How do you keep track of your Pipeline ?

[CamG]

Hi,
I am just wondering how some of you keep track of whats in your pipeline. Things like fermentation date, Reminders when you should take first S.G reading, When you bottled / keg.

I know I can put the date on the Primary, but I am thinking of setting up a calendar just for brewing.

Thoughts ?

Cam

 

[eadavis80]

I just have a big Word document on my computer that I use. Every brew date, OG, yeast strain, airlock activity, when I rack, dry hop - how long, bottling date, impressions of samples, etc. are in there. So, I can easily go back and learn from each batch and use my own experience as reference. I have never regretted taking detailed notes.

 

[jlinz]

I print out the brew steps from beersmith and write down all the information I want, including tasting notes after the beer has conditioned. I keep all the recipes in a 3 ring binder so I can go back though them when I want.

 

[CJ-3]

I use this log book. I can write notes un it while I brew and refer back to it whenever I need to.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1452123519/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1456063446&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=brewers+lab+book

 

[masonsjax]

For the first year that I brewed I took notes on everything using a spreadsheet and a Google calendar that would alert me to add dry hops, keg, etc. Now I do none of the above. I don't use my hydrometer more than once a year, if that. Sometimes I'll mark brewdays on the calendar just in case I want to look back to see how long a beer has been around, but I've been fine for many years without notes.

 

[howamidriving]

I just use a good ol fashioned notebook. Everything pre-bottling goes on the front side and post-bottling impressions go on the back side of the pages.

 

[user 204491]

Brewer's Friend brew log + notes and I add important entries on my Google calendar. When I schedule a brew day I'll add entries on my calendar to make starter, the actual brew day, ramp temp, sample, dry hop, cold crash, and keg. Then I use the brew log section in Brewer's Friend to record my readings and the notes section for details on how things went.

 

[Yesfan]

As far as the pipeline goes, I just look in my garage and see how many empty kegs I have. If it's one or more, than I know to start brewing.



As for the progress of a batch, I use shipping tags. I write the name and brew date on them and the date I added any fruit or hops if it takes it. Then I move the tag from the carboy to the keg and write down the day it was kegged and the beer's abv.


For recipes, I have a notebook of printed off recipes I've gotten here and there. I keep a separate sheet of notes for those recipes I've brewed so I know what I need to do different the next time I brew it.

 

[benco]

I don't take any notes. I use beersmith 2 on my iPad and refer to some recipes on here. I write down brew dates and such on chalkboard paint in our laundry room.

 

[RedlegEd]

.... I keep all the recipes in a 3 ring binder so I can go back though them when I want.

Brewer's Friend brew log + notes...Then I use the brew log section in Brewer's Friend to record my readings and the notes section for details on how things went.

+1 to both the above. I also print the brew steps and recipes and make "hard copy" notes on these sheets on brew days to keep in my 3-ring binder, as well as use an Excel spreadsheet to track all of my brews, dates, and specs (OG, FG, ABV, etc.) I use Outlook and schedule upcoming events (racking, hopping, etc.)

Finally, the biggest help for me for fermenting/d-rest/lagering is the STC-1000+. Once you start your profile for a specific beer, it's basically "set & forget" until it's time to keg/bottle.

 

[brewpool]

Google Drive for note taking. I really trimmed the fat out of my notes as I have continued to brew. Once I begin fermenting, I set a calendar alert for dry hopping (if applicable) and for bottling. I use different color caps to ID my beers.

 

[gspot]

I usually only have 1 or 2 things going, so I don't really need a calendar to keep up with batches in progress. Right now I've got a Maibock in primary, and I know this week sometime I have to clean a keg and transfer it for continued lagering and in preparation for my next brew next weekend. I also have a mead in primary, and sometime around the 1st of next month I need to rack it to secondary before warm weather. Beersmith has a brew log and calendar function, and anytime I do something to a batch, I make notes in the recipe on my phone. It's real easy to go back and consult Beersmith with any questions about past brews. Each keg has a hang-tag or masking tape label with the name of the beer in it.

