Brew Pal software in the iTunes App Store

[Whiskey]

Picked up my shiny new 3gS yesterday and this was the first app I downloaded, looks great, cant wait to use it.

 

[Elfmaze]

i make ciders right now. But i am going to try some beers as well this year. The main calculators i need are how much sugar to add per volume to raise the SG to the needed initial SG. Can Brew pal do these calculations as well for wine stuff?
So far i am using Winecalc for the PC.

 

[rcm_rx7]

I haven't seen that in Brew Pal.


I just wanted to add that I love this program. I used the trial of beersmith for my previous two brews and just used Brew Pal on my last Centennial Blonde. So much better than beersmith! I mean obviously Beersmith is functionally superior, but the ease of use for Brew Pal combined with the excellent value made it better. I am more inclined to keep my iphone right next to me during the brew than my laptop. I love the built in timer, and I love being able to keep notes and track my gravity's etc.

I must say I was real close to buying beersmith, but thought for $.99 I'd try an iphone app first. Best decision I've made. Can't wait to see what the new version has in store!

 

[Heineken]

I use brewsmith software. Is this app a replacement for brewsmith or can they both be used together for different purposes. From the comments, it appears to be some overlap. However, I brew in my garage and don't have my PC handy so I need to keep going back and forth between PC and garage to update as I brew. Also, I do use my touch for timers and have used sparge pal. Does it do inventory and all the calculations that brewsmith performs?

 

[ohrinet]

Some things...

first, the app is amazing. i just started brewing about 5 batches ago, did the first batch off of a friends recipe and have pretty much used the app to "create" a recipe for the last 4 batches, and have had very good luck. thanks for extract support, its really nice.

1. Did you remove Danstar Nottingham(and Windsor) from the lists of yeasts? I don't notice them listed anymore, and I was wondering why.

2. Push notifications for hop schedules. And maybe even custom reminders...outside of hop schedule, but more like reminder at 7 minutes before flame out to sanitize fermenter...just a thought...

Lastly, my recipes always turn up with what I think are much higher IBU's than other calculators. For example, I made a light citrus beer which on BrewPal came in at 48IBU, SNPA is 37, and it doesn't seem right. Regarding this though, it is important to have a relative understanding of IBUs, so I haven't had any problems, especially as I use it more, because I can just get a number that is where I want it to be relative to the light beer and the IPA that I've brewed. Has anyone else noticed this? And to the developer, please do not change your formula, and if you do, see if you can do a conversion for other recipes saved already. I fear as I start putting more recipes in, and you decide to change a formula, or some of the logic, that my recipes will no longer be relative any more.

I hope this makes sense, and thank you so much. BrewPal seriously makes it easy to get beyond "Beginner" stages of brewing.

 

[weirdboy]

I thought of a couple of features I'd like to see.

1. Bottle priming calculator. Now I know there is some variation in publications on how much priming sugar/fermentables to add, but it would be awfully nice for those of us who bottle condition.

2. Add Volumes to Results. In the same way you track gravities. Mash volumes, start & end of boil, end of fermentation, etc. In fact, it would be really nice if I could enter the gravity and volume of my preboil wort coming out of the MLT and not have to go find a calculator to figure out if I'm on target, and also calculate my efficiency right then and there.

3. Display the Recipe Name. Maybe I've missed it somewhere, but the only place I see the recipe name is in the save/load screen, but that's not helpful once I've loaded a recipe, turned off my phone, and forgotten about it for a day or two. Then when I go back into Brew Pal and look I can't figure out which one I'm looking at.

4. Brew Log/Journal. What I mean is, rather than having just a random collection of recipes, I'd like to be able to track everything I might need to fill out a BJCP competition entry form. So for example, right now there really isn't a way I can find to go back to an earlier batch and figure out how long the boil was, what day I brewed, pitched, transferred to secondary, bottled, etc. For that matter, if I've brewed the same recipe multiple times there's no way to track all the little variations that occur between batches.

5. Fix the Timers. I don't currently use the timers page because it's not useful to track all the stuff you have to do throughout the brewing process. I know hops schedules have already been mentioned, but there's other stuff, too. Like, dropping in my chiller, adding spices, adding irish moss or whirlfloc, stirring in extract or other fermentables if I'm doing a late addition (I know this will affect the IBU calculations, though). Also, so far as I can tell, the timers are only adjustable via the settings, which doesn't let me account for variations due to my recipe. For example, I normally use a 60 minute boil, but use a 90 minute boil if I have a significant amount of Pilsner malt. Likewise the timer doesn't really help in a multi-step mash, even though I can enter the information and calculate the volumes on the mash tab.


Don't take the above as a list of complaints so much as constructive criticism. It is a law of nature that no matter how good something is, you can always come up with new ways that you'd like to improve it. I really love the app, and use it every time I brew.

