Why do I need this?

[olllllo]

Many on the forum have referenced ProMash (and other brewing software,) but I couldn't find any posts that specifically talk about the virtues of having it.

Being somewhat of a gadget freak and in the software industry, it's kind of odd that I haven't made the leap. I can tell you though, that the space is rife with solutions looking for problems.
Do I need this or should I run away from it?

1. What does the software add to the brewing process that is indispensible, convenient, economical or educational?
2. Is there a feature that you cannot live without?
3. Is there a feature that you wish it had?
4. What package are you using?

Thanks!

 

[chillHayze]

You don't really need it for extract brewing. Some how they brewed in the Middle ages whithout it.
If you want to try it there is a free trial version on their site. It only lets you save a recipe 3 times but is worth checking out.

Your questions:
1: I would imagine for AG it would be almost necessary for the HBer. Could save you from mistakes. But, that is part of learning. It is nice to see the options for your hops and grains in the nice, easy database it provides.
2: No.
3: Better GUI and more water profiles.
4: Promash 1.8a

 

[budbo]

I use the recipator and brewEZe they work fine for me and are free

 

[El Pistolero]

Do I need this or should I run away from it?

As others have said, if you're doing extract only or just steeping a few grains, ProMash really isn't of much help. BeerRecipator and BeerSmith both have a lot more going for them for the steeped grain brewer, and ProMash's clunky user interface make it a definate run away from for the extract brewer.

On the other hand, for the all grain brewer ProMash is indispensible. It will tell you how much mash water to use, how much sparge water to use, what temp the mash water needs to be to hit your strike temp, etc, etc. It will do a lot more than that too, such as water profiling, and keeping track of your inventory...things that would actually be useful to extract brewers, if somebody over at ProMash would learn just the slightest bit about presentation.

 

[Beer Snob]

Many on the forum have referenced ProMash (and other brewing software,) but I couldn't find any posts that specifically talk about the virtues of having it.

Being somewhat of a gadget freak and in the software industry, it's kind of odd that I haven't made the leap. I can tell you though, that the space is rife with solutions looking for problems.
Do I need this or should I run away from it?

1. What does the software add to the brewing process that is indispensible, convenient, economical or educational?
2. Is there a feature that you cannot live without?
3. Is there a feature that you wish it had?
4. What package are you using?

Thanks!

Why don't you give it a whirl yourself and see. You are limited in saving to 3 but you can keep creating recipes and exploring different combinations of ingrediants. I just got it last month and really love it. I had the trial before I bought it for months though. One thing is for sure... if you are in to software and gadgets you will get it in no time at all!

http://www.promash.com/


Edit....
Forgot to mention... when you download the trial go to the help and do the turtorials and it will make a lot more sense to you.

 

[olllllo]

Thanks all... going to give it a whirl, but wanted the expert opinions.

D/L software can be like getting on a State Park Fair ride for the first time. You want to know why it's up on wooden blocks and if that's puke you're really smelling.

Keep the comments coming.:rockin:

 

[Beer Snob]

Just thought of another thing about it thats cool. If you want to convert everything to a different batch as far as galons wise, its a piece of cake. You just change the size of the batch and all of the ingreaiants change.