Brew Pal software in the iTunes App Store

[NorCalAngler]

Am I wrong, or would each of you using the program pay $5 or $6 bucks for a working version with zero bugs as it stands now? Then all the upgrades would just be icing on the cake and he would have a monetary incentive to fix it.

All he needs to do is release it under a new version year. BrewPal 2011 and charge another $2 for it. I would pay for it again if he made substantial improvements. If it is just a bug fix release then I'm not paying another cent for it.

 

[kds1398]

I quit using mine for timers, since I entered 60 minutes and the timer wheel shows 160. I am still under the way of thought that he should sell it to someone that has the time to make it work right, since it is a great app "if working." Hell, I would pay an up-charge for a fixed update if it fixed all the bugs. Makes me wish BeerSmith would buy it and make it as usable as that program or something. I understand the guy has another job and there is a lot of work to be done, it is just depressing to see something with so much potential wasting away. Am I wrong, or would each of you using the program pay $5 or $6 bucks for a working version with zero bugs as it stands now? Then all the upgrades would just be icing on the cake and he would have a monetary incentive to fix it.

I would gladly pay another 5-10 $ for a frequently worked on and updated app.

Saying that you would pay extra for bug free software sounds good, but bug free software isn't a realistic end result in any app development.

 

[SpottedDogBrewing]

Anyone know anything about the refractometer screen on BrewPal?
I have a ATC refractometer, do I still need the wort correction factor setting? If not what setting should I put in? Its set at 1.04!

Sent from my iPhone using HB Talk

 

[dragon99]

Anyone know anything about the refractometer screen on BrewPal?
I have a ATC refractometer, do I still need the wort correction factor setting? If not what setting should I put in? Its set at 1.04!

Sent from my iPhone using HB Talk

The wort correction factor is used when "Alcohol correction" is enabled. This allows you to get a FG reading from fermented beer (the alcohol messes with refractometers). The exact wort correction varies for every brewery, but typically 1.04 is close enough (its usually between 1.02 and 1.06)

Here's a good article if you want to learn more:
http://www.byo.com/stories/projects-and-equipment/article/indices/29-equipment/1343-refractometers

 

[Laikacosmonaut]

Any update on the release of 2.0?

Last update on the website was in February, but I remain hopeful. I, too, would pay for an update if need be, as I wouldn't dare think of using another app... However, the memory bug is really over staying it's welcome!

Here's to quality software, and it's progress.

 

[cyclonite]

I would pay, but got tired of waiting and started using iBrewMaster instead. I like it better in most areas, though it is not perfect either. Definitely worth the $6 it cost me though!

 

[hs0656]

This may be a silly question, however I am new to all grain brewing. What are the numbers that change with the grain bill additions? i.e. 2 Row Base says "37p 1.5 °L". What does that mean?

 

[kds1398]

This may be a silly question, however I am new to all grain brewing. What are the numbers that change with the grain bill additions? i.e. 2 Row Base says "37p 1.5 °L". What does that mean?

37p indicates that 1lb of grain will raise the gravity of 1 gallon of water by 37 points @ 100% efficiency (i.e. from 1.000 to 1.037 using the specific gravity scale).

1.5 °L indicates the color of the specific grain using the lovibond scale. A simple estimate for the color of your final wort can be made using the amounts and colors of various grains in your grain bill.

Unless you have more accurate values for the specific grain you are using, you can generally leave these where they are and just select the appropriate grains for your bill and fill in the amounts.

 

[hs0656]

37p indicates that 1lb of grain will raise the gravity of 1 gallon of water by 37 points @ 100% efficiency (i.e. from 1.000 to 1.037 using the specific gravity scale).

1.5 °L indicates the color of the specific grain using the lovibond scale. A simple estimate for the color of your final wort can be made using the amounts and colors of various grains in your grain bill.

Unless you have more accurate values for the specific grain you are using, you can generally leave these where they are and just select the appropriate grains for your bill and fill in the amounts.

Ok great. Makes perfect sense now. I have never seen either of those expressed with those abbreviations. Thanks for your help!

 

[dukes7779]

Anyone know how to input a continuous hop addition on Brew Pal?

 

[Special Hops]

I really like this software overall. Evolving the constant memory warnings are a annoying. Plus word things happen when I try to load and save files.

Also I wish I could import recipes.

