Brew Pal software in the iTunes App Store

[Montanaandy]

I used this today for the first time and really enjoyed it. For .99 it was a steal. Montanaandy

 

[Beernik]

I downloaded it yesterday and started double checking some of my recipe calcs. Specifically I liked the refractometer calculations. My barelywine wasn't as under attenuated as I thought.

Cool app.

 

[BrewDocND]

BrewPal Rules. Super easy to use, even for a novice brewer. Best $1 I've spent in a while.

 

[shroomzofdoom]

You know what I like about this app. If you compare the time it takes to make a recipe in BTP or BS, this takes about 1/4 of the time. Still lovin it!

 

[Beernik]

So far there are only two things I don't like. First, the notes page doesn't scroll.

Second, I can't program in things like: brew date, rack date, bottle date, fermentation temp, lager temp/time.

But the calcs and stuff though, still very cool. And the smell/flavor wheel is one of the coolest things i've ever seen on an iPhone app.

 

[DFoster]

I bought this quite awhile ago and love everything about it. Nice job and keep up the good work!

 

[bad coffee]

I've been using Brewpal for a while and love it. I haven't done the recent update because I'm still on iphone 3.0.

Are there plans to implement an inventory system in upcoming versions? I'm looking at getting beertools, but I use brewpal every time I brew. I'd rather just use one program.

Also, is there anyway to have Brewpal on my phone interface with Brewpal on my mac? I'd really love to be able to enter my complete inventory with a real keyboard. Entering 25 grains and 20 hops by scroll wheel will drive me crazy.

Keep up the great work. If every update was $.99 I'd gladly pay it. This software is worth much more than the $1 I paid.

Cheers,
B

 

[LayMeister]

Anyone notice a problem with First Wort Hops additions? I have Orfy's HobGolbin recipe as input and the First Wort Hops have a lower IBU contribution than those 30 minutes into the boil. Both are the same amount and Alpha.

Am I doing something wrong?

 

[rcm_rx7]

Yeah I had some weird calculations with the first wort hops addition on my double bastard last week. Threw off the IBU's completely.

 

[bad coffee]

Time to get the most recent update. That is, after my new iphone goes through restore. Isn't apple care wonderful?

I'll play around with the new version of BP and see how it does!

B

 

[bendavanza]

BP uses a 20 minute IBU calculation for FWH

 

[Beernik]

I lookedaround a bit this morning. Because there isn't a lot ofhard data on first wort hopping IBUs, a 20 minute boil equivalent is a standard assumption. Some programs allow the user to customize the assumption.

 

[LayMeister]

Yes 20 minutes sounds fine, but it should be 20 minutes + length of boil, not just 20 minutes.

Paul

 

[Beernik]

What's your process? I'm curious partly because I haven't done it before and partly because I'm considering it.

1. What percentage of hops are going into the first wort? Are the pellet, plug, or flower?
2. What hop are you using and what's its AA?
3. If you didn't put these hops into the first wort, where would you add them in the boil?
4. How hot is your first wort? How much splashing/oxygenation takes place as it runs into the brewpot?
5. Are you infusion mashing or decoction mashing? How much hot and cold break do you leave behind in the brewpot?

 

[LayMeister]

First wort hops go in the kettle with your first runnings from the lauter tun. They are at 70 or 80C until the sparge is complete and you start to boil. They then see the full boil time.

What's your process? I'm curious partly because I haven't done it before and partly because I'm considering it.

1. What percentage of hops are going into the first wort? Are the pellet, plug, or flower?
2. What hop are you using and what's its AA?
3. If you didn't put these hops into the first wort, where would you add them in the boil?
4. How hot is your first wort? How much splashing/oxygenation takes place as it runs into the brewpot?
5. Are you infusion mashing or decoction mashing? How much hot and cold break do you leave behind in the brewpot?

 

[Beernik]

I know how it's done in general. I also know that first wort hops are isomerized very differently as first wort vs. boil hops. How hops are isomerized in the boil is very well known.

How hops are isomerized in first wort is mostly being guessed at right now. It's thought that how much oxignation of the hops takes place affects it. How much hot and cold break affects it. If more than 1/3 of the hopping takes place in as first wort affects it. And the additional aroma that comes from first wort hops increases the perception of bitterness.

So if you give me some specifics on your process, I might be able to help figure out why you are getting different results than the calculation.

 

[LayMeister]

I'm getting the wrong IBU's because the amount of time the first wort hops are in the boil is not included in the calculation. Should be 20 minutes plus time in boil which is 60 minutes for a total of 80 minutes. I can get around the problem by not using the first wort option and just adding them to the boil for 80 minutes I guess. But this causes some other problems since the boil is only 60 minutes and the boil off would be affected. I guess another way to deal with it is to just add to boil for 60 minutes and account for first wort affect by telling it I'm using 10% more hops.