I find a calendar to be more useful when planning my upcoming brews than for keeping track of what needs to be done to past ones. I've got an empty keg or two to fill. Since I've got plenty of ales in the keg already and know I'm going to want a crisp, refreshing lager this summer, a pilsner is going to be my next brew, followed by a Märzen in March that I'll lager until end of September. If I kick a keg between April and then, I'll do either another pilsner or a Weizen because it's hot as shilt in Arkansas July-October and I don't want to be drinking a dark, heavy beer.

Any record keeping system you adopt needs to be simple and almost effortless. If it's too much trouble it'll eventually fall by the wayside. I do what I do because it doesn't really require anything extra and comes naturally. I used to keep a notebook a long time ago, but came to prefer software. Of course, when Promash became obsolete and I switched to Beersmith, that notebook came in real handy when trying to recreate my brewing history and/or recipes since Promash wouldn't even open up on my computer. Something still to be said for paper and pencil.

 

[phyllobeddo]

I use Beersmith for recipes and Evernote for each batch's notes, pics, stats, records, etc. I like having access to batch notes from my phone, laptop, or web browser via the INET. As far as what's bottled or kegged, I just look at the label on the kegs to know what's in there or look at the batch # on top of bottles, for example 2016-01 or 2015.12.

 

[CamG]

Wow !
Lots of good info here. I just set up a google calendar and put my info into it.
I am also looking into beersmith now.

I have a freezer that I plan to use for for fermenting in in the summer
I need to research this smd temperature control some more.

Thanks for all the tips

Cam

 

[slym2none]

One day, I will have a pipeline...

 

[oceanic_brew]

View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1456107169.444394.jpg

I found this online and keep it all in a binder. It's really simple. There was also a sheet for tasting notes. I use Beersmith anytime I do a new recipe and document it there also. Helps me make sure I'm within applicable ranges and I'm not screwing up my math.

 

[Dirt_McGirt]

Hi,
I am just wondering how some of you keep track of whats in your pipeline. Things like fermentation date, Reminders when you should take first S.G reading, When you bottled / keg.

I know I can put the date on the Primary, but I am thinking of setting up a calendar just for brewing.

Thoughts ?

Cam

I have a seperate google account and use its online calendar. For example, for a new beer, I schedule an "event" titled, say, "Irish Red Primary," and set it to last two weeks. Then I create a one day event for bottling, and another 2-3 week event for bottle conditioning. I do the same for every beer that any stage in the process.

 

[alexacuna]

I have a brew journal and then use priority mailing labels for each bottle. I haven't done any duplicates yet, but i'm sure I'd just add a bottled on date to it.

 

[jrcrilly]

Google calendar suits me well. I create an event for each brew, and then add future events such as secondary additions, racking, bottle conditioning if bottled, etc.

 

[akthor]

Thanks for this I just ordered one.

I use this log book. I can write notes un it while I brew and refer back to it whenever I need to.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1452123519/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1456063446&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=brewers+lab+book

 

[ba-brewer]

I have a spreadsheet I use to track which keg had which beer and how often I refill the CO2 tank. I keep track of when a beer was kegged, when it was tapped and when it was kicked. I does not really help me plan my pipeline, but it does help to see which beers linger or empty fast and if a particular keg is acting funny.

 

[CJ-3]

Thanks for this I just ordered one.

You're welcome. I hope it suits your needs well. I really like it.

 

[ghohn]

Brew toad + permanent marker on the side of kegs. Nail polish remover to remove when the keg barks ate and says it is time. Brew. Repeat.


Sent from my iPod touch using Home Brew

 

[bobeer]

I first used a calendar and it worked well. I was brewing 2.5 gallons batches just about every weekend, before I had kids, and the calendar worked for me. Now, I just write it all down in my brew log. I was using a log anyway back when I was also using the calendar so I figured why have 2 places to write stuff? The brew log works just as good and I only have to keep track of 1 thing.
I have beersmith too but I don't really ever use that for notes. I have it installed on my desktop and my laptop so who knows which one I"ll be using at any given time. The log works for my life so that's what I go with.

 

[cubalz]

I use this log book. I can write notes un it while I brew and refer back to it whenever I need to.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1452123519/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1456063446&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=brewers+lab+book

I use these well plus a really cool large chalkboard. I usually have many going at once in various stages and can manage all of it using these 2 techniques.