Beersmith 2

[HotToddy55]

I am ready to do my first all grain brew but I just want to know is having software like Beersmith 2 really helpful instead of using directions from a recipe, and if I decide to get it is the app better than the program for a PC? Have read up on both, but would like some opinions from members here...Thanks to all.

 

[KartRacer54]

I do not have the PC version but it has additional feature such as inventory and shopping list. My understanding is that the Mobil version will have these features at some point.

 

[Scriv]

I have the IOS app and the Mac version, I really prefer the Mac version. I just find it easier to build the recipe with the desktop version, set all my parameters and then use the mobile app on brewday for its timers and measurements, etc.

 

[TobyG]

The phone app is great to have a recipe handy remotely, but the desktop app has a lot more power. I have both and use the desktop app _far_ more. I do recipe formulation, scale-up and down, etc. on the desktop. I then use the cloud feature to save recipes and transfer to my phone when I'm either sharing or ordering so I'll have the complete bill of ingredients with me.

 

[kh54s10]

It sounds like you are using kits or recipes. If so and you are not altering recipes or designing your own you do not need recipe software.

The computer version of Beersmith has more features than the apps do. I do not have the app and will not until it has all the functionality of the computer version. (it is supposed to be on it's way.)

I would recommend doing some all grain kits and recipes as published and learning the procedures before you start designing recipes. When you are comfortable with all grain brewing then get the software.
But be advised that Beersmith is a tool that you will have to learn how to use. It is not a plug and play situation. If you do not use it properly your results might not be too pleasing. The first thing is setting up your equipment profile. It may take a few brew sessions to dial this in. In fact I have been using BS2 for over 2 years and I am still tweaking the settings.

 

[chickypad]

But be advised that Beersmith is a tool that you will have to learn how to use. It is not a plug and play situation. If you do not use it properly your results might not be too pleasing. The first thing is setting up your equipment profile. It may take a few brew sessions to dial this in. In fact I have been using BS2 for over 2 years and I am still tweaking the settings.

^ This. I love Beersmith and think it is a great tool, but if you are looking to it for directions on how to brew or formulate a recipe I think you will be disappointed. It's really the other way around, you need to tell it what to do through your settings, profiles, etc. There are some default settings but the real value is being able to tweak it to your system. It will calculate the basic specs of a recipe for you like gravity, IBU's, and color, but it's not going to tell you if the recipe is any good. What I mean by that is does it have enough diastatic power to convert, are the ratios and combinations of specialty malts reasonable, do the hop additions give you the correct flavor and aroma for the style.

 

[pricelessbrewing]

I have it, and the only reason I use it is for recipe manipulation when I need to sub out a hop or some grain or something.

I find the mash and volume portion of it way too cumbersome so I use my own, google biab calc and I'm around the 4th hit.

 

[enkamania]

I love Beersmith, but I only have it on my PC, so I can't comment on the app

 

[unionrdr]

The desktop version is definitely more powerful, with more features. But it isn't a tutorial on how to brew. We can help you with a lot of that with regard to timing, yeast pitch, etc. Get a good process figured out for your system, then try an AG kit to get your feet wet. About two years ago, I started partial mash with the Cascade Ale kit from Midwest. I followed information gleaned on here, & already knew the primary, bottling, etc times were shorter in the instructions than I already knew them to be. So give primary whatever time it needs to get to a stable FG, then 3-7 days more to clean up & settle out clear or slightly misty before priming & bottling.

 

[chickypad]

So give primary whatever time it needs to get to a stable FG, then 307 days more to clean up & settle out clear or slightly misty before priming & bottling.

I think you meant 3-7 days.

 

[unionrdr]

Yeah, thanks, fixed it. I was in the middle of some e-mail business at the same time & got a little sloppy on the keyboard.

 

[Clonefan94]

As others have said, the genius to Beersmith is being able to plug your numbers in from your system and then being able to build a recipe with your system in place. So your numbers will usually come out close. It's not going to build the recipe for you. I personally find the mac version irreplaceable, but I rarely follow a set recipe.

The other nice thing about it is that I name my recipes with the date I brewed it as well. And save them all. It's a great tool for cataloging all of your previous brews and being able to go back quickly and see what you did.

All that being said, I would definitely look into it at some point, but if you are following previously created recipes, you really don't need it yet. Although, I found it helpful right off the bat. The sooner you are able to start tweeking your equipment profile, the better it will work for you when you start creating your own recipes.

Even though my first 4 all-grain brews were from a recipe, I still plugged them into beer smith and saw how it compared. It really helped me to have my equipment profile set up and ready to go. After each brew I would go back in and plug in all the actual numbers I got during brew day. It does a nice job painting a picture for you about how your recipe will turn out.

So yeah, in conclusion of my long winded post. It's not necessary, but if you plan on moving to building your own recipes one day, you might as well pick it up now. It's nice having a known recipe and then seeing how your brew turns out compared to the kit.

 

[HotToddy55]

I guess I was misunderstanding what Beersmith did. After all the responses and some internet surfing I now realize it is for helping you make your own recipes. I will definitely follow a few recipes before making my own recipes. A friend told me that it helps with water amounts and ingredients, but just basic recipes tell you all of that. Well I'm off to my local shop, The Wine and Hop Shop (great place) and get my ingredients for some Oktoberfest so it is good and ready for this fall. Thanks again all.