Brewing/Beer Apps

[CRBrewHound]

Is RateBeer the same as RateBeer Places? I have RBP and it's pretty useful if you're traveling and want to know whether there's a bar or bottle shop nearby. Also:

Untappd - social drinking app.

The one I have states just "Rate Beer" on the launch screen, not sure if they are the same.

[adamK]

I prefer the BeerAlchemy, it is not necessarily a better program, I just like the layout and flow a little better, I like the concept of "batches" versus recipes. This allows for tweaking without spinning out new copies of the recipes each time. Also like the inventory system and it shows me when I spin up a new batch of something what I have sufficient inventory for and what I am short on.

The biggest downside is that the developer of BeerAlchemy does not update very often like the iBrewMaster and is none responsive to requests just as you found out. They also charge to much for the iPhone app itself. I also don't like the way it handles mash schedules and having to make the complete profile instead of just using steps.

I was unawary of BA2, will have to look into that.

You did know that you can add new ingrediants right?

I agree with your statements and have added new ingredients. I am often surprised and let down that Maris Otter does not exist in the BA world and is thus no different than Golden Promise or any other UK cultivar. Though in the end that has been my main reason to keep more detailed paper records, which I consider a good thing.

[12stones]

Here is the list of ones that I have in my brewing and beer folder:

BeerAlchemy - full brewing software (excellent program)
iBrewMaster - full brewing software (excellent program)

Excellent list. Do you have a preference between the BA and iBrewMaster? Have you tried BeerAlchemy2 (BA2) yet? I am a bit frustrated (though I understand where they are coming from) with BeerAlchemy upgrading and not supporting users of the old versions.

My experience with Beer Alchemy: I have been using BeerAlchemy for the past year or two. I like it OK, but it lacks some of the ingredients I use (the hops are often out of date and the specifics of UK malts are lacking) and it does not easily allow for more than one specific form of batch sparging (I sometimes nosparge which it doesn't directly allow). These are easy to work around, though, and it has never seemed worth spending money to change.
My laptop harddrive failed and I decided to use fresh install of everything instead of just using my backup. In attempting to reinstall BA1, I found that they are now pushing BA2 and not supporting or giving access to BA1 for OSX or iOS. There is not cross compatibility between BA1 and BA2 versions (iOS or OSX) (I would have to buy the new version of both the iPhone software and OSX software). I got a quick and polite reply from the developer when I inquired about the upgrade and the costs, but the response was effectively tough shit, we are done with most things BA1. Transferring my data from BA1 to BA2 (the free trial version) was also not seamless (although I did only give it a few minutes). In other words, my cheap ass has decided to just write my own program tailored to my system (read not robust) instead of having to worry about future compatibility and support, though it won't have iOS sync capabilities or look pretty. The problems I have had, though, are somewhat minor and likely not limited to just this program, but all brewing applications in general.

I like the concept of "batches" versus recipes. This allows for tweaking without spinning out new copies of the recipes each time. Also like the inventory system and it shows me when I spin up a new batch of something what I have sufficient inventory for and what I am short on.

Just as an FYI for others, iBrewMaster uses batches as well. You create or download a recipe, but then brew a batch. This way ingredients and/or process can change for that batch without modifying the main recipe. They also have the inventory ability as well as the capability to print or e-mail yourself the shopping list.

[anday6]

I just got a free code for BrewBot as a prize from a comp. I've only poked around a little bit but it has a decent database of ingredient references and all 'napkin' calculators to check stuff on the fly. You could piece together a recipe with the calculators and a piece of paper. Basically a whole recipe piece by piece (gravities, ibus, color, etc.).

Other than that I use untappd and you gotta have BJCP.

[CRBrewHound]

I prefer the BeerAlchemy, it is not necessarily a better program, I just like the layout and flow a little better, I like the concept of "batches" versus recipes. This allows for tweaking without spinning out new copies of the recipes each time. Also like the inventory system and it shows me when I spin up a new batch of something what I have sufficient inventory for and what I am short on.

The biggest downside is that the developer of BeerAlchemy does not update very often like the iBrewMaster and is none responsive to requests just as you found out. They also charge to much for the iPhone app itself. I also don't like the way it handles mash schedules and having to make the complete profile instead of just using steps.

