Brew Pal software in the iTunes App Store

[nurlabys]

Just wanted to let everyone know that my new, fully featured all-grain homebrew application "Brew Pal" is available for free on the iTunes app store... it will run on both the iPhone and iPod Touch. This is a big update from Sparge Pal, my first app (Brew Pal does everything Sparge Pal does and a heckuva lot more!) Please see http://nurl.knowfear.net/iphone/brewpal for more info on the current version.

There are BIG changes coming that will address the most common complaints: lack of grain and hop data! The next version, which is under review by Apple now, will have predefined grains with points and lovibond (hence automatic SRM calculation) AND predefined hops, so you can see your estimated IBU.

Sparge Pal will always be free, but Brew Pal will be $0.99 starting next week.

Thanks to everyone here that bought Sparge Pal!

EDIT: I've subscribed to this thread, so I'll see any questions or comments you post here. Also, please feel free to contact me via the link on the Brew Pal website! Hope this doesn't sound like a sales pitch, I just want to get the word out and make sure that everyone who bought Sparge Pal gets a shot at Brew Pal while it is free.

 

[bendavanza]

what is the easiest way to figure the sparge section of brewpal to do a no mash out double batch sparge? Does it take into account the temp loss of a cooler mash tun?
Thanks
-Ben

 

[gregs765]

This app is fantastic. I particularly love the timers. One question, though (which I also e-mailed from the website): What IBU formula does BrewPal use? I have ProMash set to Rager, and it told me I would have 31 IBU, but BrewPal said 25. I am not a super-detailed brewer, but I think this information would help me plan better. Thanks again for the nice work.

 

[nurlabys]

bdavanza, sorry it took me so long to reply here! I didn't see any email notification for your post but I got one for gregs765

To answer your question, no, Brew Pal does not take into account the temp loss of the mash tun. I'm realizing that more and more users want complete control and I am rethinking how the "Settings" tab works so I may try to add that (as well as many other) new variables in the future. For now the interface is about as simple as I could make it. When I brew I throw a gallon of boiling water in the mash tun to preheat it.

Brew Pal probably won't tell you exactly how to do a no mash out double batch sparge, but you can use the infusion calculator to get an idea of what temperatures your infusions should be at assuming no heat loss, which you will have to compensate for.

Dave

 

[nurlabys]

gregs765 I replied to your email, but I will post it here as well because it is a recurring question:

Brew Pal uses the Tinseth equation which will give different results than some other calculators. I am planning to add other selectable equations to the next version. I've heard from other brewers that Tinseth is the most accurate for full boils, and that other equations can give artificially high results. I have no way to directly measure IBUs and I am by no means a pro brewer and I love options as much as the next guy, so look for selectable IBU equations soon!

Thanks for the compliment, glad you like Brew Pal!

Dave

 

[deepsouth]

do either of these programs work for extract brewing?????

 

[nurlabys]

deepsouth,

I hope to submit the next version of Brew Pal (1.5) to the App store in the next couple of weeks. It includes the two most requested features: metric and extract support! Hopefully it will be available for download by early June at the latest.

Dave

 

[deepsouth]

deepsouth,

I hope to submit the next version of Brew Pal (1.5) to the App store in the next couple of weeks. It includes the two most requested features: metric and extract support! Hopefully it will be available for download by early June at the latest.

Dave

awesome dave! thanks.

 

[FisherDan]

Great App Dave,
On the additions that were added to the last version. Is there any thought to allowing the user to add our own ingredients ?

thanks Dan

 

[Ysgard]

Thanks, I really like this app. I've been horrible about notes/planning just because of the pain of keeping a notebook around. Sooo useful to have this with e-mail export.

Tasting notes (with timestamp, perhaps BJCP judging sheet?) would be a nice feature, or at least a misc/notes area.

 

[deepsouth]

so how close is 1.5!?!?!?

 

[khiddy]

I downloaded this app earlier this week, and it's frickin' amazing. Among the best apps I've downloaded on my iPhone. I've recreated several of my recipes from Hopville in Brew Pal, and the numbers match up pretty well. There are some great additional tools that I appreciate in this app:

-Export via email. This is one of the coolest functions. It creates a great-looking printable report that you can use as a reference while brewing, or share with friends. I hear that it's going to get even better in the next version, but I don't know how that's possible!

-The style matcher. After you've entered your recipe, it'll show you some suggested BJCP styles that the recipe might fit, and what you need to change to fit into the style.

