with Boiling Water" to get you the additional water volume to raise to mash out.
cheers!
Did you click the Instructions for the batch? Both of those values are calculated for you on that printable page.
Thanks redgum and 509inc, I found both things, neither of which I had noticed before (silly oversight). I think this program is very nicely done and was amazed when I didn't see it. I was looking in the main editor windows for something that would do this for me. I was doing a brew in a bag with a batch sparge by moving the bag to a pot with the higher temp water. The instructions gave me the strike temp I used. I assumed that since my pot was going to be at the temp of the water I didn't need a mash tun mass but apparently that isn't right for some reason. I find that if I add 4lb for the mash tun mass it gives me the temp I needed, exactly the difference that I got from my target for both mash and sparge.
I'll have to try that next time. Maybe my mashout will go better, my efficiency was quite low. Expecting a great beer anyway.
Thanks again,
Curt
Primary: Sculpin IPA clone
Secondary: MT
Bottled: Irish Red Ale, Ranch Road Red IPA (modified Hop Head clone)
I'll have to try that next time. Maybe my mashout will go better, my efficiency was quite low. Expecting a great beer anyway.
Thanks again,
Curt
Primary: Sculpin IPA clone
Secondary: MT
Bottled: Irish Red Ale, Ranch Road Red IPA (modified Hop Head clone)
de5m0mike
Well-Known Member
I've been trying to figure out how to best set up my beer alchemy software to work with my biab setup and I've been wondering about the mash tun thermal mass value. How did you go about figuring out 4 lbs. was the correct value for you. Any insight on this or on what the software is actually using this value for would be helpful.
thanks
I back calculated by how much the temperature changed when I added my grain versus how much was expected simply from the grain. However, I am not having much success with that. Now my setup has changed and I need to start all over anyway so I'll post what I learn but so far not I'm not doing so well on that point.
I know that this is a bit of a hijack, but I figured this was better than creating a new thread that would be super similar...
So, I'm an Apple user. I've had an iPhone and a Macbook for years, and got an iPad a few months ago. I've taken the past few months (and especially the last few days) to really evaluate all the brewing software I can get my hands on, and I've come to the following conclusions:
1. Brewpal is the best software for the iPhone. Simple, easy to use, easy to configure, and cheap ($.99). HOWEVER - its lack of integration with any other software is a deal-breaker. The beerXML files it generates won't import into Beer Alchemy or Beersmith 2.0. So, while I love this app, I want to be able to use my iPad and sync both of these with my computer. Plus, I'm starting to realize it's not as precise at ABV calculations as I'd like, and it's easy to lose recipes (as I unfortunately found when it overwrote one of my recipes with another). Still, the UI is awesome, I can build a rough recipe really quickly, and it's easy to throw away changes you don't care about. I'll probably keep using this for quick formulations, but it's slowly getting deprecated.
2. Beersmith 2.0 is an immensely powerful piece of software. And it's cheaper than Beer Alchemy ($20 right now for black friday vs. $30 for Alchemy). HOWEVER - the lack of integration with my iDevices means it's not right for me. If I just used the mac to build recipes, or just used a PC, I probably would have settled on this. But, I find myself formulating recipes on my phone all the time, and I love using the iPad to guide me on brew day. So, it's out of the running as well.
3. Beer Alchemy - I wound up picking Beer Alchemy and beginning the slow process of bringing my recipes into it tonight. There's a ton of things I love about it. I created a new recipe on my mac, and then hit 'sync'. I loaded the app on both my iDevices and synched them as well, and all three instantly had the same recipes (as long as they were on the same WiFi). I also like that the BeerXML files that Alchemy exports can be loaded into Beersmith (although it doesn't recognize all the ingredients). So, it gives me synchronization across all my devices, as well as the ability to pull the recipes into another app, both of which were getting really painful on BrewPal. Finally, I found that I really love the inventory management, and I love that I can create a batch of a recipe and tell it to 'adjust inventory', and it reduces my grain and hops inventory appropriately. I'm still learning the software, but there's a ton to like. All in all, while I wish it was cheaper than $30 for the mac version, $10 for the iPad version, and $5 for the iPhone version, I've found that the integration across all three really makes it worthwhile.
tl;dr version: Spent a bunch of time playing with all three apps, and while all three are solid apps, Beer Alchemy is getting my money. Hope this helps someone else out there who is looking at these options.