 

[Zixxer10R]

Might i suggest adding a recipe title line somewhere so that when i load a recipe and then close the app i know which recipe is active? Make sense? If not, just ask me to explain further.

 

[kds1398]

Might i suggest adding a recipe title line somewhere so that when i load a recipe and then close the app i know which recipe is active? Make sense? If not, just ask me to explain further.

I haven't seen any updates on this software in quite a while. Not sure if the developer is still working on it or not.

 

[WortMonger]

I wish he were! I still love his concept, just wished it worked properly. I know most people do this aside from their regular job, so I am chalking it up to him being too busy to make the changes.

 

[kds1398]

There was an update on his website in February saying he was working on it. The last update was June of 2010 though.

I emailed the support address listed on the site a few months ago for assistance as the app wouldn't load at all, and I never heard back. I ended up reinstalling and lost a bunch of brew sessions.

 

[Zixxer10R]

There was an update on his website in February saying he was working on it. The last update was June of 2010 though.

I emailed the support address listed on the site a few months ago for assistance as the app wouldn't load at all, and I never heard back. I ended up reinstalling and lost a bunch of brew sessions.

A bunch of brew sessions, or a bunch or recipes? I hate to think what would happen if i lost all my recipes...

 

[kds1398]

Both.

 

[Zixxer10R]

Dang. I guess i'll be exporting my recipes when they are complete from now on then.

 

[kds1398]

I check the developers site http://brewpal.info from time to time on this app & I just noticed this:

A Note About 1.7/2.0:
I had planned to fix the existing 1.6.x code and release 1.7, but unfortunately this proved to be more difficult and time consuming than I originally thought.

Instead, I started working on 2.0 earlier this year. This will be a ground-up rewrite, and will feature a new, improved interface (while keeping many familiar elements) and a more solid back end. My goal is to release 2.0 around Thanksgiving of this year.

Thanks so much for your understanding and patience!
- Dave

Pretty exciting news since the last version was released in August 2010 & it has so many issues... the potential is definitely there for this to be a great app. Hoping that the new version actually comes out sometime this year & is more stable than 1.6.12. It's still a bit disconcerting that over the past year and a half, many users have reported trying to contact the dev & got no response.

 

[WortMonger]

I am keeping my fingers crossed. I love the interface more than all the other stuff I have tried that is app related. iBrewmaster is the latest trial... only to have downloaded it and the yeast feature not working. I will pray Brewpal gets fixed and works perfectly.

 

[kds1398]

I will pray Brewpal gets fixed and works perfectly.

I'd be happy if it's stable enough not to have the memory warnings and crash.

 

[kds1398]

My goal is to release 2.0 around Christmas of this year.

Thanks so much for your understanding and patience!
- Dave

Looks like the next update got pushed from Thanksgiving to Christmas... hoping it's out in the next few weeks.

 

[jwatkins56550]

yes a new update would be sweet...hoping it comes soon!!!!

 

[lemy]

yes a new update would be sweet...hoping it comes soon!!!!

I just received a correspondence from Dave who said Brew Pal 2.0 is completed, but the testing is taking longer than he expected. The entire back-end has been rebuilt from scratch and he wants to make sure your existing recipes will translate to the new version. (personally I don't care. I can re-create my recipes)... The new version will be in the iTunes store very soon. (no hard date)

I did a write up on my blog if anyone is interested: reedbrewing.com

 

[SpottedDogBrewing]

No way! I have almost 100 recipes in BrewPal. We've waited this long let's wait a little longer!!

 

[Qoheleth]

I hope Dave is able to wrap up the testing without too many hiccups. I got the app about a year ago (or more?) and couldn't believe how great it was for being so inexpensive. I've done some brews using brewpal exclusively and it's never steered me wrong. Cheers Dave! Looking forward to 2.0!

 

[Special Hops]

I have switch to iBtewmaster. Brewpal was good for the price nut just too buggy.

Hope the update clears up the issues and will give it another try whenever it comes out.

 

[alestateyall]

Hallelujah! I am anxious for an update.

 

[asidrane]

Does anyone know if the testing has finished and the app has been submitted to the App Store? I am very excited to play around with version 2.0. BrewPal is probably my most used app on my phone.

 

[RogueVassar]

Thanks for the heads up. I just exported the recipes in case there was a "hiccup". I'd hate to lose all of that info since I've been using BrewPal for every batch. Can't wait for the next version!