Should I buy Beersmith?

[Yooper]

But what about my above post concerning step mashing?

What about the tun volume required equaling the water volume only, not water + grain?

Is this really how it works?? I was looking at buying it, but I tried to create one recipe with the thing and I cant get a step mash out of it, the boil rate is a %... which is not realistic and the tun volume required is totally wrong...

I've never seen the "trial version" but I understand it's the same as the version I have but you can't save recipes or something.

Mine works fine for step mashing, but I've mostly used it for the calculations for pulling a decoction. Do you want to post the file you're talking about and see if it works for me?

 

[JoeMama]

I went ahead and purchased BeerSmith as I decided to make the plunge to AG. It gives me a place to plug in all of my recipes and keeps them all nice and in order.

Just makes life a little simpler come brewday(s)
-Me

 

[The Pol]

I would post a file, but I dont have a file to post... I cannot save the recipe, I cant do anything really.

I went into the mash profile and hit ADD, then tried to add an infusion step to step from 130F to 150F and it wont do it. I shows the water total 0.00 a and the water temp as 150F, which is my target, not my infusion temp.

Then like I said, the tun volume required equals the water volume, so I know that is wrong. I can't even create one recipe?

I also cannot put in a fly sparge option for my mash...

I thought BeerSmith would be nice since I have a large inventory of grains, hops and yest now... but I cannot even create a mash schedule for a Hefe.

All I want to do is a 130F infusion step, followed by a 150F infusion step, then a fly sparge. It wont do it.

 

[polecreek]

Where in Beersmith are you? Are you changing a sample recipe to one of your own, on scratch pad, where is your starting spot?

 

[The Pol]

Okay, so I got it to do a step mash, but these are still problems...

The tun volume required is WRONG, it only calculates water volume, it does not consider the grains!

There is no option for fly sparge!

Also, is there a way that the software will directly calculate the water required from the recipe? Or do I have to go and re-enter all of the information in the "water required" portion on the left?

 

[IowaHarry]

I would post a file, but I dont have a file to post... I cannot save the recipe, I cant do anything really.

I went into the mash profile and hit ADD, then tried to add an infusion step to step from 130F to 150F and it wont do it. I shows the water total 0.00 a and the water temp as 150F, which is my target, not my infusion temp.

Then like I said, the tun volume required equals the water volume, so I know that is wrong. I can't even create one recipe?

I also cannot put in a fly sparge option for my mash...

I thought BeerSmith would be nice since I have a large inventory of grains, hops and yest now... but I cannot even create a mash schedule for a Hefe.

All I want to do is a 130F infusion step, followed by a 150F infusion step, then a fly sparge. It wont do it.

Pol, is it a new download? It runs out in 14 days at which point you can look but you can't save. And at some point it expires completely and you can't even look.

Promash has the option of using a specific volume during boil off rather than %.

 

[The Pol]

Where in Beersmith are you? Are you changing a sample recipe to one of your own, on scratch pad, where is your starting spot?

I am starting a NEW recipe


With 2 malts, 10lbs of grain...

I got it to step mash, but there is no option for fly sparging?

The Tun Volume Required in the mash section, under Details... is completely incorrect.

Also, I dont see a way to get my water required without having to enter it all in by hand after I create a recipe and mash scedule, in the Water Needed section on the left. Cant it compute that automatically when I create a recipe? Other softwares do.

 

[The Pol]

Pol, is it a new download? It runs out in 14 days at which point you can look but you can't save. And at some point it expires completely and you can't even look.

Promash has the option of using a specific volume during boil off rather than %.

Downloaded it an hour ago... I am not impressed, seems clumsy... seems like nothing is linked to anything else. In StrangeBrew it updates your Water Needed calcualtions every time you add malt or change your mash schedule... this doenst seem to. Clumsy

Basically when I am working on a recipe, NONE of the tools on the left update when I update malt quantities or antyhing else, each time I change ONE thing, I need to go through and update those tools, that is borderline rediculous.

 

[TwoHeadsBrewing]

Downloaded it an hour ago... I am not impressed, seems clumsy... seems like nothing is linked to anything else. In StrangeBrew it updates your Water Needed calcualtions every time you add malt or change your mash schedule... this doenst seem to. Clumsy

Strange...it updates for me whenever I add more grain. Also, the default setting for sparge IS fly sparging: eg. "Single Infusion, Medium Body". If you want it to account for a batch sparge, you have to select "Single Infusion, Medium Body, Batch Sparge". There are also selections for Step Mashing, with 2 and 3 steps. And if you don't like the options offered for Mash Schedules you can just build your own, or modify the existing ones. How long have you used this?

