Brewing Software - Comments Please

[Buford]

I've started using QBrew. It looks a little simplistic but it gets me in the right ballpark.

 

[Torchiest]

I downloaded the BeerSmith trial version, and after the 21 days was up, I was hooked. Went a few days with the limited use version and then bought the full version. It's very convenient and intuitive, and I haven't even gotten into all the features yet.

 

[Dr Malt]

This has been a great thread on brewing software. Thanks everyone.

Like Torchiest, I too down loaded BeerSmith trial version and after 4 days I had entered enough information and recipes I felt it was worth the $20 not to have to start over with another software package. I purchased!! I also liked the ease of use and the familiar look with other PC software.

Dr Malt

 

[Yuri_Rage]

No one seemed to want to comment on BeerSmith vs Beer Tools, so I went ahead and paid for Beer Tools. Here's what I think so far:

Beer Tools has a nicer outward appearance - I like the pint glass color estimation. It reads BeerXML, so I can import my BeerSmith recipes. The style widgets are nice (sort of a bar graph appearance), but largely unnecessary - I'd rather see the "Analysis" info in the same tab. Adding ingredients is a pain. They are sorted only by name or supplier, and the interface is a bit clumsy. I'd like to see more info in the ingredient dialogs (color, typical use, potential yield, etc). It took me a while to figure out how to get to the mash schedule portion, and I don't like it much either. Other bothersome issues include having to open multiple windows for each recipe and its tendency to flicker/flash when it needs to update displayed info (like it's "repainting" the entire window when only one or two things change).

So far, BeerSmith keeps my vote.

 

[Beer Snob]

Which version do you have? They just came out when 1.09.

 

[Yuri_Rage]

I just upgraded - it doesn't appear to be particularly different with regard to my list of dislikes.

 

[Beer Snob]

Yeah they are activitly working on upgrades and user feedback. Need to go over there and talk a bit so they know what to work on

 

[chillHayze]

BTP sounds like it has some potential, may just need the bugs worked out and interface spruced up a bit.
I have tried the free web based BT (hated it, but it's free), promash (was this written in COBOL?) and BeerSmith. I love the fluidity of BeerSmith, the interface, ease of use, and good, up-to-date descriptions of ingredients. The brewsheet is a great feature as well. If ther were a fully functional trial of BTP I would surely try it, but it would have to be pretty spectacular for me to switch.

Good thread, btw!

 

[Yuri_Rage]

Yeah they are activitly working on upgrades and user feedback. Need to go over there and talk a bit so they know what to work on

This is the chief reason that I paid for BTP. BeerSmith has been updating their website, but it seems they've abandoned updating their software and ingredient database. Hopefully BTP gets frequent updates.

 

[the_bird]

I think BeerSmith is on sale; I remember it being $25 when I first looked at it, and it was only $20 when I finally paid of rit two weeks ago.

 

[Baron von BeeGee]

I'm a Promash guy, but all the new software coming out makes you wonder. They've been saying an announcement regarding 2.0 was coming out since earlier this year, but haven't said a word. In the meantime they're really being outpaced by the new vendors of brewing software IMO. It wouldn't take much for me to switch, but it would take a little more than what I've seen from Beer Tools at this point (which, frankly, isn't that much...I need to research it a little more).

 

[Buford]

I've tried the trial of BeerSmith, and I may have to purchase it. I like the interface, and it's more powerful than QBrew, especially since I do a partial boil extract-late method with steeping grains. QBrew can't accomodate that, but BeerSmith can.

 

[rdwj]

Now that beertools has been out a little bit, any more comments on it? I'm thinking about buying it, but the lack of a trial really makes me wonder.

Also, is the gold worth the extra fin?

 

[Cregar]

I have been holding back on buying BeerTools Pro, I usually don't buy any software till I try it. Hopefully they will come out with one soon. I will get my semi-annual bonus check hopefully by the end of the week and if no demo is out for BeerTools Pro I'm going to buy BeerAlchemy.

 

[Drunk Monkey]

I am on the verge of starting to make my own recipes and wanted to buy some software. Does BeerTools Pro work well with extract reciepes?