Free Beer Software

[AussieBrewerInColorado]

Was just reading brew your own magazine and they had a write up on open soucree Brewtarget. I use ProMash which has its bugs imo. Will give this one a shot and thought I would share, for free can't hurt: http://sourceforge.net/projects/brewtarget/

 

[mcaple1]

I've been using this...been working out for me so far. Just read it in my copy of BYO on the work today. The mash schedule has a few bugs, but for free, it's doing great!

 

[avidhomebrewer]

What bugs did you both find using brewtarget?

 

[dshaggy]

The $20 or $25 it costs for Beersmith is well worth it.

 

[camus]

The $20 or $25 it costs for Beersmith is well worth it.

I didn't dig it, honestly I think Brewmate (free) or Brewpal (.99) are just as good, same features etc.

 

[RiverBirchBrew]

+1 to Brew Mate

 

[AussieBrewerInColorado]

I had no bug issues with brewtarget as i've not used it yet. I've had a few bugs with promash such as remembering directories and crashing when closing. will check out the others. I would love to have a total gallons brewed feature from brew sessions.

 

[jetmechG550]

Anyone using it on Mac? I downloaded the Mac version and it says that it doesn't work with the version on OS X. I'm 10.6.7 (Snow Leopard) which is the latest.

 

[mikeho]

The developer is on here, he posts updates, the Mac install instructions are in this thread here. Also there is a software forum.

 

[Dahoov]

Anyone using it on Mac? I downloaded the Mac version and it says that it doesn't work with the version on OS X. I'm 10.6.7 (Snow Leopard) which is the latest.

I have been using it for a couple months now. I have used it for my last 9 batches. Just used it for an American IPA yesterday.

 

[AussieBrewerInColorado]

The developer is on here, he posts updates, the Mac install instructions are in this thread here. Also there is a software forum.

Thinking of using BeerSmith after the article review because:
ProMash is outdated
BeerSmith is working on a new release

 

[mcaple1]

The only issue I am having is getting a realistic stike temp. I am using a 36qt coleman xtreme cooler, and for roughly 10 lbs of grain, for a 153 mash, it says I need to strike in the high 170 range....that seems a bit high. Instead of saying my cooler is 70 deg F, I am just putting 153, or whatever my mash temp will be, and then when I brew, I will add water that is 20 deg hotter than my mash temp, and then when it cools to 13 deg over mash temp, add the grains. Does this sound like a logical plan?

 

[AussieBrewerInColorado]

I add 185F strike water to my cooler first, the cooler will absorb a lot of the heat and I wait 5 or so minutes until I get it down to 168F then dough in, stir, close lid, wait 5 mins. Usually always at the temp I want about 152, if need be adjust with hot/cold water. I got this from Bobby's all grain primer and it usually always works. I tried with a lower than 185 temp once because I had to wait for it to drop to 168F, but I had nothing but trouble getting it back up, adding more boiling water etc so now I just stick to the 185 temp into my cooler. Check out Bobby's primer, works for me:
http://www.suebob.com/index.php?opt...in-primer&catid=40:brewing-articles&Itemid=66

 

[AussieBrewerInColorado]

I bought beersmith a while back and have been using it since. It is my preferred software.