 

[The Pol]

Strange...it updates for me whenever I add more grain. Also, the default setting for sparge IS fly sparging: eg. "Single Infusion, Medium Body". If you want it to account for a batch sparge, you have to select "Single Infusion, Medium Body, Batch Sparge". There are also selections for Step Mashing, with 2 and 3 steps. And if you don't like the options offered for Mash Schedules you can just build your own, or modify the existing ones. How long have you used this?

On the trial version I can change my malt quantity in the recipe by 10 pounds and the "Water Needed" portion on the left does not update. Nor does the "Adjust Mash Temperature" It still shows 3.00 gallons for mash water? The tun volume required under mash details equals the water volume EXACTLY, no grains taken into consideration? I also dont see a fly sparge volume? Or is there no fly sparge volume... do I guess? Or do I deduce it from the Water Needed tool that doesnt update when I add malt?

I also set up my equipment, compete with a boil off rate etc. and I have to go through and input it all again in the "Water Needed" section on the left to find out ow much water is needed.

Is the trial version just really bad?

 

[polecreek]

I dont know Pol, I am looking at mash profile and the water volumes are right there. Have you set up your equipment? You might also preview your brewsheet on occasion to get a better look at things.

 

[The Pol]

I did set up the equipment...

SO, of you do to DETAILS in the MASH section on your recipe page, does it show the Tun Volume Required exactly the same as the water volume? Mine does, and that is incorrect.

I also cannot get it to update the Water Needed section when I change the ammount of malt in a recipe.

I think I am going to look into ProMash... I dont like how this is not updating.

I dont like how it will not calcualte the grain + water volume in the MLT

StrangeBrew has a silly free trial that even when it is half deactivated, calculates MLT volumes, updates continuously and I can save my recipes. I have used it for 2 years, and the ghetto version of it is not nearly as clumsy as BeerSmith (the trial) is turning out to be for me.

 

[The Pol]

Is there a way to setup your recipe defaults in ProMash? Like final volume, boil rate etc? I am not seeing it.

 

[mrbowenz]

I did set up the equipment...

SO, of you do to DETAILS in the MASH section on your recipe page, does it show the Tun Volume Required exactly the same as the water volume? Mine does, and that is incorrect.

I also cannot get it to update the Water Needed section when I change the ammount of malt in a recipe.

I think I am going to look into ProMash... I dont like how this is not updating.

I dont like how it will not calcualte the grain + water volume in the MLT

StrangeBrew has a silly free trial that even when it is half deactivated, calculates MLT volumes, updates continuously and I can save my recipes. I have used it for 2 years, and the ghetto version of it is not nearly as clumsy as BeerSmith (the trial) is turning out to be for me.

Probably best for you to just stick with StrangeBrew or try ProMash

 

[The Pol]

Yah, BeerSmith wont work for me.

#1. Tun volume required doesnt work.
#2. The tools on the left will not update when I update my recipe.
#3. The boil off rate is never a %... boil off is a constant and BeerSmith doesn't treat it as such.

I would even look into replacing what I have, except that I need a fully functional inventory list now with my last purchase from Brewmasters.

 

[IowaHarry]

Is there a way to setup your recipe defaults in ProMash? Like final volume, boil rate etc? I am not seeing it.

The "water needed" icon Covers most of that. On the recipe page there is a box to lock ingredients to batch size. that helps, although I don't use it much as I always do 5 gallon batches.

 

[The Pol]

Yeap, I set up all the defaults in ProMash and it works NICE! Much less cumbersome than BeerSmith. I like it, and it will track my inventory, which I need with 20 malts in stock, 8 hop varieties and yeast and spices as well.

It is nice, I think I am sold on ProMash

 

[flyangler18]

Yeap, I set up all the defaults in ProMash and it works NICE! Much less cumbersome than BeerSmith. I like it, and it will track my inventory, which I need with 20 malts in stock, 8 hop varieties and yeast and spices as well.

It is nice, I think I am sold on ProMash

Pol,

Give BTP 1.5.2 a whirl too; there's a free trial.

Jason

 

[The Pol]

BeerToolsPro? Okay... I will play with that next! So far, ProMash is much nicer as far as user interface than BS... BeerSmith.

Beer Tools Pro... here we go!

 

[flyangler18]

BeerToolsPro? Okay... I will play with that next! So far, ProMash is much nicer as far as user interface than BS... BeerSmith.

Beer Tools Pro... here we go!