I was unawary of BA2, will have to look into that.

You did know that you can add new ingrediants right?

I agree with your statements and have added new ingredients. I am often surprised and let down that Maris Otter does not exist in the BA world and is thus no different than Golden Promise or any other UK cultivar. Though in the end that has been my main reason to keep more detailed paper records, which I consider a good thing.

If you dig around on the internet you may be able to find a spec sheet. I used to use a lot of Briess and stuff that was not there I could usually track down a spec sheet and add it, so that I had the right numbers.

[Dirk McLargeHuge]

I have iBrewmaster, and like it's feathures, but I don't use it very often since i use BeerSmith on my laptop. I do use Beer Math on brew day for taking refractometer readings and converting to specific gravity and calculating attenuation.

[Ozwald]

I prefer the BeerAlchemy, it is not necessarily a better program, I just like the layout and flow a little better, I like the concept of "batches" versus recipes. This allows for tweaking without spinning out new copies of the recipes each time. Also like the inventory system and it shows me when I spin up a new batch of something what I have sufficient inventory for and what I am short on.

The biggest downside is that the developer of BeerAlchemy does not update very often like the iBrewMaster and is none responsive to requests just as you found out. They also charge to much for the iPhone app itself. I also don't like the way it handles mash schedules and having to make the complete profile instead of just using steps.

I was unawary of BA2, will have to look into that.

You did know that you can add new ingrediants right?

I agree with your statements and have added new ingredients. I am often surprised and let down that Maris Otter does not exist in the BA world and is thus no different than Golden Promise or any other UK cultivar. Though in the end that has been my main reason to keep more detailed paper records, which I consider a good thing.

Have you thought about getting away from Mac? For less than $50 you could rebuild an old XP machine & run ProMash. It's not like you need processor speed, a large HD monitor or even a soundcard - the raw basics will work fine. I wouldn't recommend it to just any one, but I think you'd like ProMash. Plus having a brewroom dedicated machine is always nice. This guy I know in Billings has what looks like an old 486 or Pentium-1 in his garage hooked up to a 10 or 12" monitor. Nothing installed but ProMash & a printer. I used to do the same thing with one of those 10" laptops until my ex fried it.

[CRBrewHound]

I prefer the BeerAlchemy, it is not necessarily a better program, I just like the layout and flow a little better, I like the concept of "batches" versus recipes. This allows for tweaking without spinning out new copies of the recipes each time. Also like the inventory system and it shows me when I spin up a new batch of something what I have sufficient inventory for and what I am short on.

The biggest downside is that the developer of BeerAlchemy does not update very often like the iBrewMaster and is none responsive to requests just as you found out. They also charge to much for the iPhone app itself. I also don't like the way it handles mash schedules and having to make the complete profile instead of just using steps.

I was unawary of BA2, will have to look into that.

You did know that you can add new ingrediants right?

I agree with your statements and have added new ingredients. I am often surprised and let down that Maris Otter does not exist in the BA world and is thus no different than Golden Promise or any other UK cultivar. Though in the end that has been my main reason to keep more detailed paper records, which I consider a good thing.

Have you thought about getting away from Mac? For less than $50 you could rebuild an old XP machine & run ProMash. It's not like you need processor speed, a large HD monitor or even a soundcard - the raw basics will work fine. I wouldn't recommend it to just any one, but I think you'd like ProMash. Plus having a brewroom dedicated machine is always nice. This guy I know in Billings has what looks like an old 486 or Pentium-1 in his garage hooked up to a 10 or 12" monitor. Nothing installed but ProMash & a printer. I used to do the same thing with one of those 10" laptops until my ex fried it.

Oz, not sure about adamK's modivation, but the prime reason I use these pieces of software, is I like having the software on my mobile device (not a Mac vs. PC issue) that way I only have to carry the phone or iPad into the brew room (not a laptop or running back and forth to my machine) and always have my recipes, ingredient amouts, addition times, and can record readings. Plus then have it with me when at brew club meetings and people ask "whats the recipe". And hey after all, its the brewers spank bank right?