So, I'm an Apple user. I've had an iPhone and a Macbook for years, and got an iPad a few months ago. I've taken the past few months (and especially the last few days) to really evaluate all the brewing software I can get my hands on, and I've come to the following conclusions:
1. Brewpal is the best software for the iPhone. Simple, easy to use, easy to configure, and cheap ($.99). HOWEVER - its lack of integration with any other software is a deal-breaker. The beerXML files it generates won't import into Beer Alchemy or Beersmith 2.0. So, while I love this app, I want to be able to use my iPad and sync both of these with my computer. Plus, I'm starting to realize it's not as precise at ABV calculations as I'd like, and it's easy to lose recipes (as I unfortunately found when it overwrote one of my recipes with another). Still, the UI is awesome, I can build a rough recipe really quickly, and it's easy to throw away changes you don't care about. I'll probably keep using this for quick formulations, but it's slowly getting deprecated.
2. Beersmith 2.0 is an immensely powerful piece of software. And it's cheaper than Beer Alchemy ($20 right now for black friday vs. $30 for Alchemy). HOWEVER - the lack of integration with my iDevices means it's not right for me. If I just used the mac to build recipes, or just used a PC, I probably would have settled on this. But, I find myself formulating recipes on my phone all the time, and I love using the iPad to guide me on brew day. So, it's out of the running as well.
3. Beer Alchemy - I wound up picking Beer Alchemy and beginning the slow process of bringing my recipes into it tonight. There's a ton of things I love about it. I created a new recipe on my mac, and then hit 'sync'. I loaded the app on both my iDevices and synched them as well, and all three instantly had the same recipes (as long as they were on the same WiFi). I also like that the BeerXML files that Alchemy exports can be loaded into Beersmith (although it doesn't recognize all the ingredients). So, it gives me synchronization across all my devices, as well as the ability to pull the recipes into another app, both of which were getting really painful on BrewPal. Finally, I found that I really love the inventory management, and I love that I can create a batch of a recipe and tell it to 'adjust inventory', and it reduces my grain and hops inventory appropriately. I'm still learning the software, but there's a ton to like. All in all, while I wish it was cheaper than $30 for the mac version, $10 for the iPad version, and $5 for the iPhone version, I've found that the integration across all three really makes it worthwhile.
tl;dr version: Spent a bunch of time playing with all three apps, and while all three are solid apps, Beer Alchemy is getting my money. Hope this helps someone else out there who is looking at these options.
I'm looking at some software now, too. All I can say is the fact that BeerAlchemy has only a Mac port is ridiculous. I will give my money to somebody that makes software available for at LEAST PC and Android... I don't care about OSX or iOS
You do realize that it was made because there were no Mac-specific brewing programs, right? The only option was to run a Windows replicator. Beer Alchemy fixed that for Mac users.
If you don't care about the MAC OS's, why would you even look at Beer Alchemy to begin with? I don't go around complaining that PC-based brewing software doesn't work on my Mac.
If you don't care about the MAC OS's, why would you even look at Beer Alchemy to begin with? I don't go around complaining that PC-based brewing software doesn't work on my Mac.
BeerAlchemy rocks.
Why read then post something negative on a thread related to Mac software if you dont care about Mac software?
You sir are a ******.
I'm looking at some Jeep parts now, too. All I can say is the fact that Ford has only an F150 port is ridiculous. I will give my money to somebody that makes parts available for at LEAST Wranglers and Cherokees... I don't care about Ford or Chevy
Morgason
Member
I just downloaded I brewmaster for iPad and really seem to like it. It is kind of pricey though at 14.99
jeremybrown9
Well-Known Member
"Beer Tools Pro vs. Beer Alchemy"...now where in there is iBrewmaster?
Morgason
Member
jeremybrown9 said:
It is in the app store on the iPad. Just wanted to offer other options.this thread started a few years back. If something new comes out it should be talked about.
bikenbrew75
Member
hahahaaa... typical non Mac/iOS user. probably never had or used one.. but They will put them down in a heartbeat.
I've been using Beer Alchemy for about 2 years now. Works great and I've never had any kind of computer related or brewing issues with it.
It really comes down to what you have and what you need.
MX1
Texas Ale Works
I cant wait to pick up the new Versions for all my devices....
Tim
Tim
artguy
Well-Known Member
I just would add that I have been impressed with the support for BeerAlchemy from Kent Software. I had downloaded an update, a newer version of BA that wouldn't run on my system because my Mac OS wasn't advanced enough, and when I contacted them for help, they provided a download of a slightly older compatible version for me within 24 hours. Can't beat that!
I'm having only one minor complaint about the iOS App for BeerAlchemy. The new font is smaller and harder to read and, because it adapts in size depending upon the length of the brew name or other entry, the size of the font can become very small and difficult to read. I don't know whether anyone else has this problem but I did mention it to the publisher of the program and I haven't seen that it impressed him. Admittedly there is an advantage to seeing the full name rather than a truncated one under some circumstances. Any others bothered by this or are my eyes just getting too old?
Yeah I noticed the smaller font too. It made me realise I have to go to the eye doctor and get a new set of glasses!! Overall though you need the full name when you've got multiple malts with the same name but different colours.