I think it will work well for you, and the ingredients DB is MASSIVE.

Bobby_M has some videos discussing the basics of setting a mash schedule, etc.

 

[The Pol]

Yah, that is my question, how the hell do you set a mash schedule????


Got that.. but now I cannot get it to properly calculate my fly sparge... UGHHHH

 

[RC0032]

Yes. The cool thing is that you can run it from a USB drive, too. It's very handy for taking with you to group brew days.

Thank you :rockin:

 

[flyangler18]

Yah, that is my question, how the hell do you set a mash schedule????


Got that.. but now I cannot get it to properly calculate my fly sparge... UGHHHH

It's actually pretty simple once you get used to the interface.

Oh, and as an aside, make sure you pull ingredients from the 'my ingredients' subsection not the ingredients database in order for your inventory to deduct properly.

You add ingredients TO the my ingredients database using the main DB, but then use those ingredients to build your recipes. Took me a couple head-scratching moments to figure that out!

 

[jds]

Pol:

Weird that you were having problems with water volumes, because BeerSmith DOES update my water volumes properly, and I've had no problems inputting step infusions. I'm guessing it's a problem with the UI not giving enough clues as to HOW to do what you want. I do recall having to mess around with BeerSmith in order to get it to do what I wanted.

Here's hoping BTP or ProMash works better. Like anything else in brewing, some tools work better for some people than others.

But, BeerSmith, if you read this thread, can we _please_ get a setting to allow boil-off as a fixed volume per time, rather than a percentage? Pretty please.

 

[TwoHeadsBrewing]

Pol:

Weird that you were having problems with water volumes, because BeerSmith DOES update my water volumes properly, and I've had no problems inputting step infusions. I'm guessing it's a problem with the UI not giving enough clues as to HOW to do what you want. I do recall having to mess around with BeerSmith in order to get it to do what I wanted.

Here's hoping BTP or ProMash works better. Like anything else in brewing, some tools work better for some people than others.

But, BeerSmith, if you read this thread, can we _please_ get a setting to allow boil-off as a fixed volume per time, rather than a percentage? Pretty please.

I think there must be an issue with the latest trial version, because it works fine for me. Pol is obviously a bright guy, somoene (ahem, BeerSmith) just needs to provide a registration key so he can experience the full version and make an informed decision. My $0.02 anyway...

 

[The Pol]

Pol:

Weird that you were having problems with water volumes, because BeerSmith DOES update my water volumes properly, and I've had no problems inputting step infusions. I'm guessing it's a problem with the UI not giving enough clues as to HOW to do what you want. I do recall having to mess around with BeerSmith in order to get it to do what I wanted.

Here's hoping BTP or ProMash works better. Like anything else in brewing, some tools work better for some people than others.

But, BeerSmith, if you read this thread, can we _please_ get a setting to allow boil-off as a fixed volume per time, rather than a percentage? Pretty please.

I never said that the WATER qty was off... but under MASH and DETAILS it shows "Tun Volume Required" This should be GRAIN + WATER... and it isnt, it only shows water. Also, yes, my Water Needed section never updated.... after 2 hours I gave up. I created a recipe and mash schedule with ProMash in 15 minutes.

 

[The Pol]

ANYONE know how to set up a FLY SPARGE with BTP 1.5? I keeps giving me - water values... I cannot get it to work for the life of me. Already wasted 2 HOURS trying all sorts of different things, even searched google... nothing as how to set up the CONFUSING fly sparge editor. No wonder so many people batch sparge, they cant set up the darn fly sparge editor!

 

[flyangler18]

ANYONE know how to set up a FLY SPARGE with BTP 1.5? I keeps giving me - water values... I cannot get it to work for the life of me. Already wasted 2 HOURS trying all sorts of different things, even searched google... nothing as how to set up the CONFUSING fly sparge editor. No wonder so many people batch sparge, they cant set up the darn fly sparge editor!

I can try it, what are you trying to do? What is it not telling you?

 

[The Pol]

I try to add a fly sparge and I am expecting it to calculate my sparge volume based on the "kettle volume" on the front page. I have my batch size LOCKED at 5.4 gallons, so with my boil rate and such it sayes at the top that I need 8.0 gallons in the kettle at 212F.

When I add the fly sparge it tells me nothing. If I try to LOCK the "collected" field it shows 7.71? Then above it is shows "available " -7.71 gallons in RED. It gives me some error... it is really weird, frustrating.

I have never seen anything so complicated for a simple fly sparge in my life!

 

[flyangler18]

Have you already built the schedule from mash-in through the sacc rest?