 

[ohrinet]

So I talked to a developer friend of mine and apparently push notifications for timers seems like an unnecessary pain to implement, unless you have (or want) to have your own server running all the time for them.

Anyway.

Thank you again.

 

[HarkinBanks]

This is one of the coolest looking apps I have downloaded ever, I can't wait to use it for a brewing session. I am on my trial version of Beersmith and have a strong feeling this app will do everything I need it to do. Huge kudos to Dave, this thing rocks. You could charge a LOT more and I would have paid it.

The app is pretty straight-forward, but a little tutorial would be welcome. Maybe there is one out there, I might have missed it. You might want to film one for Youtube Dave, nice free publicity, and would definitely get picked up by the homebrew crowd.

One last thing, is there any way you can make this app run on your mac while your iphone is connected or even stand-alone and then sync? That would be cool.

Keep up the great work!

 

[weirdboy]

So after doing a few recipes, it seems that BrewPal is not accurately predicting the colors of my final product. My Tripel recipe it shows up as 5.0L in BrewPal, but the same recipe in BeerSmith is estimated at 6.3L. Looking at the final product vs. test cards, BeerSmith is almost right on the money.

Same thing happened for a Wit I made a few weeks back. I thought it was a fluke, but looking back at all the beers I've done using BrewPal so far, it seems to consistently underestimate the SRM.

 

[bendavanza]

I am really liking the new version of the app, but did some yeasts disappear? I can't find nottingham or the fermentis Safale us-05?

 

[ohrinet]

I just noticed it was updated. Most of the recent requests were included.

Supreme badassery, that's for sure.

 

[Whiskey]

Again this a great program, however, would there be a chance to get priming sugars added to the carbonation page? Not everyone kegs.

 

[bendavanza]

Also, I appreciate the FWH feature but with my 90min boils, it does not seem to calculate the same for 90min and FWH. Is it assuming 60 min boil? or is there something else I'm missing.

 

[Elfmaze]

Darn on the ipod touch i need 3.0 software now. Thats $10 for me

 

[nurlabys]

You can blame a nice summer so far on my terrible reply skills Here goes:

- Jonnio:

I'm working on BeerXML import/export for 1.6, which will hopefully be submitted to the App Store by the end of this month (or early next).

- ohrinet:

Sorry about the dry yeast disappearing! This was an OS 3.0 issue, and was fixed in 1.5.5.

As you mentioned in a followup, push notifications requires a server backend and isn't really worth it for something like Brew Pal. Quite a bit of development/upkeep on my end...

I added an option to use Jackie Rager's IBU formulation instead of the default (<1.5.5) of using Glenn Tinseth. Does that address your problem, or are the IBU calculations still off? The values should be very close to other programs that use the same formulas. FWIW, the hop AA can be adjusted by 0.1% increments in 1.5.5.

- weirdboy:

Many people have asked about a bottle priming calculator... I definitely think it's a tool that should be in there, so I will see what I can do for 1.6.

I'll look at reworking volumes and efficiency, can't really give you a time estimate, other than "after 1.6"... I've got quite a list for 1.6 already, and I'm just one dude with a full time day job

The recipe name you are editing in "live edit" mode is now displayed in the Load/Save tab (1.5.5). When you exit the program and come back, you are no longer in "live edit" mode, so unfortunately you won't see the name of the last recipe you loaded. That would require keeping track of whether or not any changes have been made since the recipe was loaded, which isn't doable right now. I've added it to my list for future updates.

Would a better export with more information meet your needs for a log/journal, rather than saving time-dependent parameters with each recipe? That way you could load the base recipe, make any changes for a particular brew day and export that.

Regarding the timer--I added the option to put your wort chiller into the boil at 15min. Additions should show up on the timer wheel as well. Is this what you're after, or something else...?

Not sure about the color calculations being off, I'm using the standard SRM equations. Maybe the grain properties need tweaking?

- HarkinBanks:

Brew Pal will never be more than $0.99

I'm working on a help/tutorial/webpage update, but frankly I just haven't had the time lately! This will be part of the 1.6 update.

iPhone development is done in Xcode, which includes an iPhone emulator. It is a one-way street though, Xcode can compile and run in the simulator, but applications from the iPhone can't get "back" onto your Mac, sorry... plus the Brew Pal UI was designed from the ground up for the iPhone/iPod Touch and wouldn't translate too well to a desktop application.

- bdavanza:

As above, the dry yeasts are back in 1.5.5 (oops!)

FWH is calculated as though it were a 20-min addition, as per
First Wort Hopping (FWH) ::: Brew365 - Homebrewing Recipes and Articles Daily
whether you boil for 60 min or 90 min shouldn't affect the IBU contributions of the FWH.

--------

Dave

 

[bendavanza]

Cool I must have missed the .5.5 update from 1.5.
I was unaware of the FWH's ~20 minute thing. Odd I will have to do more research.