-Lovibond swatches to get an idea of just how dark or light your beer is.

-Brew timers, with hop additions right on the face of the clock. Count down and see what's coming up next.

-Carbonation guide. Figure out how much psi to apply to the keg at your current temperature to get the carb you expect, and/or is appropriate for the style.

One thing that was cool is that I contacted Dave the developer to ask about adjusting customized fermentables/adjuncts, and he got right back to me within a few hours. I did find a workaround to what I wanted to add, but he mentioned that the new version will have a notes section for making detailed, exportable notes. That's cool!

 

[Rick500]

Bought the app a few days ago. Very nice, and intuitive to use.

 

[nurlabys]

Hi everyone, I wanted to let you know that I submitted 1.5 to the App store last week. Based on previous releases, it takes 1-2 weeks to actually become available. I'm just as surprised as you are when it actually shows up for sale

Re: entering your own grains/additions... that is probably going to be the big new feature in 1.6, which will probably take a month or so (sorry, "real" job is taking a lot of my time right now!) It will require changing the way things work behind the scenes, and I don't want to break any recipes that people have already entered.

khiddy, thanks for the review! As I mentioned in an email exchange, I don't do any advertising of my own; I think word-of-mouth like this goes a long way. Much appreciated.

Dave

 

[KYB]

I don't have an iphone, but it looks awesome. Nice work.

 

[bendavanza]

Looking forward top the update. Great handy tool!
-Ben

 

[Rick500]

Just updated to 1.5 late last night.

 

[deepsouth]

updating now! thanks a lot. can't wait to check out the newest version!

 

[user 15951]

would love to see FWH and MH for the hop additions too!

 

[khiddy]

FWH made it into version 1.5, which is available now in the App Store. Looks like Extracts made it in, as well as Notes. This is a solid update - thanks, Dave!

 

[thataintchicken]

replacing my old beater phone with a new shiny ( or matte black if rumors are true ) iphone.
this will be the first app I download.

 

[bendavanza]

you will love the iphone

 

[Vtbrew]

Does this app work with itouch.

 

[Thirsty_Monk]

I downloaded the Brew Pal app and I like it.

I have a two questions:
1) Pitch rate calculator does not match with Mr Malty Pitching rate calculator (Ales Vs. Lagers Vs. Hefas).
2) I am supposed to be able to download my recipes from Brew Pal. What file format it emails the recipe? Am I out of the luck with ProMash?

 

[khiddy]

Does this app work with itouch.

I don't see why not. It doesn't need access to the internets for anything but the optional emailing of recipes.

 

[johntangus]

Hey Dave, I just downloaded your app and am so stoked to start using it. Just in checking out the screen shots and reading the description - i know that this will be spot on. Thank you so much for making this app. I also have a mac and this will be the first brew software that i've bought. I've always used the timers on my iPod touch in brewing, so this will be a no-brainer. thanks

 

[nurlabys]

Hi everyone, just back from a little vacation...

I've got quite a list of features (and yes, some bug fixes) for 1.6... I'm going to try to update the website (Brew Pal for the iPhone and iPod Touch) next week with details so stay tuned there for updates. I'll be explaining some issues with 1.5 and listing what I am working on for 1.6.

vtbrew: It should work fine on an iPod Touch... I don't have one myself, but others are using it. khiddy is right, you will need WiFi for recipe exporting or emailing me from the app, but everything else is self-contained.

jogntangus: You're welcome! Glad you like it (I assume... you DO like it right? )

Users who emailed me in the past two weeks: Sorry for the delay, check your inboxes!

PS. I just picked up my iPhone 3Gs, and all apps (including Brew Pal of course) load WAY faster than on the 3G...

Dave

 

[deepsouth]

PS. I just picked up my iPhone 3Gs, and all apps (including Brew Pal of course) load WAY faster than on the 3G...

Dave

no way. i wonder why that is?

 

[dragon99]

Great app. Should come in handy for reminding me or hop additions and whatnot. For $.99 this is quite amazing. Keep up the good work.

Can't wait to be able and add malts/hops.

 

[Jonnio]

looking at your website this app looks amazing - are there any thoughts to doing an e-mail based xml file and/or an xml paste so that you can go to and from the desktop based brewing programs to this?

I think the new cut/paste feature of 3.0 would definitely be well used here...I could e-mail an xml file from beersmith, copy it from the e-mail message, and then paste it into a window on your software for import.