BeerBug Review - Early build impressions

[Facinerous]

What I really want to know is the longevity of this device. I looked through the sensor design and it looks easily damageable. I do like the concept though. I had caught on to the website not to long ago but was put off by it for a few reasons. One (though I admit this is fairly snotty of me) was the design of their actual website. It looked like a as seen on TV add to me. Two was simply that they didn't seem to be actively pursuing their new product. I didn't see anything relating to "coming soon" or please order now listed. I check around and didn't see anything to being able to buy the silly thing. Last, and as others have noted, is their complexity of the device. Not that I'm saying it would be difficult to use, but I would have liked to seen a few different price bases for their product. I would have been interested in what they are selling if it really simply monitored the gravity of the beer and nothing more. If something like that were priced for $50 buck or less I, and was accurate within +- 2% I probably would have bitten the hook. What they are selling seems fully featured, but is way more than what I am looking fore.

 

[safetydan]

Am I reading your review right? You have to push a button on top of the beerbug then go to your PC to get the readings? do you have to push that button every time you want to take readings? or was that just a first push to sync the bug to the PC? Not much point to Bluetooth or WiFi if you have to push a button on the device to take a reading every time.

I was interested in the product since I saw the Kickstarter but, to be honest, the price is a bit high and i'd much prefer just a LCD readout in the device. Not every frickin thing on this planet needs to sync with a smartphone or PC.

The prototype I reviewed did have to have a button pressed, the retail version will automatically upload data every 10 minutes.

I'll have a review of the retail version in a few weeks. It seems to be quite a bit better than the prototype in a few ways.

 

[mors]

The button only needs to be pressed if you want an immediate reading or if you want to tare it in water. Mine is pretty much trash so far... the readings have absolutly 0 reliability.

 

[mors]

Well Taylor from BeerBug contacted me after seeing this thread. He helped me out with some issues I was having with the SG readings being off. Turns out I was right that the BeerBug won't have an accurate reading if the torpedo is not fully submerged. My issue was that I extended it using a lightweight cheapo aluminum carabiner. This may have proved to be too much weight still. I extended it with some fishing line and it seems to be taking an accurate final gravity reading of my mead now. I'll update when I have a chance to use it in a brew from start to finish to see how the readings are... But at least the FG readings are correct now.

 

[AleForce1]

I got my email, $250. It seems to be getting more expensive by the minute. I must say I'm really disappointed by how this great idea turned out. What happens to your investment if the company/guy behind it decides that he does not want to do this any more or goes broke and stops paying for his cloud service? Then you sit up with $250 device that does not do anything. They should have stick with their initial idea of a device that measures the fermentation and reports to a local device. This internet of things is getting out of control IMO.

regards, HJ

Totally agree on this... It's been too cold to brew anything since I received my beer bugs (wifi) after waiting 14 months (after I paid ) for them to get them manufactured.. Would have never purchased if I would have known that I'd be tied to their company website to be able to read my beer bugs. I've been using them to monitor a cold cellar in my basement for the last few cold months... and then the other day they decided to change their website and I lost all of the temperature logging that was going on.... Thankfully I didn't have something fermenting then. During Kickstarter they said the API would be available with the beer bugs, but they changed their minds on that.

I hope that they can be successful, but I think they don't understand the homebrewing community - by using bait and switch and limiting beer bug users to their website.

 

[Weezy]

Like I said earlier, it'd be real handy if this thing just had an LCD readout on the top. Push a button to get a reading, write down number, move on. Not every damn thing needs to be internet ready and tied to an online account

I wonder if there is any recourse through kickstarter?

 

[AleForce1]

Unfortunately Kickstarter could give a rip... The risk is up to the kickstarter supporter (aka Sucker)....

 

[bondra76]

digging up old post, but so glad I read this. Was considering buying one and I guess I am going to pass now.

 

[SC_Ryan]

They have made some refinements and improvements. I bought one a couple weeks ago and have used it once. I like it so far. I like that I can check what's going on with my beer from anywhere. I ramped up my ferm temp at the end of fermentation and I was able to check from work how long it took to go from 65*-70*. I thought that was pretty cool. I'm going to do a more extensive review on it once I've used it in a few beers.

 

[pointcity-homebrew]

I was working on a project similar to the Brew Bug. Mine was a web enabled temp controller. Guess I should of had worked faster.....

 

[FarmerTed]

They have made some refinements and improvements. I bought one a couple weeks ago and have used it once. I like it so far. I like that I can check what's going on with my beer from anywhere. I ramped up my ferm temp at the end of fermentation and I was able to check from work how long it took to go from 65*-70*. I thought that was pretty cool. I'm going to do a more extensive review on it once I've used it in a few beers.

It would be sweet if you could control the fridge temp online, too.

 

[SC_Ryan]

That would be very cool

 

[pointcity-homebrew]

That's what I was doing , I can get back on it soon . I may have to wait til the funds are available to continue.

I am using a web server and communicating with my temp controller. So essentially you log into a password protected site and are able to monitor and control your temp from anywhere with Internet access


Sent from the future using neurological impulses.

 

[flemming]

That's what I was doing , I can get back on it soon . I may have to wait til the funds are available to continue.

I am using a web server and communicating with my temp controller. So essentially you log into a password protected site and are able to monitor and control your temp from anywhere with Internet access

Sounds like the BrewBit (http://www.brewbit.com) also there's a thread on it here:

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f163/new-temperature-controller-brewbit-417306/

I actually have both the BeerBug and the BrewBit and I'm tinkering with a way to get both of them to play nice together so that they can share a temperature probe.

Robert

 

[mors]

I have both a BrewBit and a BeerBug... They really are 2 difference purposes... BrewBit is temp controller... It monitors AND CONTROLS temperature and nothing else. BeerBug just monitors gravity readings and temp. You get no control with BeerBug. Just monitoring capabilities.

 

[pointcity-homebrew]

Yeah similar to the brewbit, keep in mind this is a personal project and not aimed at becoming a product. Plus I have a basic controller running and I have only invested around $60 and my time .


Sent from the future using neurological impulses.

 

[k3v1np]

I received my beer bug yesterday. Was able to successfully blinkup and have a wifi connection. However whenever I try testing or start a new brew I get the msg "Is your brewbug awake". I do have it in high activity mode by pressing the button. No idea what to try next. I emailed the company through there online contact form and received an auto reply back. Also when screwing in the elbow that holds the airlock I cracked the case. I think I turned it in about 3 mayb 4 full twists. I am going to have to see about getting a new one of those. Put some silicone on it for now. Also I have had it plugged in to an ipad wall charger all night and the battery indicator is still showing red (still charging i think). $300 is a fairly pricey, and for something that doesn't work right out of the box ... well I guess will have to see how there support works out.