 

[Noleafclover]

...plus the Brew Pal UI was designed from the ground up for the iPhone/iPod Touch and wouldn't translate too well to a desktop application.

First, from both an aspiring iPhone developer and fellow homebrewer, bravo on the app. I just picked this up the other day and have already converted a guy at work to both an iPhone user and a home brewer (he'd been talking to be a while about home brewing and has been on the fence about the iPhone. The app set him over the edge.)

I bought this app after searching this forum for brewing software for my Macbook. When I saw this, it was an absolute must get because it is much easier to have my phone w/ me on brew-days (every weekend, with an occasional Wednesday added). Much easier than trying not to spill water on my laptop.

However, when I'm just hanging out on my desk researching on the web, I find myself wanting a software solution on my laptop. Hence I was looking for a brew pal client for my normal computer. Just a note here, I'd pay extra (as much as what it costs for that brew smith app) for a desktop solution that interfaces with the iPhone app.

But if that won't work, while you are considering an xml output you might think of what another brewing program might take as an import as far as a file layout goes. Major geeks like me then could export their stuff from brew pal for use on their desktops. The only other consideration would be the exported file from the desktop and getting it onto the phone.

In any case, thanks again for the great app. For $0.99, it's the best app I've purchased for my iPhone.

 

[Sherpa FE]

AWESOME APP. I switched to AT&T just to buy the Iphone, just so I could have this application.
WELL DONE!!!!!

 

[Spunkmeyer]

I downloaded this App today and it's fantastic. Did a brew session today with a friend at their place, and it was hard not to just want to play with this app the entire time instead of talking with them. Looking forward to 1.6 -- great work so far!

 

[bendavanza]

The updates have fixed all my previous concerns, and it's a great app.
Question: Boil and mash timers, does Brewpal run in the background? I had some incoming calls and texts, and may have opened another app and returned to brewpal, but I think the timer stalled and I missed some hop additions. Also, why does the timer ring when it starts?
Thank you,
-Ben

 

[nurlabys]

1.5.8 was submitted to the app store last week--sorry, 1.6 will be a little while longer!

1.5.8 expands the Mash & Sparge features to include double sparging, infusion mashing and decoction mashing, with options for mashout, and fixes a few other little bugs.

1.6 will add database editing and revamp the Load/Save tab

1.7 will add BeerXML import and export (noleafclover: this should allow you to import Brew Pal recipes into desktop software, and vice versa assume they support BeerXML)

bdavanza: The Timer tab should remember where you are in any of the timers--it just records a start timestamp, and if you quit Brew Pal and come back to it it ought to reflect the correct amount of time remaining. It will *not* however notify you of any missed steps (besides being able to see them printed on the wheel). The ringer goes off for any step along the way, not just at the end, so if you need to add 60 min hops to a 60 min boil, the ringer will go off right as you start the timer.

 

[McHandbag]

best. app. ever.

 

[rcm_rx7]

Yeah this app should be featured in the commercials.

"Brewing in your backyard and need to find out the temperature and amount of sparge water to add in your MLT? There's an app for that"

 

[Skins_Brew]

Great app! I used it for half of a brew session a few days ago and I am about to use it for an entire session in a few minutes. A few suggestions though...

-allow editing of the OG and FG on the grain page.
-an efficiency calculator would be cool.

Other then that, its the best $.99 I have ever spent!

 

[bendavanza]

Thanks for the answers, and I'm looking fwd to the updates you mentioned. Great App, great attention to detail and I thank you.

 

[whalenutz]

dude you make me want to buy an iphone...

 

[Skins_Brew]

do it. I posted an ad on craigslist to get someone to assume my verizon contract so I would not have to pay the $175 early termination fee just so I could get an iphone. Some woman wanted a verizon contract and snatched it up.

 

[bendavanza]

You could also use an ipod touch.

 

[Woolseal]

Not only is the app AWESOME...Dave (nurlabys) is also AWESOME. I had a hop question a few days ago and Dave replied the very next day via email. If you click on About and Email Brew Pal Support...you get direct access to Dave. I enjoy how I can create my own beers and adjust everything on the fly. I cannot see me brewing without this app.

Nice work Dave. Spread the Word!

 

[nurlabys]

1.6 is finally here! I also updated the webpage as promised (but long overdue). From the App Store description:

WHAT'S NEW IN THIS VERSION:

- Addresses #1 request: Editable database! You can now change the default values for grains, hops and additions and add your own. Yeast to follow shortly.

- Revamped Load/Save tab. This works much more intuitively and allows the "/" character in recipe names.

- Live editing is more reliable.

- Moved "+ Add" button to the top of lists so it is visible by default.

- Misc. interface tweaks based on user feedback: enter email in export tab, fix some special characters in export, update Mash tab badge when changing settings.