 

[Beernik]

I suggest reading this article on a couple side-by-sides for pilsners.

http://www.kotmf.com/articles/fwh.php?PHPSESSID=1fc6ce0ba36cd5e5fcefe1c2664d1b1c

If 1/3 of the aroma hops were moved from aroma hopping to first wort hops, the increase of IBUs was only about 10%. If 50% was moves from aroma to first wort, the increase in IBUs was about 20%.

Even for the 50%, that's not a huge increase in utilization. You'd get a bigger increase from moving a hop addition from 40 minutes to 60 minutes. That's a 30% increase in utilization for a 1.050 wort.

The reason you can't assume you get full boil utilization from first wort hops is because the some of the alpha acids will physically bind to hot break material. These alpha acids will be left behind in the brewpot. Of course that means brewers will get different results if they decoct or infusion mash.

 

[LayMeister]

Thanks for the article. I see your point. It does seem that other brewing software is handling perhaps incorrectly. For example Beer Smith would give higher IBU's for First Wort than Full Boil, while the article you refer to suggests that they should only be higher than a late addition. Perhaps it is time for an experiment.

Paul

 

[weirdboy]

Thanks for the article. I see your point. It does seem that other brewing software is handling perhaps incorrectly. For example Beer Smith would give higher IBU's for First Wort than Full Boil, while the article you refer to suggests that they should only be higher than a late addition. Perhaps it is time for an experiment.

Paul

I think in the article, the experiment only measured the effects of moving some or all of the late hops additions to FWH. It did not, however, measure the effects of moving e.g. a bittering addition to FWH. If you are changing a 60 minute full boil addition to FWH, just from my own experience I think you are going to see higher IBUs.

 

[NorCalAngler]

I love this app. However, I'm just starting out as an extract brewer and I find the extract options a bit lacking... especially partial boil and efficiency. When I enter the batch amount (5 gallons) the app automatically calculates a 6.11 gallon boil. If I boil 3 gallons then my hop utilization is different. In addition the main screen shows 75% efficiency and extract is theoretically 100%.

 

[Beernik]

From what I can see this is the only side by side experiment at a brewery level where they actually measured IBUs in a lab. But they don't dive the hopping schedule for either method and they only used low humulone and cohumulone noble hops for bittering and aroma.

High humulone or cohumulone hops may act differently.

An option to adjust the FWH should be included because the method has so many unknowns in how it works.
......

If you want to do PMs and adjust efficiency, you have to go to the options page. There is a little gear wheel in the top right corner. On the grain bill page, the options will let you change the default batch size to 3 gallons and increase the efficiency.

On the sparge page, you can set it to partial mash. But it will probably tell you that you need to have a starting boil of 4 gallons to end up with 3 gallons post boil. I'm assuming it will adjust your IBUs accordingly.

It's not easy or intuitive. It took me 4 days just to figure out the gear wheel did anything.

 

[heywolfie1015]

Just wanted to add my congrats on a fantastic app. Downloaded Brew Pal after I got my iPhone yesterday and love it. Great job, and thanks!

 

[JayInJersey]

I'd just like to say I use this all the time to fiddle with recipes while my Beersmith on my main computer at home holds my Brew Log.

Love them both.

I had some suggestions to this one, but can't for the life of me think of them right now...

 

[Beernik]

I've come to the conclusion that you have the best stragety. Calculate in in BrewPal but don't store it there. If you make any kind of adjustments to the default settings it changes all the other beer records.

 

[DFoster]

I suggest adding an inventory where I can list my complete inventory of grain/hops/yeast. When I use a certain amount of grain, it subtracts from my inventory...same goes for hops and yeast. If you added how much hops AA goes down after time as well, this thing would be even better.

Just a thought...but I use your app all the time. Thanks.

 

[JayInJersey]

Ok...just remembered at least one suggestion

Have an "Add" button on the Hops/Grain screens instead of a save

For example if I am adding 3 additions of Tettang I hate having to scroll down to Tet once for 60m then again for 30m and yet again for 15m. Having a + that would add it to my recipe and leave me where I am would make me happy. After all I can always delete it from my recipe if I add in error.

 

[vfinch]

I'd like to give big props to Brewpal, it is a truly awesome app! It is worth MUCH more than it's 99cent price tag.

 

[bendavanza]

I'm looking for 2 ingredients in this software and not finding them. Torrified wheat and malto dextrine.

 

[JayInJersey]

I think it has Dextrine...but you can add anything you want.

I've added a whole bunch of stuff.